The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-10-30
MANNING, S. c.. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 80. 1912
TELLS OF HIS crime
TRIAL OF VAUGHN COMES TO A
DRAMATIC CLOSE

He MAKES A confession
The Accused, in a Vain Effort to Es-
cane Death Penalty, Admits His
Guilt in a Statement to the Jury,
Which Returns Verdict Of Gull
ty in -Four Minutes
T U. Vaughn, on trial for Alleged
immortality during his term as super
intendent OF the Ood Fellows home
at Greenville, was put on the stano
by his lawyers Saturday and maze a
clean confession of his awful crime.
The trial was brought to sensa-
tional close when Vaughn broke
down and confessed all. He named
two other victims in addition to those
included in the indictment. the jury
was out but four minutes and maze
no recommendation for mercy, Ine
;erdict carrying the death penalty'
Tears streamed down the face OF
Judge Purdy, named BY Governor
RIeasa as special Judge for this trial.
MANY Jurors, Court officials and spe-
tators alike made no pretence or Mo,
ing their tears as Vaughn, pale anu
hroken acknowledged his crime.
;,,rorc waOt aloud.
In the afternoon Judge Purdy' oe-
fore sentencing Vaughn, overruled
motion for a new trial. Wnlch was
argued by one Of Vaughn's LAWYERS
after his client made his confession
Judge Purdy, in sentencing vaughn
IN death in the electric chair set
december 20 as the date for his eS-
ecution.
when Court opened there was no
,n+fmation that the accused woulT
make a confession. His attorney nao
fought stuhbornly since the oeslh-
ming Of the case to break down the
strong evidence developed by the
nrosecution's little girl witnesses
Immediately after Court opened
Saturday attorneys Of both sides con-
suited. resulting in an agreement 10
let Vaughn confess in an e1ort 10
save his own life, and that the case
would go to the jury without afsu-
ment. ,, .,-a
acted shamelessly," began vaughn.
"The devil tempted me and l nave
fallen" He pleaded eloquently nn'
yainly with the jury to save MS NE.
not so much for his sake as for hls
wife and little doughter.
Neither Mrs. VAUGHN nor her
daughter were in Court Saturday
though they had been with the ac-
cused since the trial opened. he was
formerly assistant superintendent
Of the First Baptist Church Sunday
school. one OF the largest and most
fashionable in Greenville. He was
ministerial student and frequently
occupied pulpits Of churches IN ara
around Greenvil!e. He owns consld-
cradle property.
Vaughn's Confession.
Facing the jury, Vaughn made MS
confession. In all, his statement
makes three thousand words. BTleI-
" summarized it IS as follows:
gentlemen, it is useless 10 say
that IN this instance I am greatly
bumiliated, and for months ana
months I have had agoniz!ng hours
over the whole matter. l wish 10
saw this in the outset, that nave
never wished to conceal one Whlt OF
the truth when the time came 10
make a clear statement. l nave
been so cautious in these particulars
that some have inferred that mac
denied my guilt. I know that some
have had that impression. bu1 !
knew that was guilty and would
tell it at the proper time. For tna'
reason I have made impressions tnat
were unfavorable to me.
"I want to say here and now tnal
am going to assume full respons1-
h;l;ty. want to take it of OF that
rirl want to say that have loved
the girls always. but that love mas
been misdirected and mlssusec. !
don't think the girl will deny to-day
the reality of my love in many re-
snects. vet my conduct towards her
would make her take the position TO.
wards me which she now takes, and
just takes. o.,o,
aee had entire control of her. l
realize that nov. I did it under cir
cumstances about which I would no.
care to go into details here. Al the
very point 1 thought myse'f tne
strongest, l found myself the weak
ast I found that the Devil had at
tacked me with a more subtle ana
nowerful temration in the very place
thought I could not be tempted.
cannot now 90 into the details of the
circumstances surrounding me when
fell. and 7 now assume full respon-
sibility and ask God to save that s,Ei.
"Now, as to the treatment OF inc
children out there; of course. "h!9-
,ed hem. but never did wish to be
| crreI did not abuse them. and had
,o desire to do so. But as hell1sh as
>tic weight of sin has been. and de-
| en;te the suffering of my BODY ana
| soul. it has brought an entirely ne"
viewnoint Of life. am not speakln"
~ this for sympathy. l am s!nnlE
| Eating il to make my position clea',
nd 7 want to say this. that If it TOO"
a., O. his o save. bring me 10 Ther'
! stan7, and in snite of all TINS PROS
.cn.ion. OF all this shame an1 snHer-
! ing, if it has taken all Of this to re-
5eem nv soul and save ne from Hell,
am tbankfur for it TO-DAY.
"I now have better concent:on o.
Cod and Of man. With that 'tct IN
view, realizing the cheanoess O; DE
can be Of better service to cN1 an0
% man. feel that II you VIII give
-,e another onrortunitv. after mead
;,e guilty TO this charge. and let me
| have another chance. l can ne u
! -rore service to Cod than eyer heroTe
| HI NC