The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-06-06
PORTRAY KILLING IN
AIKEN COURT
witnesses Reenact Gunter-Long Ira
gedy.-State Closes Case.

the tagedy which took place at Wag-
ener in the late afternoon of the last
Saturday in last September when
Pickens N. Gunter, president of the
Bank of Wagner and one of Aiken
county's most prosperous and sub
stantial planters, was shot and NOR
tally wounded by Hugh Long, were
vividly reenacted in the court room
this afternoon. Hugh Long, member
.of the general assembly, formerly
mayor of WAGNER, lawyer and a
former newspaper editor, is on trial
for his life, charged with the murder
of Pickens N. Gunter.
AS witness after witness was put
I'D this afternoon by the State and
one after another told how Long shot
Gunter, attorneys for the accused man
insisted that the scene be acted over
and over again before the II men
in the jury box who are to weigh the
evidence and decide Rugh Longs fate.
With Hugh Longs pistol, the weapon
with which he shot Pickens Gunter,
eye witnesses took the part of ding.
IT. G. Croft, of Longs counsel, act
ing the part of Pickens Gunter, and
Col. Claude Z. Sawyer in the role of
Hayes Gunter. AS the witnesses sWore
that Pickens Gunter had Knocked
Long down and he was on
the ground when the first shot
was fired, that Hayes Gunter
pulled Pickens Gunter off Long and
that Long crawled out from under
Counter and fired the fatal shot as he
was getting to his feet, the acting took
place on the floor of the court room,
lawyers and witnesses alike getting
either on their backs or on their
hands and knees to make it more
realistic.
All day long the State has been
building up its case. At 5.25 o'clock
this afternoon, Col. Henderson an
nounced that the State rested. The
announcement came as a surprise
since it had. been stated that the pros
'ecution would put up ABOUT so wit
'nesses.
+ The Defense Opens.
Only one witness was produced by
the defense this afternoon, his testi-
mony being introduced only for the
purpose of establishing plat he had
prepared showing the location OF
streets and buildings on the scene OF
the tragedy. Tomorrow Mr.. Longs
lawyer will begin to combat with a
long string of witnesses the case the
State has made out.
Contrary to expectations, only 80
minutes were required to secure a
jury when the case was begun in gen.
eral sessions court this morning. An
extra venire of 20 names had been
ordered yesterday to anticipate the ex-
pected difficulty in securing jurors
who had not expressed an opinion and
who would be acceptable to both the
prosecution and defense. The panel
was almost exhausted, however, be-
fore the 18th man vas seated in the
jury box.
The jury which is to decide the
fate of Hugh Long is composed OF
the following men: James R. League,
who was selected as foreman, Fabian
summerall, H. *. Kneece, W. E. Ber-
RE, Mood George, H. M. Sawyer, NJ
B. Franklin, R. H. Baker, R. S.
Bates, Luther Goss, L.: S. Napier, B.
Y. Hall. None of these men are from
the Wagner section of the county.
Hugh Long, himself lawyer, was
seated with his attorneys, Croft &
Croft and Col. C. E. Sawyer, through
out the morning session, and was fre-
quently in consultation with them. On
trial for his life, his demeanor is
that which has marked him through
out the severe trial he has undergone
since the last Saturday evening in last
September when he shot down Pick
ems N. Gunter on the streets of wage
ner, afterwards barricading hlmself
in the home of a friend while MOB
gathered outside, from which be was
rescued by the sheriff and his depu-
ties. Mrs. Long was present in the
court room, a friend accompanying