The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-03
FOUND GUILTY
BoYLEsToN CONVICTED OF AS
SAsSINATING TANNING.
Jury After Being Out Short Time
Brought in Verdict of Guilty With
Recommendation to Mercy.

Recommendation to Mercy.
The case against Ad. Boylston for
the assassination of Cleve Tanning
was taken up by the court at Barn
we'll on Thursday morning and con-
tinued three days and finally re-
suited in the conviction of Boyle
ston 1t will be remembered that
Cleve Tanning, respectable young
white man, was shot to death while
riding home from the town Of Will
liston, several weeks ago, and lis
dead body discovered in the buggy
later by friends.
There had been trouble between
the Fannings and Boyleston on &C
count of Boyleston's wife, a sister
of Tanning; it being claimed that
Boyleston did not care for her and
treat her as he should and that con-
sequently she had gone back to
her father and her single brother,
Cleve Tanning, Boyleston, it is
claimed, had made threats against
the life of his wife and also her
kin if she did not come back and
live with him. This led to the belief
that Boyleston had committed the
crime.
DR.. w. Chester Smith was the first
witness called by the State, who
testified that he made the post-mor-
tenn examination upon the body Of
Cleveland Tanning, and described in
a very clear way his examination.
Mrs. Bessie Boyleston, the wife of
the prisoner, was the next witness
called by the State. Mrs. Boyleston
was the sister of Cleveland Tanning,
and it was over her that the trouble
arose between Tanning and Boyle
ston which caused the i'll feeling
that is supposed to have been the
cause Of the assassination. Mrs.
Boyleston because of trouble, and
that she went to her home and lived
with her people; said that she had
not lived with Boyleston in six years,
and that they did not speak to Boyle
ston or. have anything to do with
him.
AS to threats made by BoyleSton
against the Fannings, Mrs. o. L..
Weeks, the next witness called, tes-
titled as to the threats that had been
made against Cleveland Tanning by
Boyleston previous to the killing.
This testimony was corroborated by
Mr.. F,sS. Marritt, the next witness
called. Mr.. w. G. TAompsons, Of
Williston., merchant, testified next
that Boyleston was in his store in
Williston on the day of the killing
and made some remarks as to his
trouble with the Fannings.
DR.. John A. McCreary, Of Will
ston, testified that on the day of the
killing he was called by Lloyd Boyle
ston, the codefendant, who Is not
being tried in this case, to make
visit to his father, who was sick
at home; that he went out there
and while passing along the road,
which was several hours later, he
saw Add Boyleston and young
Lloyd Boyleston in the woods, near
the branch, close to the place where
Tanning was assassinated.
Mr., Norris Porter next testified
as to a difficulty that had taken place
between Tanning and Boyleston a
few days previous to the killing. W..
T, Powell testified that he heard the
gunshots about 8 o'clock on the
night of the killing. Gabereal Fan
ming the father Of Cleve, testified
to the feeling existing between the
Fannings and Boyleston and the
trouble that they had had.
Boyd Milligan next testified as
to Boyleston's boat and boat locks
etc. Jack Tanning, a brother OF
Cleve, who is superintendent Of the
county chain gang, next testified
that he went to the scene of tns
killing in a few hours after the kill
ing with the bloodhounds Of the
county and trailed the assassin TO
place on the river, where it was
supposed that Boyleston's boat was.
and that when his dogs got there,
they trailed right up to the tree
where the boat was supposed to have
been hitched, and the dogs jumped
in the river and swan out and final
ly had to give up the trail, and that
70. leston's boat was gone.
Mr.. S. A. Wise of Williston testi
fled that he went to the scene Of
the killing in an automobile about
an hour after it occurred, and took
part in the chase that followed with
the bloodhounds Mr.. Wise identi-
fled the buck shot that he had cut
from the body of the deceased On
the day after the killing. He also
identified some buckshot shells that
were taken from the home of the de-
fcndant, which compared identically
with the shot that he cut from the
body Of Tanning.
Mr.. Tom Aldrich. one Of the cnain
gang foremen, testified that he went
tC the scene of the killing with ;he
dogs. accompanied by Mr.. Jack Fan
Ling. on the night in question, and
detailed the chase they had. MIR.