The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-06
GARRISON CONVICTED
SENTENCE TWO YEARS
IAURENS MAN WHO SLEW His
DAUGHTERS SWEETHEART.
DaueaSer of Defendant, Who Was
Sweetheart of Deceased, Gives
Details Of the Tragedy.
(By Jno. z. Aul)
10 The Herald and News.

Special to The Herald and News.
Laurens, Oct. 3.-Charged with
murder in the killing of J. Louis Will
hanson, J. Henry Garrison was con-
victed in the court Of sessions here on
Friday of manslaughter, the jury
which convicted him recommending
him to the mercy Of the court. Judge
Memminger overruled the motion Tor
a new trial, and sentenced Garrison
to serve two years in the State penn.
tertiary Or on the public works OF
Laurens county.
The trial Of Garrison, resulting
from one Of the saddest tragedies ever
enacted in Laurens county, ere 1tea
GREAT interest throughout South
Carolina. Young Williamson, the de-
ceased, was a guest at the Garrison
home at Gray Court, as visitor TO
Miss Mary Garrison, daughter OF D.
Henry Garrison. Young Williamson
and Miss Garrison were engaged 10
he married. Williamson was prom
inent Young farmer of Bethesda, near
Rock Hill, in York county. He BE-
came acquainted with Miss Garrison
while she was teaching school near
his home, and their acquaintance r11-
ened into love and the engagement %
be married. On the night Of the ira
eedy which ended young Williamson $
life ana ,laced Garrison under lndlct-
ment for murder, Williamson ana
Miss Garrison were in the family
narlor. According to her testimony
he was trying to take liberties With
her over her protest. Garrison. who
stated that his suspicious had been
aroused by what he hal heard from
the parlor, went into the yard 10
the window of the parlo,, taklns his
shot gun with him. He said that be
looked through the window and ms
conslusion was that Williamson was
irving to take improper advantage OF
his daughter, as he expressed 1t. he
said that Williamson's back was to-
wards hl.n and he hollered to him to
move. whereupon Williamson faced
him and he shot him, the load taking
effect in williamson bowels, and re-
shifting in death three hours later.
Garrison's testimony was to the et-
feet that he did not know Of William
sons engagement Of his daughter.
Mrs. Garrison stated that she knew
the young people were engaged TO be
marriedr but that, so far as she knew,
her husband did not know OF it. MISS
Carlson s testimony was to the same
effect along this line.
Garrison's attorneys have given no
tice of intention to appeal to the su-
preme court, and pending the appeal
the defendant was granted bond IN
the sum of $1,000, the same amount
under which he was held before the
trial.
Solicitor Cooper was assisted in the
prosecution by Mr.. P. H. Nelson, OF
Columbia. The defendant was rep
resented by Messrs. Ferguson &
Featherstone and Richey & Richev, of
the local bar. There was a hard
fight by the attorneys on each side,
and the arguments to the jury were
able. Messrs. Nelson and Cooper adj
dressed the jury for the State, and
Messrs. Featherstone and Richey for
the defendant. Mr.. Nelson opened
for the State, and was followed by
Messrs. Richey and Featherstone, for
defendant. the arguments Of each Of
these gentlemen being unusually
strong. Solicitor Cooper closed for
tie State in a powerful argument.
The ease was called on Thursday
morning, and the following jury was
=cl~"t9G: l.. p. Bailey, H. R. Pryor. E.
P. ll;l:n. J. ". Abrams. Sam L. Sax
on, N. P. D"dcnbaugh, G. c. Young,
.Jno. A. Abercrombie. G. H. Finley.
F. H. Young. \. I. Mahaffey, T. j.
LAYTON. Mr.. T. J. Layton was ap-
pointed foreman of the jury.
DR.. c. E. Rodgers was the first wit
ness called for the State. He testi-
fled that about - o'clock Mr.. Gar
rison came to his home and asked him
if he had any surgical Instruments,