The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-03-03
fStan Correapondence. }

L
OF general sessions for Oconee coun-
ty this morning william r. Mcclure.
j. Woodrow Campbell. Calma c. Kay,
8. Augustus Jones, John Mcdonald
and William Kay, residents of the
Fair Play section Of this county. were
7 placed on trial for their lives, tho
grand jury having indicted them on
charges of murder OF Green Gibson,
. ono 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
o little moro than half OF its testi-
mesy in. Tho prosecution put up
twelve witnesses during the day. and
: OF this number two might be spoken
lof as "star" men. Testimony given
by tho other ten witnesses was of
minor Importance, as compared with
that Given by the two principals. or
tho large amount OF testimony offered
by the State on the opening day of
he trial, however, only q portion Of
u had bearing directly on tho case
at stake, that is. the murder of Green
Gibson The State. It was announced.
I Is introducing this testimony for a
specific purpose, end that Is to show
the state of mind of those charged
with murder OF Green Gibson.
Tell Horrible Story.
fiie testimony offered by the priii-
eippl Witnesses for the State today
tells q story or alleged brutality such
iss this section OF the country proba-
bly, has never heard before. The testi-
s inony tells of the beating or two me-
z gro nieB, George Gibson. q son OF the
= rcens Gibson for whose alleged mrr-
+ der the defendants are being tried,
z anu Tom Spights. The account OF the
6 beating the witnesses swear Was given
! these TWO negroes. by the defendants
themselves and by three negro men
VINO were made to take part In the
Tying.
Tho alleged beating given the ne-
q gfoca took place In the State OF, Gc0r-
Z gia. and from tho effects uf tho r..
Juries then sustained tho negroes ara
said TO have died. hut, as stated IN
the outset. this testimony appsara To
have no direct bearing on the case
! nt stake.
The defcnse objcctcd from the first
: 10 the Introduction OF Testimony as
{ 20 what occurred on the Georgia side.
aha as TO any Treatment given any
Dody but Green Gibson. as the testi-
Z inoly was irrelevant. The Stata con-
( tehueu, however, that IL was necessary
90 hnoR what transpjred Immediately
preceding the death OF Green Gibson
~ oraer to show the state OF mind
4 the defendants were in, and to show
\ malice on their part. The court ruled
4 thnt tho testimony was pdmIssable
Z and the hearing OF evidence OF fliis
character continued y Z : q
y, Beaten by Eight Men,
Y Tho principal witness nut nm todav
py ihe State was Alonzo Anderson q /,
i = ti iiatiiai9 t The negro testified that he
+ was siiying on the farm OF woodrow
!. y, sSaIlppeii last December, and that ON I.
& lle 10th or tlia. month he saw Colmps3 /
3 Ray. John Mcdonald and VIII Kav
af the home of Mr.. Campbell Thnt
S morning, he stated, he hitched nm sey-
erai buggies ut the direction OF Mr.
Campbeli; that the white men man.
: Toned and himself and two other mo-
3 sToes got In the buggles and started
= NJ Tom Spight's house. (Spirhts A.
one OF the negroes who, Il is said 4
y was beaten to death and who after.
) wards died in Hartweil jail Of his
4 slhJuFieb.B S 30 =,
Upon arriving at Spight's house tho
\ witness stated. the white men went In
9 70 tne mouse and presently returned
y with Spights, who was nut IN bnerS
aud driven away IN tho direction Of
{ INC Georgia line. On the way ~
spights house. he stated, they nat
augustus Jones, who accompanisf
;stlle party. Ho gave the names or the:
other negroes IN she alleged whippine
; White. a - "a = ~ --s'' 80 :.
Enroute from the home Of Tom,
Spfghts to- the Georgia line. the wit
s ness 50 sttnuesls the party met three
negroes coming up tina 9osttl In a !bukyI
: these neEroes being George (:i6-
,sHoist 10hn Swtnger and, snotlser negro
whom he did not know The yitnaEa
stated fhat the party OF Whit, mo-.
toek George Gibson eut Of his bugsy;
that one or tFo OF shs men best MIN
aborl sonlei that they tied Gibson and
( look hint along with Tom Spiahts ana
:, went In the direction or Fair P.ay
and the leorkia side AT Fair Plavl
he stated theY were Joined by, William
e - aicC Clure y y Z 8 s.
Negsses Given Beating.
The ssitnees described how the
\ parts fneyea on across the State iine.
ergseIng Knox, s bridge; and stoppIna
at an old store ID few yards from f,ie
bridge on fhe Georgia side of the