Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-09-23
CASE OF AARON HOWELL.

The trial of Aaron Howell, formerly
of the Bethany neighborhood OF York
county: but for some years a citizen
of Columbia, for the killing of G. G,
Armstrong in Columbia on January 29
last, was commenced in the Richland
county general sessions on Wednes-
day, and will not be concluded before
this afternoon or tomorrow.
The following report of the case is
from the Columbia State of yesterday
and this morning. According to the
States report Of Wednesdays pro-
ceedings:
The first witness for the state was
DR.. NJ. M. Rice, who testified as to the
nature of the wound which caused the
death of C. c. Armstrong.
officer Knox testified that he ar
rested Mr.. Howell after the shooting
occurred. R. D. Walker, coroner, said
on the stand that he searched the
pockets and person of c. c. Armstrong
and found that he was not armed.
w. p. Parish, young man who was
Gn eye witness of the whole affair, said
that he was with Mr.. Armstrong when
Mr.. Howell and he met on Olympia
avenue. The two men stepped to one
side. After talking for a minute or
two, Howell backed off a few steps
from Armstrong, and the word cow
ard" was passed. Then the two mer
grappled. Howell, according to the tes-
timony of the witness, drew his pisto
and fired three times. Armstrong
staggered as far as the street car track
and fell dead.
The State of this morning has the
following:
The Richland county court of gen.
eral sessions spent yesterday in hear
ing the case of Aaron Howell, the
bookkeeper of the CRANKY Mercan-
tile company, who is charged with
the murder of G.. c. Armstrong on
January 30 The state finished Its
half of the case early in the morning
session. The taking of the testimony
of the witnesses for the defense occu-
pied the remainder of the morning
session and all Of the afternoon. The
defendant will probably be placed or
the stand this morning.
Mrs. J. b. Hutto, one Of the wit
nesses for the defense, testified that
she saw a "red-headed man" take a
pistol from the person of G. G. Arm
strong after he had been shot by
Howell and had fallen by the street
car track on Olympia avenue. Ac-
cording to Mrs. Hutto, who was a
spirited witness, the red headed
man threw the pistol away.
When the shooting took place. Mrs
Hutto, said that she was 20 steps In
advance of Howell and Armstrong
When she looked around, Armstrong
had his hand i'm Howell's collar. Howell
drew a pistol and fired three times
Armstrong staggered as far as the cal
track and sank down. his head resting
on his arm. Then, declared Mrs. Hut
to, the "red-headed man" went to him
took the pistol from some part Of his
clothing. and tossed it away.
On cross examination by Solicitor
Cobb, Mrs. Hutto said that she was 41
years old and the mother of eleven
children. She was living in Orange
burg at a cotton mill and had been
there since about a week after the
shooting at Olympia. She showed a
great deal of spirit and made some
rather tart replies to the solicitors
questions.
The first witness for the state yes
terday was Marion Howe. with whom
C. G.. Armstrong boarded previous to
his death. Mr.. Howe said that he had
frequently visited the room of the de-
ceased and had never seen a pistol
there.
He was followed by ]. NJ. Brown.
VINO. WIN W. L. IdllSn, WAS ali eye
witness of the shooting. Mr.. Brown
said that the affair occurred on Olym-
pia avenue. near the reservoir. He,
Parish and the deceased were tOgeth-
er when they met Howell. Armstrong
asked Howell about an account at the
CRANKY Mercantile company. Some
words were passed and Howell drew
a pistol. Armstrong called him a
coward and the two men grappled.
Howell fired several times. Armstrong
broke away. walked as far as the
street car track and fell.
When he was crOsS-eXamined. Mr..
Brown testified that he searched the
body of the deceased and found Il
whisky bottle but did not see a pistol.