The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-22

COLUMBIA LAWYERS REPUTA-
TION ATTACKED.

shas they Would not Believe Dun
can Under Oath.
Columbia. July fs.-The Duncan
bearing progressed all morning.
When the dinner hour arrived the
supreme court announced that 1t
would not conclude the case until
solicitor George Bell Zimmerman
could be heard. and that he was of
coarse not expected here today. In
v>ew Of the death and funeral OF his
father. The court expected Mr.. Tim
Werman to arrive here tonight. and
the evidence. II was stated. would.
no doubt. be taken tomorrow. All
<hs other evidence has been taken.
TAcrs were several negro men who
esseinsd that Jen Taylor had told
0sm that he did the shooting for
WaicA Mr.. Aunter was con-
vscte& and for whom Duncan
had bes trying to get the new
eeaI Either these negroes are
<eallng Q series Of colossal lies
or there has been q miscarriage Of
,1aseice In the conviction OF Hunter
Duncan says that there has been q
0Ascarriase Of justice and that In his
EFFORT TO vindicate Hunter there has
been -coaspiracy" formed against
him.
TAs sequel TO this effort to free Hun
80 wan the andavits on which the new
01ai was sought and which II Is
nov claimed were. In the main. fraud
s>sat. The chief afidaut on which
~ new trial was sought was that of
JsR Taylor. In which Taylor was al
h9sd to have confessed that he did
ehs shooting for which Hunter was
Uonvictsd- Taylor swears that he
made no such aflidavit. and there Is
ehe rub. Mr.. Washington Clark, be-
tore whom the original af,davit ap-
pears to have been signed. swears
That the Je6 Taylor who appears in
court Ii not the colored man who ap-
Scared before him. and that he never
cav him In his ,ife before.
Today another remarkable issue
was raised. Mr.. Duncan had a ste
Nographer. Miss Bessie Feagle. She
= aev married and is Mrs. Stewart.
SAe was unweli and has Just had a |
S.rious operation. Today she appear
I'd In the supreme court room with
hsr hrsband. and Il was decided to
have her examined In private. with
onunsel present. Some time ago an
e0davit was submitted signed by
1arA stewart describing Taylor, and
particulsriy Hunter. and then went
- b say that she (Mrs. stewart)
NV Mr.. Warrington Clark probate.
- sign. the JeR Taylor anidavit. and
ehat u was signed before her or In
Ass presence.
several days ago Mrs. Stewart |
vishsd 10 modify her afidavit. and
wore that the afadavit she had pre-
Vsously signed for Mr.. Duncan had
Sesa rad IN bsrt only to her. and
oae she did not know that Mr.. |
0ar1Gs name In u and that no menu |
~1oa was made 70 her Of Mt. Clark !
Whsn the smdavit was read to her. |
~ says that the sfidavit was read |
@ her BY Mr.. Duncan. and she aid |
oot pay much attention to II at the |
~nss. - her husband was quite sick. !
III. stewart was o witness at the |
earns tn the ahsdavit. and he does not
~posar 10 have paid much attention
- n. bot today Mrs. Stewart said
$Aat she woSid not have signed the
a0davit at the time had she known
eally what was In II.
Tho 'httoraey. general. Mr.. Lyon.
Snmmoned about 20 members of the
Cossns,a bar. including many of
The oldest and most distinguished |
GNmbers Of the profession here. |
With one accord they swore that Mr..
osscan's -eputstion In the community
or truth and verscity was bad. and
that they. would not believe him IN
oeeh some Of the number modified
sAssf statements by saying that they
~soid not believe him on oath. where
~ "as personally interested. and 9TH
~<s ispodihed this expression In va.
<s~s Says. but II was really pathetic
~ hear this testimony and to see how
tnue apparent effect II had on the
oas nrostly interested--John r. Dun
can. He sat at the side of his coun-
ssa and occasionally would make a
uoggessien to his counsel. Col. schum-
Bert. but generally he said nothing.
Much OF his time was spent In ar
ranging and rearranging the mass