The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-21
Hyde, Who Killed His Wife aEd HsE
Fa tbsr, Convicted If Murdey
VERDICT PLEASES HIM
He Would Not Employ a Lawyer to
Defend Him.-Says the Verdict Is
just One and He Will Be the
Happiest Man That Has Ever PAID
The Death Penalty.
The Death Penalty.

4hC DNSSIA CAShASJs
Samuel N. Hyde, confessed mur-
derer Of his young wife and her faith
er, was convicted by a jury late Tues
day at Anderson and sentenced to Jbe
hanged The death sentence was'
pronounced by Judge Prince Wednes-
day morning. The reading OF the
verdict had no visible effect on the
prisoner, who said later that the fnd-
ing was just one, that he was quif-
ty of murder and expected to be con-
victed. Under the laws of South Car
olina, pleas OF guilty in murder cases
are forbidden.
The crime for which Hyde was
convicted was committed on the
night Of July 18th last at Anderson.
While Mrs. Hyde and her sister, Will
lie Beasley, aged Is, lay asleep in
one bed, and her parents, w. v. Beas-
ley and wife, were asleep in another
bed in the same room, Hyde entered
and fired three shots into his wife'e
body, killing her instantly, and fred
twice atjher sister, both shots taking
effect, but not seriously wounding
her. Reloading his revolver, he shot
and killed !Beasley, who was attempt
ing to disarm him. N
Mrs. Beasley-was the principel wit
ness ,forthe prosecution at the trial.
She describedoin detail the events On
the night 1oftthe tragedy. Sheriff
King told Of Eyde surrendering hinE-
self ana,seying he planned the mur-
der Of his.wife and was well pleased
with the deed. 30: ,'l' .s-
The State rested it's case at one
o'clock, land the defence introduced
several witnesses, who testified In
support Of the claim Of the prisoners
counsel that he was a victim OF
hereditary insanity. Following the
argument by the attorneys and the
Judges charge, the jury retired and
fifty-five minutes later returned a
verdict Of guilty.
Mrs. Emma Beasley, mother OF
Mrs. Hyde, and wife Of W. w. Beas-
ley, testified that she and her hus-
band were In one bed in the room
and that Mrs. Hyde and her 15-year-
old sister, Willie Beasley, were in
another bed in the same room at the
time Of the shooting; that the shots
awoke her and that she slipped out
Of bed and grabbed Hyde as he was;
going out of the door. She was as
sisted by Mr.. Beasley, who caught
Hyde around the back. Hyde re-
loaded his pistol, she said, and hefG
up his left arm and fired on Mr..
Beasley, killing him instantly. Mrs
Peasley stated that the married. life
Of Hyde and his wife was very u1a-
pleasant; that they frequently quar-
relied and that they had been parted
twice. She said Hyde deserted Mrs.
Hyde and for that reason her father
had taken her back home.
The prisoner as he sat by his old
deaf father accepted the verdict with
OuI lICulol tluu "llhOuI oAJ
change Of expression. Before being
led from the Court room to his cela
in the county Jail, he stated that the
verdict is just one, that he is suil-
~ of murder and tha the expected
contradiction. 81 didn't take the
sand Oh my behalf" said Hyde, be
cause | didn't want to be classed
along with these witnesses for the
state, who svore lies on ME. They
stated that I had deserted my wife
aad that they hadn't taken her away
from me. chat is not so. There is
one thing certain, they won't be able
20 seperate me from my wife any
lrore, and when the sheriff hangs me
will be the happiness man that has
ever been hung. The Court appoint
ed Mr.. Rice to plead my case. He
IA mighty we'll. He made a sood
fight but useless one. | knoW'1
was guilty d murder and | know
that I deserved TO be hung"