The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-05
FAIR PLAY MEN
WERE ACQUITTED

that the recess would be taken then,
with the understanding that court
would be reconvened one-half hour
earlier than the usual hour, or at
2:30 O'clock.
Cross Examination Mcclure.
Upon the conTon!ns c. cc@-: .his
MOI ming William Mcclure. defendant,
resumed the witness stand. and cross
examination by the State was taken
up and Mcclure testified that on De-
cember 20. he was preparing 20 go to
I.avonia, Ca; that the other defen-
dants came by his house; that after
conversation they passed on; lie later
started on his way to Lavonia; CROSS
cd Knox Bridge and came upon defen-
dants who were congregated about
store on the Georgia side Of the river.
not far from end OF Knox's Bridge;
stayed ut store hour or hour and
half; talked with other defendants;
they said nothing ,.s to whipping Of
George Gibson and Tom Spights; did
not see whipping Of negroes; heard
whipping OF negroes; heard Ed White
tnegrO) say. LET me get to that C.
d negro and l will fix
him." mado no protest against
whipping OF negroes; Campbell
and other white men were
not in store when negroes were being
whipped; we had nothing to do with
whipping; l didn't know why negroes.
were being whipped; other defend
ants were CLOSE enough TO hear whip:
ping; I did nothing to'stop whipping:
after about .15 minutes Cal Kay. went
to door and told three eanegro men who
were whipping George Gibson and
| Tom Spights that he supposed they
had hnd enough beating; no other
defendants interferred with whipping;
did not see the whipped negroes
until after the shooting: couldn't
tell whether they were In bad shape;
| don't recall Mr.. j. R. Earle Uawyer
| OF Walhalla who passed along by
store just after shooting occurred)
telling me that George Gibson seemed
to be In bad shape and that We had
better build fire for them rnd give
them some attention. as they might
die; we defendants did not see Green
Gibson and his two SONS approaching
through the bridge; the first I saw
| OF thep they were within about 200
feet OF me; they came within about
1855 feet before they fired; the first
TIME l saw the G,bsons they had their
| taho NJ NailSu VII. ESul (uSE~
| lItt, with whom l was talking, to
look out: the negroes fired and Mer-
.itt was shot In the back; l. had no
arms: ! saw none Of the other defend.
lntS shoot back at to negroes. but
| heard shooting; we stayed 3,there
ahLut three-fourts OF AM hour
a. store after shooting: don't know,
Of Cal Kay going over into Georgia
| to get some shot guns; we then went
back on South Carolina side: on way
to Mr.. Rhame's house te!a GONE
people l met to 60 down to bridge
| and not let George Gibaon come back
into South Carolina; was afraid IL
George Gibson came back there would
be sand raised sure enough; II occur.
red to me had authority forbid
anyone coming into South Carolina
who would create any disturbance;
/ started on home; on arriving at my
store house was called away; on
my way home from knox's Bridget.
stopped by Mr.. Allen Merritt's house;
was looking for Green Gibson; WIS.
told Gibson had Eune down behind
barn; I then drove on toward Fair
Play: I was still looking for Green
Gibson, however: the first saw OF
Green Gibson he was near Frances
Nichols house,; / did not, start shoot
Ing ut him; I did not cali to anyone
to- come as there was Green Gibson;
then tried 10 head him Off; as i,
got near. to him he turned around
called him to throw down his guns
and consider himself under arrest;
he replied that there's was mo damn
man; could arrest him; advanced.
closer and he pointed gun nj. me. but
didn't shoot;s suppose he thought j
wRB out OF range .iSi why he didn't
shoot; there had been no shooting up
to thatttime; at the time lie pointed
his gun at mo he was suuattine goni
the ground; .he,dfdn't. shoot but got
up and started of again. called to-
him again. to surrender: he said he.
wouldn't do It; he then kneeled
down. took aim at ME and fired; I was
shot In face; no other shots had been.
made; went on to Nose Williams,
house and got Nose Williams, gun; I
didn't shoot the gun; the gun wasn't
loaded Nose didn't give me any shells
until after killing was all over; saw
no one shoot at Green Gibson; (when
! waa shot Mr.. Campbell came TO me-:
told him Twas shot and he would
have to, arrest that negro; didn't see
Will Kay until after death OF Green
GibsonO they put me In the buggy
with Woodrow Campbell and / left
there; 4 recall seeing none eof the
defendentsf there where Green Glib.
l.aonil was KILLED ~ don't remember how
many gums from Georgia sfde s after
kiltngE' OF Greens Gibson Il went 80
Ails q Merrittfs house: 4, T. was { not
looking for amy more negroes .tha
next day held aisuost fiortem ovat.
dead body .sof Green, glbsopss I did not
swear any l0f the aefendants; r aid
n9t, swear myself didn't sweaY,;fhe
aetenaents sNa becanss they were moi