Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-03-10

In rebuttal to this testimony the
State put on the stand the man
with whom Green Gibson had lived
for the past twelve years and other
witnesses who had known the negro
for fourteen years or longer. All Of
these witnesses testified that Green
Gibson's reputation for peace and or
der was very good.
The defense produced several of a
large number of witnesses to testify
as to the reputation of the defend
ants. After the Solicitor had lis
tened to a few Of these witnesses,
who testified that the defendants
reputation for peace and order were
good, agreed to accept similar testi-
mony from all other witnesses with
out their going on the stand.
The Conclusion
of case that has probably aroused
more interest thar any other in Sourn
Carolina for the past decade came
Thursday afternoon, when, after a
deliberation Of some 2S minutes, the
jury returned a verdict Of not guilty.
This verdict was far-reaching and
meant full eXoneration to not only
Mcclure, but to all of the six men,
who were charged with the murder.
Inc trlal was fair, the men were
given the chance which every white
man in the State is given. The So
licitor put his whole soul and heart
in the case and used every advantage
that he was able to to bring about
justice. AS he said in his argument.
Il have nothing against these men
here. They have been my friends. all
of them, and many of them from
childhood, and | wish that might
| shift the responsibility Of TRYING to
prove q case against them in this
Court" MIR. Smith made an excel
lent argument. He argued about the
power Of a Magistrate and told of the
sacred and high honor Of calling on
the possee comitatuS and self-defense.
The defendants had every advant-
age that money could buy for them
in the way of counsel. Their coun-
sci was of the best, and they had
their hearts in the work. On the
other hand, the State was well repre-
sented. Solicitor Smith was at his
! best and his efforts for the State
were such that when the case really
came to the jury, it was a matter of
grave importance to them to decide.
Judge Frank B. Gary made a strong
charge to the jury. His first dis
course was on murder, then on the
plea of self-defense. He dwelt long
on the power of a Magistrate, rela-
| tive to making arrests and his power
to call upon the posse comitatus. The
jury then retired, and in less than 80
minutes (2S minutes to be exact)
they had returned a verdict with the
two words, mot Guilty"
This memorable case lasted for
three days and has created a great
deal Of interest in Anderson and Oco-
nee counties and parts of Georgia.
The affair was brought to light in
piece-meals and the real happenings
were never brought out until the case
was on trial.
A Resume of the Case.
The case started on Tuesday morn
hn a I'm Of
jury was first hard ITO get. They
were asked if they would convict a
white man Of killing a negro if it
were proved to them conclusively that
he did kill him. That question threw
many Of them out and objections
threw great many more out. Final
ly the twelve were drawn. They lis
tened patiently through three days OF
evidence and the arguments of the
State and defense. Then they heard
the charge Of the Judge, and the case
rested with them. On them were
resting the lives and liberty Of the
six white men. They gave them back
their liberty and life when they
wrote, with one consent, Not Guilty.
The evidence offered on the first
day was mostly that of the whipping
OF two negroes, George Gibson and
Tom Speights, this whipping havirg
taken place IN Georgia These ne
groes died Of the beating they had
received. This evidence was not
bearing directly on the case, and
though it brought forth one of the
most brutal and heartless killings, ii
was practically worthless in the case
Of the murder of Green Gibson