The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-07
Bail Refused James Ferguson.

Judge wilson, VINO was presiding IN
Newberry refused bail, last week to James
Ferguson who killed his father in an I'M
fortunate family quarrel, near Antreville
Wits presented would seem to warrent bail,
on the ground Of self defense because OF
disrespctful language alleged to have been
used by the younger Mr.. Ferguson toward
his mother, during the trouble, the judge
with held bail.
On general principles the Judges senti-
ments as here expressed are to be COM
mended, and even in this case we have no
purpose to question them.
The facts surrounding the difficulty, as
near as they could be gathered from MIR.
James Ferguson are about as follows: 1t
seems that the younger Mr.. Ferguson had
paid something like S1S5 90 IN a piece Of
Of land7and his father had bought the land.
His father had said nothing about re-
funding his Jims interest though some
thing more than q month ,had elapsed. He
said that he unfortunately remarked to
some n that his father was not treating
him right in che matter.
He claimed without, any o~stentation,
that since he had been Of age he had help
ed his father financially to the limit Of his
family of his own, and q wife, now sick In
bed, who's sickness and hospital expenses
had cost him q great deaf, some n said,
over q Thousand dollars. While he may
have referred to his helping his father, he
had never done so in an unkindly way,
but evidently some go between had re-
presented differently to his father.
His father came to his house and told
him that he heard that he, Jim, had been
talking about him in connection with the
land deal. He replied that he had said
oo1l;nx bod th,f ln +hD,~hf hto pothar bod
nttreated him right. His father said that he
had also heard that he, Jim, claimed that
he had been supporting him. His father
was very mad and threatening to whip
him, advanced on him. He tried to get out
of the way Of his father but as The was be-
tween him and the door he could not,
When his father ran into him, he held him
off and finally threw him on the floor and
held him there.
He never struck his father first o last
though he showed several bruised
his father had struck him. After his IA
Their had struggled under him for some
time, he told him that if he would go
away and let him alone, he would let him
up, He did let him up and his father and
mother started out of the door. But his
mother, before leaving said that her hus.
band should whip him that she was tempt
ed to slap him herself. After she said this
the father returned with open knife to
attack him. They were struggling, he
said, he to keep his father from cutting
him. He had several places cut
on his vest and his coat
that was left at home was badly cut
which statement the constable c%orobora-
ted. Looking up he saw his pistol on the
mantle. He thought if he could get his
hands on it he could bluff his father away
He claims to have had no other purpose
1t did not work, and in the further strug'
gle he shot his father. He claims that he
had no more intention Of shooting his ia
Their than he had of shooting some one mo-
present; and he said that he would rather
conditions were reversed, and that he anC
not his father was in his grave.
One could not help but be impressed will
the apparent sincerity Of the man. and the
depth of his grief. He has always borne {
good reputation. He works hard and de
spite varied unusual expenses has main
tanned himself respectfully. His father to-
was q good man. Neither was in liquor
at the time if the trouble. It is said tina
both swere considered a little high tenn
pered though sboth were strictly honora
BILE.
The whole affair is most unfortunate
There are no people in the County mOr'
deserving than the elder Ferguson famil!
There were several sons of the family ant
they inherited little more than honesty
good common sense and plenty OF energ!
Nearly all of them by their individual
efforts | have become independent. ant
without exception they have the respec
and kindly regard Of their neighbors.