The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-01-05
TOWILL GRHLED BY LAWYER
Put Through Very Severe Cross
examination.

cxa1QlQataOu.
Saluda, Jan. John Bell Towill
was led along a rather devious path
here last Friday by c. J. Ramage in
hearing before the clerk of the
court as to his ability to justify on a
bond he is endeavoring to make on
behalf of Andrew B. Watson in a
claim and delivery proceeding insti-
tuted by E. Jones & Co., of Bates
burg, against A. B. Watson and Mrs.
A. B. Watson, Of Hibernia.
The examination took rather
wide range and harked back to the
time Mr.. Towill was member of the
board of control. On the direct ex-
animation conducted by E. L. Asbill
of Leesville, attorney for Mr.. and
Mrs. Watson, Towill stated that he
owned real estate in Batesburg
worth some $4,000 and was mort
gagged to the extent of $4,000. He
also owned a tract of land in Saluda
county worth about $4,000 and a
half interest in a tract of 480 acres
in Edgefeld county.
Asked as to his personal property,
he drew out a batch of notes and
mortgages on real estate and pro-
ceeded to introduce them in evidence.
He held one against c. P. Padgett
and F. P. Padgett, and while hand
ing this over to the clerk, remarked
that it was for purchase money Of
the land 81 inherited-no graft about
it either"
Had Others.
The notes and mortgages aggre-
gated about $4,000. He had others,
but, as they were about due, did not
present them. His valuation of the
real estate he owns is around $751;
900, with incumbrance of only ST.
500.
He said he owned stock in The
Enterprise, the new paper just es-
tablished at Batesburg, but declined
to say how much.
He testified that there was no civil
actions pending against him except
one by G.. E. Jones who was trying
to "swunk him" out of his one-half
interest in the Edgefeld tract of Ian !.
He admitted that he was under bond
on the charge of conspiracy to de-
fraud the State, designated by the
witness as the famous graft cases" ;"
Asked if the $4,000 bond he was
placed under was the general charge
or the label case, he replied "God
knows, I don't"
On the cross-examination Mr.. Ram
age asked witness when he went on
the dispensary board. He did not re-
call. "Was it as early as 1902" He
did not know. WAS it 1904?" He
would not say. He did not recall
whether he served on the board in
1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, but said he
did not serve in 1910. Counsel then
asked witness if he would fix the
time he did serve on the board or
come within five years of it. He
answered that he would not swear as
to that.
Asked if there was not suit
pending against him in Saluda coun-
ty, he said he had never heard of
any, "but 1 would not be surprised if
some dead beat don't start one," and
he added that there was no just
cause for any.
Irrelevant.
Asked if there was not some other
charge against him besides the label
conspiracy case, witness with some
show of evaporation said, II have
never heard of any and I have been
at every court ready for trial and
have not asked for a single post
ponement and am ready now" When
told that the latter part of his state
ment was irrelevant, witness looked
around the room and remarked, 81
reckon there are some around here
who want to use it,
After naming E. H. Evans and L.
w. Boykin as the members of the
board with whom he served, the wit
ness was asked if H. H. Evans was
not under Indictment and he replied,
81 have been so Informed, but have
not been Informed that the powers
that be have endeavored to prosecute
the case against him when the courts
have met at Newberry."
To the question asked by RI. Ram
age if John Black had not been SEN
fenced to five years, Mr.. Asbill OBJ
iootod h11t tho Witness insisted on