The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1908-04-24
THEY WILL HANG.
Two Brutal Murderers Promptly
Convicted Over in Lexington.
TELL OF THEIR CRIME

Whico Was Brutal in the ExtPemc--
The Slaycrs OF Aged Mrs. EIIisor
Given Quick Trial and Will BE
Speedily Exccutcd-A Very Large
Grown Witnessed the Trial, but
Everything Passed on Quietly.
Ned and Brack Toland. the two
negro boys who killed Mrs. Frances
Ellison mt Cayce. across the river
from Columbia, on Wednesday, Feb
rnary 20. were convicted at licking
ton. on Tuesday of murder in the
iirSt degree II Judge James w. De-
Vore sentenced them to hand on Fri
day, May |. The trial consumed only
about eight hours.
Capt. JOS. II. Allen and tho Rich
land Volunteers escorted the prison.
crs TO Lexington Tuesday morning
from the South Carolina pcnitcntiary
andthroughout The trial remained on
duty, with fixed bayonets, aroun the
prison dock. The our room was
crowded to its capacity and there wero
not less than 500 people in town to
witness the trial. There was not the
slightest sign Of drunkenness and
perfect order prevailed throughoutihe
day.
Judge DeVore Of EdgeGcld, the
newly elected Judge of tho Eleventh
circuit was commissioned by Govern
or AnScl to hold the special torn OF
court ordered to try the Toland broth
erS, He proved an excellent presid-
ing Judge. and there was not a hitch
in the proceedings OF the court from
the opening to the hour when the cricr
announced it az adjourned sine die.
The trip was made to Lexington
without mishap. A crowd Of perhaps
100 men were at the station at Lex
ington when the train arrived, but the
engineer, exercising due caution, ran
past the station about 300 yards,
where the soldiers detraincd and,
with the prisoners in the centre OF
company platoonS, the march to Lex.
ingt0n court house. one mile and Z
half distant, was begun. The pris
Oncrs were extremely nervous al
seemed to be mOmcntarily in fear OI
receiving bodily harm and three time!
betWccn the station and the COUrN
house it was necessary for the mill
tia to halt for five minute periods L
allow the negroes to rest, Ned Tolant
giving out completely.
AS they ncarcd the court buildin.
several men on the corner of til,
street opposite the entrance Of tn,
court house yelled three or fou.
times, and some person loudly called
Where are you nieg~crs ?"---but moth
ing WAS started. The crowd in from
ot the building cleared the way TO
the miliatia and prisoners and sooI
they were safely in the court roon
and he negroes seated in the docl
Here a line Of militia was placed o,
each side Of the aisle, on the outci
~ OF The bar railing, Il line o.
each side CT the aisle inside the rail
inS and four at either corner OF The
prison dock.
TWO yound lawyers were appointed
~ the Judge to defend the murdercrs
and the defendants were then formal.
~ placed on trial and a plea Of not
guilty was entered rs to each. Undei
tue law a defendant can not plead
guilty in Il case the possible outcome
OF which is capital punishment.
Found the Body.
Mr.. Paul Ellison. husband Of the
deceased, was the first witness. lie
testified that when he left his hone
at Caycc on the morning Of Feb. Is,
to go to New Broohland, he left his
wife there, in good health. He left
his home about 7 o'clock INC re
turned about II. The house was
locked. When he entered he found
his wifc's dead obdy in a clothes bas-
Ret In the rear DOM with clothes
and quilts thrown over her. Her
clothes wcr" bloody and there were
wounds on her head and face. II.
stated that he missed a gun, loaded
shells. Il razor, "A coat, his Wifc's
cloak II other articles from the
room. He identified the coat. whicl
az that very moment Brack Toiand
was wearing, as the coat hat wa.
taken from hs house Tie mornir,y q
the murder.
Ills gun had been returned to hin
by MI. M. p. Fox. The gun wa.
Identified by Witness and placed j,
evidence. 1t is a single barrtlet
Drccch loader.
The axe with which the crime wa;
committed was identified and pa il
evidence. lie said that the X wa
standing at the foot Of thu
bed aud here was blood on the table
1t had been used to break open The
trunk lie identified the razor, three
h~ankcrChictS and thrce watch chain.