Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-07-17
GENERAL SESSIONS.

The court of general sessions was
engaged all Of Tuesday in hearing the
testimony in the case against DR.. ]. E.
w. Halle of Rock HILL charged with
NAL practice. The closing arguments
and Judge Moore's charge took up the
greater part Of Wednesday morning.
After a deliberation of about fifteen
minutes, the jury returned a verdict of
not guilty.
The next cases taken up were those
against J. Ed Turney and Thad E.
Turney charged with the killing Of j.
K Wells and Pink Dover on the night
of May 5.
Although there were two indictments
against the defendants, one for each Of
the men slain, by agreement of coun-
sci both cases were tried together.
Thos F. Mellow, Esq, represented
the defense and Solicitor Henry, as
sisted by John r. Hart, Esq, Of York
vile and c. Fred Mcmillan Of King
Mountain, n. c., conducted the prose-
cution.
Not in the last few years has there
been a case tried in the court Of gen.
eral sessions for York, that has at
tracted as much interest as this case.
Owing to the fact that all the parties
involved are more or less prominent in
the north western part Of York county,
the case has caused much comment
and citizens of all parts of Kings
Mountain township to the number of
two hundred or more were on hand for
the proceedings. There were friends OF
the dead men and Of the defendants on
hand at all stages Of the case, and
there were many who were friends Of
both parties.
Many people from the section around
Kings Creek and Kings Mountain and
other sections across the state line
were present. Numbers Of boys, 16 10
Is years Of age as well as older men.
were there. A great many of them had
never been to the county seat before,
which fact taken in connection with
the tremendous extra pressure OF lay
ing by time in the crops, emphasized
the intensity of their interest. There
appeared to be very little partisanship.
however, as about the most that any OF
them cared to say was 'all want is to
see justice done"
The big crowd was too much for the
temporary court room. 1t filled the
seats, desks, all available floor space
and blocked up the doors and windows.
single small electric fan was un-
equal to the task of keeping an appre-
ciable air current stirring, and the
place was hot and stuffy beyond eX-
preston. Collars and cuffs melted
rapidly, shirt fronts went ringing wet.
and because of the unbearable discom-
fort Wednesday afternoon. his honor
not only ordered a short recess but
gave everybody permission to remove
their coats which permission was
freely taken advantage Of by jurors,
witnesses. lawyers and others.
After the arraignment Of the prison
ers both sides exercised great care in
picking the jury. The defense excused
eleven as follows:
r. w. Lowry, j. G. Wells, j. n. Nc
Gill. D. D: Wright, w. T. Y9ungblood'
l. II. McAbee. A. r. Smarr j. a. Min
ter. J. Il. Quinn, ID. T. Woods, II. c..
Moore.
The prosecution excused: w. |. Bri
son, ]. d. Clark, B. NJ. Currence, w. T.
Beamguard. G. a. Cowan.
The venire was finally made up as
follows with John S. Sandifer as fore
man. II. c. Simril. ]. NJ. Smarr, w. NJ.
Setter. r. w. Mcconnell, r. P. Carnes,
w. r. Harper, Quinn Wallace, j. S.
Sandifer, ]. n. Hogue, w. T. Lyon, r.
=. Lambert. j. a. Mills.
A. A. Lockridge testified that he had
been summoned to the scene Of the
killing by son of Jim Mack. at whose
house the tragedy occurred. about one
o'clock Both Wells and Dover were
dead; Wells's back pocket was turned
wrong side out and Dover's watch was
gone and his hands were folded on his
breast.
Wash Harlow, was at the scene of
the killing when it occurred. Wells, he