The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-05
tstan Correspondence.l

WALHALIiA, March 2.-ln the court
OF general sessions for Oconec coun-
ty this morning William T. Mcclure,
j. Woodrow Campbell. Calma G. Kay.
3. Augustus Jones, John Mcdonald
and William Kay. residents OF the
Fair Play section of this county, were
placed OH trial for their lives. the
grand Jury having indicted them on
charges OF murder Of Green Gibson,
one Of three negroes who met death
as the result Of an escapade that oc-
cured In that section on December
20, last
The close of the first days trial Of
the case saw the State with probably
u little more than half OF It's testi-
mony In. The prosecution put up
twelve witnesses during the day, nnd
of this number two might be spoken
Of as "star" men. Testimony given
by the other ten witnesses was of
minor Importance, as compared with
that given by the two principals. OF
the large amount OF testimony offered
by the State on the opening day Of
the trial. however. only portion OF
1t had bearing directly ON the case
ut stake. that is, the murder Of Green
gibson. The State, It, was announced
is introducing this testimony for a
specific. purpose, and that Is to show
the state Of mind of those charged
with murder OF Green Gibson.
Tell Horrible Story.
The Testimony offered by the prin-
cipal witnesses for the State today
tells story of alleged brutality such
as this section Of the country proba-
hly has never, heard before. The testi-
mony tells OF the beNting or two me-
gro meE. George Gibson. a son CT ths
Green Gibson for whose alleged mur-
der: the defendants are being tried,
and Tom Spights. The account oflthe
beating the witnesses swear was given
shese two negroes, by the defendants
themselves and by three negro men
who were made to take part In the
beating Of the two negroes, is horri-
flying.
The alleged beating given the ne
groes took place In the State OF Geor-
gia, and from the effects of the In
1uries then sustained the negroes are
said to have died. But, as stated In
the outset. this testimony appears to
nave 40 DIRECT hearing on the case
at stake.
The defense objected from the first
10 Inc Introduction Of testimony az
70 wnat occurred on the Georgia side,
anu as 10 any treatment given any
pouy put Green Gibson, as tho tcsti-
mony was irrelevant. The STATE con-
tended. however, that 1t was necessarv
TO know what transpired immetlIatelv
preceding. the death Of Green Gibson
IN order to show the state of mind
the defendants were In, and to show
malice on their part. The court ruled
tnata the testimony was admissablb.
anu the hearing OF evidence OF this
Character continued,
Beaten by Eight Men. i.
The principal witness nut ;up TO-DAY
by the State was AlonRo Anderson. s.,
muliato. The negro testified that he
was living on the farm Of Woodrow
campbell last December, and that on
lhe 10Th Of that month he saw Colmns
kay. John Mcdonald and Will Kay
at the home Of AIR. Campbell. That
morning, he stated, he .hitched up sey-
eraI ;hnggleR at the direction OF Mr..
Campbell; that the white men mem
TONED and himself and two other ne.
groes got In the buggies and started
1or rom Spt2ht's house. (Spights is
one OF the negrosa who. It isS said,
Was beaten to death and who after
wards died In Hnftwelf Jail or his
injuries.) ~ * 81 y 5.
Upon arriving at SDight's house; the
witness stated. the white men went ms
TO the house and presently returned
with Spightsr who was put in q buggy
and driven away in s,ie direction OF
the Georgia. line. On the way. No
! Spights house. he stated, they met
81 Augustus Jones. who accompanied
tne party. He gave the names OF tito
Other negroes in the alleged. Whipping
party as Nose Turner and Edgar
Enroute from the home of Tom
Spights TO the Georgia line,s tho Wit;
ness continued, the party met three
negroes coming up the road, IN d bug,
~, these negroes being George Glib
l son. John SwingerF and another negro
3 whom he did not know. The witness
\ stated thatsthe party OF white men
:5te9k GeorEe Gibson out Of iiiE buggy.
7 that ono or two; OF tho mon bcaf him
4 about soms that they tied llshs spfi and
I look him along With 10 iii Epissts md,
vent In the SHfreot ION 0s feafr Play
anil tbe Georgia Ssitts AtS & Fair PLAY;
/ hs 3. mated !! they we're toiped bys William
Negroes siJenE ieisi ifig ;SSssss
;:;ss Tho ttness descr ibed now d tiiAi
It1sfty t9 9ysi on j cross tie State. linc,
srt 2eEth 5suox Bird e, asia sf0H6fji2
s5st ,>sl 4, fess rsis frnnas. .thS,
III cok y;l ~ * s5s