The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-18
CORNELIUS EDWARDS
CLEARED BY JURY
Plea of Self Defense Accepted by Jury
in Case OF Killing Of Sharpe Broth

Killed the two Sharpe boys, Ernest
and Hunt, near Barksdale Station Oc-
tober 9th of last year, was declared
innocent Of murder by the jury which
sat on his case Friday and Saturday.
The trial consumed all of Friday and
part Of Saturday, the jury rendering
it's verdict before the noon recess Sat
urday They remained in the jury
room hardly over five minutes before
returning to announce the verdict.
| The State was assisted in the con-
duct OF the case by the law firms Of
Richcy C Richey and John NJ. Cannon,
Esq Solicitor Cooper took part in the
examination Of the witnesses, but was
prevented from making a speech by a
severe cold. Ferguson, Fcatherstone
& knight conducted the case for the
defense.
AS recited in The Advertiser follow
ing the tragedy, the killing grew out
OF hard feeling existing in the families
Of the Sharpes and Edwards after
Cornelius Edwards had compelled
Ernest Sharpe to marry Edwards sis
ter in Greenville. Ernest Sharpe was
90 years Of age, Duncan Sharpe Is and
Cornelius Edwards 21
Both the state and the defense intro
duced testimony to show that both
sides had INDUCED in threats prior to
the killing, though the state was un-
able to develop convincing evidence of
continued hard-feelfng on the part
of Cornelius Edwards subsequent to
the marriage in Greenville. Several
| witnesses were put up by the def6sse
to tell Of threats made on several oc-
casions by Ernest Sharpe, it being tes-
titled that he ordered pistol specially
to put his threats into action.
Cornelius Edwards went on the stand
| in his own defense and made a cool
| and collected witness, telling the story
of the tragedy and the incidents lead
| ing up to and immediately following.
In answer to questions of counsel, his
| testimony was substantially as fol-
| lows:
Cornelius Edwards Testimony.
am 81 years Of age and live at
Barksdalc Station. Mother is living
but father is dead. | live in the house
with my mother, my brother (Claudc
LamberD and sister. ! work for Mr.
Arthur Putnam. On the morning Of
the 9th l was ordered to take four
mule team and go to the Armstrong
place to get load OF wood. I mot
Ernest and Hunt Sharpe after leaving
the main road at knights Station. l
was riding left hind mule. The place
where was going to get the wood
was about mile from the home Of
the Sharpe boys. About ga miles
from knights I looked up the road and
saw Ernest and Hunt Sharpe coming
in buggy driving a mule. I COM
menced to pull the front mules out
of the road and they became fright
ened at a gully. I succeeded in pull
ing the mules out OF the road, but not
the wagon. The Sharpe boys passed
me and ran out on the bank Of the
road. had double set Of lines Of
front mules in left hand and guided
the rear mules with single rein in
right hand. Didn't notice Sharpe boys
as they passed. There was barely
enough space to pass. They passed on
right side Of the road, being my left
side. When they got to rear end of
the wagon, Ernest says Hold on.
was not looking back. had my right
foot over the horn Of the saddle.
wheeled around and saw double bar
rel gun pointing at me. I said, "Oh,
Lord, pardncr, | haven't thing
against YOU. Ernest Sharpe replied
ri have YOU" had my left shoul
der to them. He shot me. fell on
the ground on outside, near the mules
front leg. l fell on my right knee.
was shot in the shoulder and neck.
They jumped out OF the buggy and
came running at me. I said Don't
shoot anymore. Ernest had shot gun
in right hand and pistol in left hand
Hunt had q pistol. Ernest pressed the
gun to my side and asked How bad
are you hurt? How does it feel Dad
Jim you, III shoot you again" ! then
showed his gun off with my left hand
and shot him with my right shot
Ernest first. He ran into the bushes
on the side Of the road. Hunt ran up