The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-01
is FOUND GUILTY
coMM1TIED DARING CRIME ON
CIRCUS TRAIN.
Young Columbian Met Death on the
Train the Same Night.-Conflict-
ing Testimony Expected.
the San

ing Testimony Expected.
The trial of Roy Rich, one Of the
circus employees on the Hagenbeck-
! Wallace circus train, on the night in
which Paul Williams, of Columb bia,
met his death, which was begun III
the special term of General Sessions
Court Monday afternoon at Lexing-
ton and was concluded Tuesday af-
ternoon with a verdict OF guilty. :
Rich was charged with assault and
battery with intent to kill, and rob-
berry, the direct charge being that he,
together with several other men, as
saulted Barlie Hightower, an 1S-
year-old boy of Knoxville, Tenn, on
the circus train. The only feature
of the trial was the powerful argu-
ment Of Solicitor George Bell Tim
Norman, which was the subject Of
much comment throughout the af-
ternoon.
N. H. Bullock, special agent for
the Southern Railway, with head
quarters at Washington, stated that
he had been in many Court rooms
throughout the country, but that he
had never heard an argument the
equal of that made by the. solicitor
In this case.
Rich was defended by Attorney E..
F. Asbill, who made a strong and
able fight in his behalf. The testl-
mony in the case was practically the
same as that adduced at the trial
of the negroes convicted Monday,
and showed beyond doubt that in the
circus crew there must have been u
number of thieves and robbers. Rich
was charged with having relieved
Hightower of forty-five cents in mon
ey, which he had tied up in his
shirt. The young man said that
Rich covered him with pistol, while
others took the money.
"Trix" Baker, negro, who was
captured by Sheriff Corley in Ovens
boro, KY. q few days ago, testified
that he saw Rich on one OF the wa
gons, on a fiat car, and that there
were six or. eight with him. Ricl
had pistol In his hand swinging;
by his side, but didn't see him as
sault anyone or use the weapon at
all.
Clarence Lamberson, white, who
had only been with the circus about
month, swore that he was in the
baggage wagon; saw man with a
white rag tied over his face and
with pistol in his hand. Didn't
recognize Rich, however, as being
the man.
Specia; Agent Ehney, Of the South
ern, testified as to his being on the
train on the night in question. and
that he saw number of people on
the fiat car, when the train stopped
at Lexington to get water. There
was shooting and general rodyism on
the cars; did not recognize the de-
fendant.
Deputy Sheriff Miller was the last
witness for the State. He testified
as to having been shown The torn
shirt by Marble Hightower.
Frank Anderson. another circus
; hand AMI a negro, was the first wit.
ness for tie defense. He swore that
he saw Roy Rich in bed on the car,
that Rich had been sick and had left
the show before IT was over In Col
; umbia. Elijah Clarke testified to
the same. Clark said that he HIM
self slept on a fat car, while Rica
was in the sleeping car.
J. s. Rowell, the Southern,s agent
! at Lexington, saw four men on the
fiat cars. when the circus train pass
ed the depot, one Of whom he
thought was special Agent Ehney.
The defendant then took the
stand Rich said that he was sick
! in bed on a property car; Joined the
circus in May or June and received
$40 per month from the circus
hands, for furnishing them ice, soap,
towels and SO per week from the
show. He denied being drunk on
the night of the crime; denied that
he had ever been drunk In his life;
denied that he ever gambled in his
life: said 1t would have been impos-
sible to have gone from the car ne
was in without going through the
boss's car, and this car was always
kept locked.