The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-12

wife as she lay in her bed at her
fathers house, in the Orr Mill village,
on the night of July Is, and as he
was escaping from the room he shot
down and killed William V. Beasley,
his father-in-law, who tussled with
him as he passed through the door
of his wife's room. Hyde surrendered
that night to Sheriff King, and since
then has been in a. cell at the county
jail. His case was called for trial at
the recent term Of general sessions,
and when arraigned entered a plea of
Prince, the presiding judge, refused
to accept the plea, and appointed Leon
L. Rice, a yoGng attorney Of this city,
to defend him. On the day following
his arraignment Hyde was placed on
trial. The defence was insanity, it be-
ing proved by the defence that there
existed a streak of insanity in Hyde's
family on his mothers and fathers
sides. Hyde did not take the wit
ness stand, although he expressed
himself a day or two before that he
wanted to go on the stand and tell the
whole truth about the murders. His
attorney thought it best not to put
Hyde On the stand, and he acquiesced.
The jury retired and deliberated 30
minutes, when a verdict Of murder in
the first degree was called. In this
case he was tried for the murder Of
his wife When asked by Judge Prince
if there was any reason why sentence
should not be passed upon him, Hyde
remarked that he had committed the
deed of which he was charged, and
that he was ready and willing to pay
the death penalty lot 1C.
An Appeal Taken.
Mr.. Rice made a motion for new
trial, which was refused by Judge
Prince. An appeal was then taken to
the supreme court, and that tribunal
handed down a decision yesterday
affirming the judgment of the circuit
court.
Immediately after sentence was
passed upon Hyde a local minister
called upon him in his cell and a
few days later, by consent Of Judge
Prince, Hyde was taken to a local
church and baptized. In his cell this
afternoon he stated that he has been
devoting his time to reading and pray
ing in preparing for the other world,
and that he knows he has been forgiv-
en-, and that he is ready for the gal
lows. eff the court wishes 1 am ready
for him to sentence me to be hung to-
morrow afternoon, or if it is necessary
for ne to be hung ON a Friday it will
be all right with me for the sheriff
to take me to the court house next
Friday morning and for the Judge to
sentence me to hang that afternoon"
Fnars EIoctrocufion.
Hyde was asked if he preferred be-
ing hung on the gallows to being elec-
trocuted. He remarked that he was
glad that an electric chair was not US
ed in South Carolina, because he fears
electricity. 'I have been burned once
or twice by electricity" he said, "and
for that reason I prefer the rope.
You know 7 was street car man, and
it was while following that trade that
1 came in contact with electricity"
Hyde prides himself upon the fact
that he has at all times spoken openly
about his crimes, and that he has con-
cealed nothing, no matter how damag-
ing it might have been for him to talk.
He compared his demeanor this af-
ternoon with that of Henry Clay Beat
tie before and after he was tried, and
also with the demeanor Of man nam
ed Campbell, who is now under sus-