The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-10-07
SENSATIONAL MURDER TRIAL.
y. H. GARRISON TELLS WHY HE
KILLED LOUIS WILLIAMSON.


ing Improt,cr Advances Toward Her
-Miss Garrison Chief Witness for
Prosecution and Her Father for
ehe Dcfcace.
Laurens. Oct 1.-The case of the
mate against ]. II. Garrison for MUIR
Der was tried here today. being I'm
1shed tonight. but at midnight the
Jury had been unable to reach a ver-
aict and Judge Memmingsr ordered
them locked up for the might.
For the nrst time Garrison toda,
told why he killed young Louis VIII
0amson ON the night Of July 81.
HERETOFORE the only statement made
BY Garrison on his behalf was tina,
che shooting was done on account Of
Wiliiamson's improper conduct with
Osrrisoa's daughter. Miss Mary Gar
ttson. but today on the stand Garri.
son told the details Of that IMPROPER
conduct. 90 he construed Il to be. and
furthermore Miss Garrison related
Just what was taking place between
hsrsslf and her lover when her father
interrupted. She was telling William
con not to persist In his
attempt to take liberties with her. she
eaid. when she heard the father al
Shs window outside. She then ran
out Of the room and Williamson
1umped up from the sofa to receive
his death wound. with no chance to
defend himself or to explain his In
tentions. ~
The defence did not attempt to es-
eablish any other defence than that
Garrison was within his legal rights
In protecting female member OF his
eamily from assault. 1t was admitted
That the. young lady and the young
man were snssged. but not admitted
chat her, father knew Of their engage
snent That the young man was drink
tng when no arrived at the house that
afternoon was set up by the defence
- the explanation Of Improper con-
duct on the part OF one who had been
rsoeitsd there before a. gentleman
and psssibis suitor for the hand of
vhs daughter. To offset this. the pros
~cution sought to show that william
son arrived ut o'clock. and that he
had not taken drink after arriving.
20 that u he was drunk at 9 o'clock
Ne had ample time to sober up by IL
O'Clock that night. The young lady
herself said she did not notice whis-
hoy on his. breath. and she was ad-
m'ttedly closer 60 him than the 9TH
'srs; bat she said he acted strangely in
sssvsral waya NtY
TAsrs Wa . dramatic moment dur
tns the young isdy's testimony when
she tore up the letter that shS had
Written to the mother OF young VIII,
Hanson. Taking II In her hands from
Ar. Nelson In order to, identity Il she
viencsd through u silently. and then
tore II In half. ninginG Il at ter feet.
& The letter was handed to the Judge.
Who later refused to admit II Al svi-
0soce. and tn contents did not reach
ths jury at all except by implication.
Judge Memminger remarked that ne
Old not hiame the young lady for her
actions under the circumstances.
thoush he might have ruled her for
contempt Of Court. The letter was
written on August Q. a week after the
killing OF Williamson. and the young
lady expressed to the mother OF her
swestheart In arectionate terms her
love and sympathy. saying she knew
Mrs. Williamson would know why she
had not written before. that II was 80
hard to write. She told OF the suffer-
tnss Of the young man. and what was
done for him. and said II would have
been easier to stand IL he had died In
any other way. She said she felt that
Mrs. Williamson could sympathize
with her In the position In which she
was placed.
She wrote that her mother also sent
her sympathy. In concluding she
asked that Mrs. Williamson write 10
her as u would be comfort to hear
from her. The conclusion IL In terms
OF affection and sympathy.
The handwriting and composition of
The letter were those OF an educated
woman. and tho wording might be
construed under the circumstances
~ clever IL not natural. Miss Garri-
con and her father we're the principal
witnesses. she for the prosecution and
the defendant for himself. Though
called by the state Miss Garrison's
symathy was evidently with her faith
er. nnd she could not refrain from