Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-10-30
"A, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1o1
t. U. vAUGHN's CONFESSION.
Prisoner Asked for Mercy, But Jury
Refused to Grant 1t.

Greenville, Oct. 26.-In an effort
to save his life Thurston U. Vaughn,
FORMER superintendent Of the South
Carolina Odd Fellows Orphan Home,
In this city, this morning barred the
life of shame which he had led while
In charge Of that institution. Coolly
and disappointedly he told the twelve
men who were to pass upon his life
or death that he had forced five lit
tie parentless girls Of the home to
submit to criminal relations with
him. AS he spoke tears rushed into
the eyes of the Judge, jurors, court
officials, witnesses and the few spec
tators admitted by the Judge.
The foreman of the jury, sub
stantial business man of the city,
wept aloud. The pitiful plea Of the
defendant, however, availed him no
mercy. The jury had retired from
the court room four minutes, when
a knock on the door gave the signal
that they had agreed The prompt
announcement was made by the fore
man that the verdict was, Guilty
with no recommendation to mercy"
This means that the defendant
must die in the electric chair in the
State penitentiary at Columbia.
1t Is doubtful If there was ever
more sensational climax to a crimi-
nal case on South Carolina. When
court convened this morning there
had been no iutimation that the de-
fendant would admit his guilt.
Through his attorneys he had fought
stubbornly and steadily to break
down the strong case which the State
was making through the testimony
of the little girls whose lives the
defendant had ruined. Immediately
after court convened however, con-
sultation was held among the coun-,
sci for both sides, and then it was,
that the agreement was reached that
Vaughn would confess and ask for
the mercy of the court. The attor-
neys for the State agreeing to make
no argument, the defendant was call
ed to the stand.
Il have acted devilishly-I have
acted shamefully," declared the de-
fendant in beginning his statement.
Then he admitted that he had not
only had criminal relations with the
three girls for which he was being
tried but q with two sothers besidesA
He admitted his weakness and de-,
clared that he was crushed by the,
life which he had led. He said that
where he had thought he was strong
est the devil had tempted him, and
he had fallen.
He pleaded eloquently at times
with the jury to spare his life. Judge
Purdy made very brief charge, af-
ter which the jury retired, returning
four minutes later with the verdict,
which was heard by Vaughn calmly.
A motion was made for new trial,
which was refused. Judge Purdy
co I'M 70 10
trio chair on December 20th. Imme-
diately after the sentence Vaughn
was carried to the State penmentiary.
For several years Vaughn was as
sistant superintendent Of the Sunday
school of the First Baptist church OF
Greenville and was we'll thought Of.
He was also a ministerial student.
1t is reported that he has considera-
Bile property in and around the city
Of Greenville.
Lawyers Havo Fight.
The sensational feature Of the
Vaughn trial Friday was fisticuff
between two lawyers, j. j. McSwain,
or the prosecution, having attacked
b. F. Martin, Of the defense, for a
certain reference impugning his hon
esty of motive concerning the bring,
ing out Of evidence
After the first blow general me-
lee followed, and for a time it SEEM
ed riot was imminentA few words
from Judge Purdy, however, quelled
the disturbance. Mr.. Martin was
badly Scared about the face as re-
suit of the blows from Mr.. McSwain.
The fight Immediately followed the
cross-eXaminatiOn OF one Of the three
little girls whom, it is charged,
Vaughn had criminally mistreated
while superintendent OF the Odd Eel
lows Orphan Home.