The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-25
THE HARLEY CASE.
BEARD BEFORE JUDGE c. P.
BRCNSON YESTERDAY.
Tho Court Ruled That Not Enough

testimony as PRESENTED 20 Blnu
Over the Prisoner.
The preliminary hearing in the
case against Pink w Harley VIZ
commenced before Magistrate
Charles p Brunson at II o'clock
yesterday morning.
Harley is charged with the kill
ing of r. Addison Jeffcoat on the
night of the 21st of last December
while the deceased was on his way
home from the town of Livingston
in this county. The details Of the
tragedy is familiar to the readers of
! this paper Jeffcoat was shot down
without warning. in the dark and
on the public highway. The crime
was dastardly and cowardly, and, so
far as the public knows, no motive
has been assigned for the deed
Jeifcoat was prominent and
wealthy farmer. which added interest
to the affair. Rewards aggregating
5000 were offered for the convection
of the guilty parties. Governor
Ansel employed a special detective
and the local authorities were active
ly engaged in an effort to solve tho
mystery.
Very little was heard of the mat
ter. so far as solution was con-
cerned. until a few days ago. Theu
Pink w. Harley was arrested and
charged with the crime. Harley
resides in the neighhorhood Of the
scene of the shooting, is a farmer
Of moderate means and has been
considered harmless. although he
has been in the courts before. having
been several times tried in the
United States court for violation OF
| the internal revenue laws.
The hearing, held in the Court
House, attracted a large crowd yes
terday and great interest was mani
tested in the proceedings. The
prosecution was conducted by So
licitor Hildebrand. Wolfe and Ber-
ry and l.. K. Sturkie, while the de-
fence was represented by Raysor e
Summers. There were some spirited
passages between opposing counsel.
Following is the testimony as ad-
duced on the stand:
DR.. J. NJ. Davis stated that he al
tended Jeffcoat shortly after the
shooting found that a gnnshot
wound had perforated the skull. pro-
ducing mortal wound. from which
death ensned few days later.
]. n. Sistrunk was informed OF
he shooting about 10:30 p. m. hv
Julius Jeffcoat,, SON Of the deceased.
Witness was asked to come and
bring his gun and buckshot. He,
P. w. Harley and j. D. McCormir',
were the first TO fin dthe wounded
man. Witness. denied havin" toll
Harley that he :, (Harleyl did the
shooting. r
!. D. Mccormick testimony Drac-
tically suhstantiated that of Sistrunk.
Julias Jeffcoat's advised witness not
to go into swamp until. daylight.
Lizzie Mitchell. colored. saw Har
ley about half an hour before sun
down coming from North. Saw him
ngain about dark going toward Slab
Landing. riding mule. Slan
Landing is near Bull swamp bridge.
the scene of the shooting. Harle"
had something across his lap. Has
known Harley seven or EIGHT ve""S
and was sure it was he whom she
met.
Jane Davis and Annie Davis.
~hitc mother and daughter. testi-
fed that r. A. Jeffcoat was at their
house on the afternoon Of the dav
,f the shooting He left about siE
o'clock: An hour later a party came
to the front Of the house. called to
the inmates and asked how long
since Jeffcoat had been gone: also
cautioned witnesses not to tell that
he had been there or it would NOT
he good for them. Both recognized
the voice Of p. w. Harley. Bot5
witnesses admitted that they had
reen shot at by unknown parties
while returning from r. A. .Iettcoaf
house on Sunday. two weeks prlor
20 shooting Of Jeffcoat.
Mrs. Abe .Amaker. daughter ol
the deceased. testified concerning
The strained relations which exist
ed between her pa rents and which
caused them to live apart for ahou'
nine years before Mr.. .leTcoat'A
leath. The children were divided,
some taking sides with the father.
.thcrs with the mother. The testi-
hearing on the actual tragedy.
Julius Jeffcoat. son Of the dead
man, was the last witness and testi.
fed as to certain letters which were
introduced.
The first letter II oduc' \ was the
following ,one, which was written
to Mrs r. a. Jeffcoat by the de-
tective. who initiated the handwrit-
ing of Mr.. Harley:
''IlIne the >.
"Dear Friend:
Il reserved the mony Just as ynu
promised il. certainly was great help
to me Just at this time. am not
feelin so well at present. ! hope