The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-18


ins of Abe Pearlstlne. n prominent
merchant OF Branchville. this county,
on December is. John j. Jones, an
attorney OF the same town. today fac
ell jury of his peers. who shall d.
eide as TO the facts surrounding the
act and as 10 whether or not II con-
stitutes an offense against he laws II
the State.
Judge II. withers Memminger, Of
Charleston. Is presiding. and able
counsel are arrayed on both sides
Numbers OF witnesses have testified
today for both the State and for the
defendant. Marked interest has bsen
displayed. the Court House having
been crowded since IL o'clock, when
the case was called.
In the court room were Mrs. Abe
Pearlstine. widow OF the slain man,
her sister. Mrs. shep Pearlstlne, of
ST Matthews. and the mother and a
brother OF the defendant, Jones.
Practically all the testimony Is in,
the defence having few witnesses
who will be examined tomorrow
morning. The prevailing opinion is
that the case will go to the jury short
iy after noon. Two speeches are to
be made on each side. followed by
the Judges charge.
II is recalled that Jones is alleged
10 have shot and killed Abe Pearlstine
I'm the postoffice lobby at Branchville,
on December is OF last year. Jones
at once came to orangeburg. had him
self Photographed. showing bruises
and blood stains on his face, said to
have been inflicted by Pearlstine. He
} was released from custody on a $4,000
bond granted by Justice Gary.
Much speculation was INDUCED in
as to the trial, some thinking 1t would
be postponed. others wondering where
Jones was meanwhile. 1t Is said that
after securing bond. Jones went back
Immediately to Branchivlle. where he
remained until today. when he came
TO the county seat to stand trial.
From the testimony thus far tthe
plea OF self-defense has not been Nj
vanced OF even limited at. Just wha.
viii be the position OF counsel is en-
tireiy q matter OF speculation. {
The staos has sought TO show that
the shooting occurred after the hsti-
eglL had eGded and that 1t tho time
of the shooting defendant was not in
danger OF bodily harm.
The case was called shorty after II
O'Clock this morning. There was a
brillL mt array OF counsel on bota
sides For the defence Messrs. Wolfe
a Berry. Glaze & Herbert, and Judge
c. p. Brunson appeared. The Solicit
tor was assIted In the prosecution by
Messrs Raysor & Summers, Adam IL.
Moss and w. C. Martin. the latter of
Branchviile.
Mr.. Raysor queried the witnesses on
the part of the prosecution, while Mr..
Wolfe aid the questioning for the de-
fence.
Not much trouble vas had in Sc
curing a jury. though several were put
on their voir dire and closely ques-
toned by the presiding Judge.
The defence objected to eleven
names brought up for Jurors, but the
entire empanelling did not take more
than half an hour.
Mr.. J. w. witsell was appointed
foreman OF the jury.
The first witness called was DIR. j.
8. wimberly. who runs a drug store
at Branchville and is also a practic-
ins physician. He testified that he
heard a shot and ran over to the post
once TO see what was the matter.
ne saw Jones come out OF the
posiofice right after the shot. He
made no examination then of Pearl
stine. whom he found lying on the
moor near the postmaster's door.
He did make a post-mortem exam
nation later and gave as the cause
OF death a bullet wound.
Mr.. Frank w. Frederick. q well
known surveyor OF the county. was
the next witness. He testified as to
n diagram Of the postofhce which he
; had made. with diagram was placed
evidence.
Dr. Chas. =. Perreyclear. a clerk In
Dr. wimberiey's drug store. was next
called. His testimony was that i'm
mediately after hearing a shot at the
postofiice, he saw Jones come out OF
the postoffice and found Abe Pearl
stine on the floor near the postmastsr's
door almost dead. He found no DOW