Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-10
Atiseellanep,ts Rraains.

#isesIlaaeulIs Grading,
AcoUIrTAL OF HUGH LONG
End of Remarkable Homicide Case 10
Aiken.
Augusta Chronicle.
Aiken, s. c., June 5.-One minute
and half after the jury, which since
Tuesday morning has been hearing
the mass of evidence in the Hugf
Long case, fled out Of the court room
this afternoon the twelve men filec
back into the jury box and rendered
their verdict, acquitting Long OF the
murder Of Pickens N. Gunter.
The case was turned over to the
jury at exactly three-flfty and
half. At three -fifty-seven the charge
which has rested over the legislator
since, a few days after his election
last September was declared to be
without foundation and Hugh Long
stood free man.
The defense closed just before the
morning recess. When court recon
vened this afternoon at 8 o'clock the
state put up several witnesses IN re-
buttal, and as soon as the evidence
was all in, James r. League, foreman
Of the jury, requested Of Judge Gary
that the jury be excused for mo-
ment. The jurors filed into the jury
room, and were sounded by the fore
man. 1t was the work Of moment
Returning to the court room, Mr.. Lea
que requested Judge Gary to turn the
case over to the jury then, dispensing
with arguments Of counsel.
I'VE have made. up our minds" he
declared. I'VE are all of one mind
We have heard the evidence, and moth
ing the lawyers on either side can say
can have any effect on the Verdic,
we shall render" aa ~
Judge Gary objected and Solicitor
Gunter and attorneys for the prosecu'
ton resisted the suggestion. Judge
Gary pointed out that under the con-
stitution the accused had a right to be
heard, whereupon Mr.. Croft of Longs
counsel, sprang to his feet and inform
ed the Judge that Mr.. Long was abb
solutely willing to turn the case over
to the jury without argument and
abide by the verdict, so clearly had
the plea Of self defense been made
out. The solicitor made two short
arguments against the suggestion, but
the foreman of the jury insisted, and
Judge Gary began charging the jury
both on murder and manslaughter
after which the jury retired only to
record their verdict. o. ., .r
The state had intended making
three arguments and the defense two
1.-The verdict was received quietly
but Hugh Long sprang to the box, and
shook hands with each Of the jurors
Mrs Long, overcome with gratitude
the tears streaming down her cheeks
thanked each Juror separately after
which something like reception was
accorded Long. . '''s
Long On Stand. "
In the same court room where one
Say last summer he made his first ad-
dress to an Aiken county audience In
the interest of his candidacy for the
state legislature, Hugh Long. charged
with the murder of Pickens N. Gun.
ter, today took the witness stand In
his own defense. For more than ar
hour he was before the jury Of twelve
men who held his fate in their hands
With little prompting from his at
torneys, Mr.. Long, whose trial had
already extended over two days, told
story Of persecution, Of threats
against his life, Of the political and
personal enmity Of one faction OF the
people of Wagener, and recited ir
dramatic detail the event Of last sum-
mer leading up to the killing on the
streets Of Wagner Of Pickens Gun
ter. 49,.
A crowd larger than that In attend
ance since the beginning Of the tria
formed Mr.. Longs audience, and a.
the man in the witness chair told nj!
story and was afterwards subjected tt
grueling examination by Solicitor
Robert l. Gunter, a relative Of Pick
en- Gunter, the eyes Of several hun
dred people were fastened upon him
Mrs. Long accompanied by her sister
was present, as were also some mem
bers Of the family Of Pickens Gunter
]. w. Lybrand and scores Of othel
citizens Of WAGNER.
Long was called to the witness
stand at 11.45 o'clock. Briefly he tolt
of his early life in North Carolina
having been born in Union county
near Monroe, in that state; Of teach
ing IN the country schools before 60
ing to attend Wake Forest college
and teaching afterwards until he wa.
admitted to the bar in both NORTH
and South Carolina, taking up news
paper work In the meantime. He
stated he has four brothers. three o1
whom are ministers.
fractional Feeling.
Long told of how factional feeling
had developed in WAGNER, and sale
that when he began his campaign fol
the legislature, Pickens Gunter. the
man he killed, followed him from
place to place over the county, ap'
pearing at campaign meetings held al
Aiken, New Holland, WAGNER, where
he said he was interrupted by Gun
ter; also at Perry, Windsor, Langley
and other places before the Warren
Vile meeting was held, and where
Long was again interrupted.
Long was nominated in the second
primary election, about September