Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-02

of the State against ]. Henry Garrison,
i the jury rendered a verdict at IL
o'clock this morning Of guilty Of man
slaughter, with recommendation to the
mercy Of the court. S. E. Boney.
The Columbia State Of this morning
contains the following detailed account
Of the trial ]. Henry Garrison for the
killing of ]. Louis Williamson.
Laurens, Oct. ii. Henry Garrison
was tried today in the court Of gen.
eral sessions for the killing Of ]. Louis
| Williamson.
All day was consumed in hearing
the testimony, the arguments Of coun-
sci and the judges charge. Messrs.
| Richey and FeatherStone addressed the
jury in behalf of the defendant, while
Messrs. Cooper and Nelson spoke for
the State.
On the witness stand today, for the
first time, were declared the details
of the tragedy, which occurred near
| Gray Court at about IL o'clock on the
night of July 81, and in which Mr..
Louis Williamson Of Bethesda, York
county, lost his life. Miss Mary Garri-
son and her father were the principal
and the defendant for himself. AL
though summoned for the State, Miss
Garrisons testimony was decidedly in
favor Of her father, a fact impossible
to be concealed.
The prosecution sought to show that
Mr. Williamson was not taking adVan-
tage of Miss Garrison; that his con-
duct was but the legitimate caresses Of
a lover and future husband. The de-
fense endeavored to show that these
acts were not within the bounds per-
missible and that they were COM
mitted against the will Of Miss Garri-
son, who protested against them, and
endeavored to free herself. 1t was tes-
titled that Williamson had been drink
ing, was intoxicated when he arrived
at Gray Court, but it was not proved
that he had had any whisky after his
arrival and the State contended that
he had time to sober up before the
shooting took place.
The defense held that Garrison did
not know that his daughter was en-
gagged to Williamson. The prosecution
contended that no harm or injury was
committed, while the defense took the
position that the indications were suf-
| ficient to convince the father that harm
was attempted.
Judge Memminger made brief but
unusually strong charge to the jury
on the points Of law involved, showing
under what circumstances an act like
Garrison's would constitute a defense
of female member Of his family and
at SIS o'clock the jury retired to find
a verdict.
| Something over an hour was con-
sumed this morning in the selection OF
a jury to try Mr.. j. Henry Garrison
for the murder of Louis Williamson OF
York county, Ten farmers, one clerk
and merchant composed the panel
The State opened its case by the
testimony of Dr. C. E. Rodgers of Gray
Court who was called in to attend the
| deceased Dr. Rodgers testified that
he was called by Mr. Garrison at about
11.3O to come to his house to see a
man he had shot"
Attended the wounded man and as
/ certained that there was no nope OF
recovery. Death caused by internal
hemorrhage Some gunshot and wad-
ding in the wound. Shot entered to
left of abdomen.
Miss Mary Garrison was next put
upon the stand. Had been teaching in
the Bethesda high school, near Rock
Hill and in two miles of the William
son home Met Mr.. ]. Louis William
son and later became engaged to him.
| Returned home May of this year and
| Williamson came to see her in June.
| Upon question from counsel she stated
that she had not told her mother Of
the engagement, but her mother knew
| 1t after tat first visit. WilliamsonS
conduct was proper and becoming a
gentleman on. this first visit. On July
81 Williamson arrived at her home
at about o'clock in the afternoon with
| 7. H. Garrison, her father, who had
gone. upon her request, to meet him at
station. They went walking in the
afternoon, had supper together and sat
for a while on defendants porch, to-
gether with members Of family. Later
at about 930-she and Williamson
went into the parlor together and the
family retired to their rooms for the
night, she supposed, for they were not
| on the porch.
Relating the circumstances just prior
to the shooting, Miss Garrison said that
Mr.. Williamson acted in manner un-
becoming a gentleman, went too far,
took undue liberties. She was begging
him to desist in tones loud enough to
be heard outside. Then she saw the
barrel Of a gun stuck into the window
from the outside, heard her fathers
voice calling out something. Did not
know what. She got up and ran. Will
| hanson also got up and in just mo-
ment she heard the shot. After the
shot she with her sister Fannie, and
her mother entered the parlOr. Will
hanson sat down, but later walked
| without assistance into the bed room,
just back of the parlor, where he pull
ed off his coat and with her (Miss Gar
rison's) assistance pulled off his col
lar. She famed him and stayed at
head Of bed most Of the time. Slept
little while on sofa next morning. Had
sent some flowers along with the body
next day and identified her card on the
| flowers. Also identified a letter Of
sympathy she had written Mrs. Will
hanson after the tragedy. This let
ter was not admitted as evidence.
When Mr. Nelson handed the letter to
Miss Garrison she looked at it a mo-
ment and then tore it in two, throwing
it on the floor. At the conclusion of
her testimony Mr. Featherstone apol-
ogized for the act, saying that under
| the severe strain Miss Garrison was
not herself
Judge Memminger stated that he ap-
| preciated the situation and the act
would not be deemed contempt OF
| court.
On cross examination by Mr.. Feath-
erstone Miss Garrison said that she
knew by his general demeanor that
| Mr.. Williamson had been drinking.
She gave Mr.. Williamson's dying state
ment to her. 1t was this: Il know l
am going to die and l was to blame
for the shooting and not your father,
and I don't want your father hurt
for it,"
Re-examined by Mr.. Nelson, Miss
Garrison said that after the shooting,
Mr.. Williamson asked her to get his
suit case She did so and he got
bottle of whisky out Of it. Some Of
the whisky had been taken from the
| bottle.
Mr.. r. L. Shell and Mr.. w. B. Blythe
were put up by the State, the first tes-
| tifying that he was notified Of the
| shooting and went to the Garrison
| house at about IL o'clock and stayed
until nearly morning. Williamson
made a statement to him. but it was
not admitted as testimony at first.
| Court heard statement while jury re-
tired, which was II don't see why that
man shot me-"
Proper legal foundation for the in
| PRODUCTION Of this had not been laid.
| hence 1t was ruled out. but later from
another witness it was introduced. Mr..
| Rlvthe was the undertaken who en-
! halmed the body.
| Besides numerous witnesses who tes-