The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-12-17
CONDEN[D TO DIE
SLAYER OF BARNHELL MERCHANT
FACES DEATH
To DIE BEFORE XMAS

TO DIE BEFORE XMAS
Trial at Barnwen Results in Convic-
ton Of Negro, Scott Madison-Tes-
timony Clearly Against Him and
Two Said He Told Them of Killing
White Man.
Scott Madison, colored, will pay the
death penalty for the murder of Mr..
E. Peyton Best in Barnwell on the
night of December 8, between Fri
day, December 10, and Monday, De-
cember %, inclusive. Such was the
sentence Of Judge Gage late Monday
afternoon. after the jury had brought
in a verdict of guilty Of murder as to
Madison. and guilty of assault and
battery as to Gilbert Miller, also col
ored.
The testimony Of the case seemed
to show conclusively that Madison
was the guilty party, although he de-
MED having committed the crime. A
summary Of the testimony is given
below. Ed Durant, a negro, who was
the first witness, testified that Mr..
Best pushed Miller, who was stand
ing in the door of the restaurant,
out Of his way, when he left the
building, and that Miller then threw
bottle at him and ran. According
to the testimony, Mr.. Best turned and
defendant replying that the man that
hit him was the one running down
the street. Mr.. Best then turned to
walk away and the fatal shot was
fired.
The testimony of Rufus James,
Mitchell Stroy and Julius Williams,
the proprietor OF the restaurant and
pool room in question, all corrobo-
rated In the main the statements
made by Durant.
Major r. Boyd Cole testified to
finding pistol under the depot, upon
information given by Andrew Simms.
the same being. it was alleged, the
one with which the murder was COM
mitted.
DR.. r. C. Kirkland testified as to
the nature of the gunshot wound on
the body Of Mr.. Best-that the bull
let entered from the back and passed
entirely through the body.
Mr.. Alva Mellett, the undertaken,
testified that there was small bruise
behind the left ear Of the dead man,
which could have been caused by a
blow from a bottle.
Mr.. Vince Dunbar. who was stand
ing in the doorway Of Kearse's pool
room at the time Of the tragedy, tes-
tilted to having seen the smoke from
the pistol Immediately after the fir
ing Of the two shots; that Mr.. Best
staggered towards him and Mr.. A.
NJ. Harden, exclaiming as he fell,
"Boys, I'm shot That deceased
died Immediately thereafter.
Mr.. A. NJ. Harden, who was stand
ing by Mr.. Dunba at the time of the
shooting, testified to having seen the
lash of the pistol in front Of the
negro restaurant and that he caught
Mr.. Best in his arms as deceased was
falling.
Andrew Sims, a negro section
hand, testified that Scott Madison had
attempted to buy his pistol-a 33-
caiibre, left-hand Wheeler-from
him on the afternoon Of the shooting:
that he refused to let the defendant
have it and that it was later stolen
from his trunk, presumably by Madi-
son returned the pistol and said that
he had killed a white man: that wit
ness became frightened and hid the
pistol under the A. C. L. freight de-
pot.
Albert Cave, colored, testified that
negro threw bottle at Mr.. Best,
who turned and asked who hit him.
No one replied, and deceased then
turned and started up the street
when negro snapped pistol at him
three times. Another negro. he said.
then fired the shots. one of which hit
Mr.. Best in the back. Witness could
not identify the assailants, who were
strangers.
Scott Madison is from Remini. He
was put upon the stand in his own
defence, and told story entirely at
variance with the testimony of the
witness for the State So unsupport-
able was his testimony. that he got
badly mixed in the telling and no
weight was given to it whatever. He
denied doing the killing. but said that
it was done with the gun he had got
ten from Andrew Simms. He accus-
ed one Seaman Moore of the crime.
Gilbert Miller testified in his own
behalf, and apparently told a
straightforward story, imnressing his
hearers with the truth Of his state
ments He admitted buying bottle
OF whiskey in the restaurant; stated
that Mr.. Best had pushed him out of
the way, and that he had hit the dead
man with a bottle, after which he
ran away. and that he was quite
good distance of when the shots were
fired. He later met Madison. who. he
said. admitted having shot white
man.
Two negro women and Seaman
Moore were put on the witness stand.
but they denied knowing anything
connected with the tragedy.