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

Pearlstine store had been closed about
two weeks before the shooting The
exact relavency of this disclosure was
not made apparent to the listeners.
The fifth witness was Mr.. Marion
BYRD, postmaster at Branchville. His
testimony was given in most
straightforward manner, and the
Keen and able cross-examining attor-
ney could not shake this young man IS
testimony in the slightest. Mr.. Byrds
testimony was practically as has been
published heretofore. he having been
a witness at the coroner's inquest held
by Magistrate Dukes. He said that ne
was on the inside of the postof1ice,
his wife being there also; that he
heard a scuftle or noise on the outside
and thought 1t was carriers coming
In, but clerk suggested that it
sounded like a fight On account of
his wife's presence. he ran out to the
lobby TO stop the disturbance and he
then found Jones and Pearlstne in
| fight. Pearlstine, he declared, was
striking Jones. and Jones had his
hands upraised over his head for APP
parent protection as he went out. He
quickly grasped Abe Pearlstine by
the arm and told him that his wife
was inside and not to have any fur
ther row out there. Pearlstine ceas-
cd his fight at once and began apollo
gies to Byrd. Pearlstine and himself,
said the Witness started walking off
slowly together toward the postmas-
ter's door, and had gone about II
feet, both OF them walking slowly and
looking downward. The postmaster
said he paid no attention to Jones
while he and Pearlstine were walking
away from the point where the fight
had been in progress. The witness de-
clared that when Pearlstine and Byrd
were about IL feet from the point
where the fight was in PROCESS at the
II
denly shot was fired and the post
master saw Jones with a pitsol in his
hand, about to feet from Pearl
slime. The wounded man said, II am
shot," and just then Byrd's wife on
the inside in the private Office scream
ed. and Byrd leaving Pearlstine sup
ported against the wall, ran in to calm
his wife.
On close questioning Of Mr.. Raysor,
MIR. Byrd declared that the fight be-
tween the two men had ceased and
that he and Pearlstine were walking
off together slowly when Jones came
up and shot Pearlstine. He testified
that there was no effort on the part
or Pearlstine after he (Byrd) had
separated them, and he and Pearlstine
were walking off slowly together.
Mr.. Wolfe conducted a rigid cross
examination Of Mr.. Byrd. bat ne fail
cd 10 shake the testimony OF the wit
ness. or 20 confuse him in the slight
est ~ tho conclusion OF Mr.. BIRDS
testimony. me Court took d recess
Earle Smoak, assistant postmaster
in the main corroborated the testi-
mony OF Postmaster Byrd, nothing
new being brought out either on the
direct or cross-examination, except
that the point was emphasized to the
effect that Pearlstine was looking at
Byrd when he was shot to deah.
Clifton Dukes. young business man
OF Branchville, testified that he was in
the postoffice lobby. standing at the
money order window. when Pearlstine
entered. later followed by Jones. Wit
ness said he heard Pearlstine three
times ask Jones to read a paper which
the former held in his hand and was
endeavoring to get before the eyes Of
Jones; that Jones pushed back the
paper, whereupon Pearlstine struck
him saying Take that" A scramble
followed and the postmaster came out
and separated the two. Neither Of
the two men, said the witness, was
knocked down in the scuffie. Then"
said Mr.. Dukes. "Pearlstine and the
postmaster walked off together, Pearl
stine apologizing to Mr.. Byrd"
Mr.. Dukes said that Pearlstine stop
ped after the scufile to pick up his
hat, which had fallen to the floor;
that Jones followed. walking fast, and
got ahead Of the two; that as he near
ed the front door he drew his pistol
from a shield and fired once: that
Jones was about nine feet from Pearl
stine. Witness testified that there was
no fight going on when the shot was
hred; that there was nothing said. by
| either Pearlstine or Jones.