Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-12-14
ERNEST EISENHOWER ACQUITTED

Mrs. Simril regret their removal from
this community.
ERNEST EISENHOWER ACQUITTED
mot guilty" was the verdict which
the jury that tried Ernest Isenhower
of Fairfield county, for the murder
Of Rural Policeman and Special Dep
uty Sheriff Raleigh Boulware on the
steps Of the Fairfield county court
house on the morning Of June IA,
returned at $50 o'clock Friday after
noon. A space Of hours and 80 min
utes elapsed from the time the indict-
ment was handed the jury until their
verdict was heard by the court.
Before the jury entered their box,
Judge Rice warned the audience that
there must be no demonstration what
ever no matter what the verdict Of
the IL men might be. There was no
demonstration, not even a murmuri
when the clerk read the writing on
the back Of the indictment, mot
guilty"
Immediately after the verdict was
rendered, former Governor Blease,
Of the defendants counsel, walked
over to the jury box and shook hands
with each Of the twelve jurors. Err
nest Isenhower, the defendant, then
walked over to the jury, grasped their
hands and gave a hearty shake to
each hand. Most of the jurors return
ed the hand-shake Just as heartily.
Friends Of the exhonerated man then
crowded around him and silently
pressed his arm and congratulated
him upon the verdict.
After the case was ended Isenhower
and his counsel went to the office OF
John R. Hart, Esq, where they spent
short while, after which they went
on the streets and were kept busy the
balance Of the afternoon receiving the
congratulations Of the many persons
who appeared anxious to offer them.
Relatives Of the dead Rural Police
man Raleigh Boulware had nothing
to say. They did not appear surprised
at the verdict; neither did they ap-
pear to be incensed over it.
Within a short time after the jury's
verdict, counsel for the state and pros
ecution began discussing the ques-
ton Of whether or not the case
against Ernest Isenhower, Jim Rawls
and Jesse Morrison charged with con.
spiracy to kill Sheriff A. D. Hood and
the negro rapist, Jules Smith, should
be tried Immediately or continued
Counsel for both prosecution and de-
Tense told the court that they were
not physically or mentally able to 60
into the case Immediately. It was
pointed out by Judge Rice that II the
cases were taken up this week there
would be no chance for any civil cases
to be tried at this term Of court. Both
sides agreed that the judge mark the
cases continued until the third week
Of the April term Of court, Judge Bow.
man will preside.
There was little surprise among
York county people over the verdict
There was reasonable doubt as te
the guilt Of the prisoner" they said
THE law says any reasonable doub,
must be solved in favor Of the defend.
ant"
II feel greatly relieved" said Err.
nest Isenhower, the defendant, ir
speaking Of the verdict shortly befort
he left over the c. & NV, for hi.
home Friday evening. II felt sure the
jury would acquit me. I told the trutt
and the whole truth on the stand
did not attempt to hide a thing. NJ
one regrets the tragedy more than
do. The family Of Mr.. Raleigh Boul.
ware have my deepest sympathy.
had no malice or feeling whatever to-
ward him or Sheriff Hood. The news
papers have painted me as the black.
est and vilest kind Of outlaw and des'
perado. I believe the people Of Yorl
county and those all over the state
now have different picture Of me
from that which the newspaper
painted"
Mr.. BIease's Speech.
Gentlemen Of the jury. today each
Of you have an opportunity second tc
no man in South Carolina" said
former Governor Blease, who CLOSED
the argument for the defense Friday
morning. II would rather sit in your
places and return verdict Of not guilty
than have any other honor OF which
I know unless it be to sit in the chief
executives chair and write pardon
for each person who took part in this
transaction, provided you shall find
them guilty. That dead boy Clyde
Isenhower gave his life to protect his
wife and that little baby whom he
left at home. He did no more than
you or I or any other man with red
blood in his veins would do. He killed
that dirty Internal brute. who ruined
his wife forever and firmly believe
that on the final judgment day the
Great God will forgive him for the act
Every negro in South Carolina Ii
eagerly awaiting your verdict today
said the speaker. If you find Ernes,
Isenhower guilty every negro will
say, I can ravish white woman and
the law will vindicate me- / respect
and revere the law" declared the
former governor, but there Is q law
higher than the written law, q law
older than that Of South Carolina, q
law older than the United States, q
law which was laid down before the
law Of Moses, the law instilled In each
human heart that II you seduce my
daughter or assault my wife, you
must pay with your blood. The sons
Of Jacob lynched the Caananite who
had ravished Diana, their sister,"
The speaker declared that since the
country districts of the state were
without police protection, every man
leaving his home should carry q pis-
tol for his protection and leave anoth-
er with his wife with instructions 70
shoot the first strange man who might
come to the door. During the past
few months, he said, white women
have been assaulted by internal negro
brutes. IF a man does not protect
his home against them then there Is
no protection" he declared. Il would
have done just what Clyde Isenhower
did," he said. IF negro ever laid
his hand on my wife would kill him.
did know I would be hung the next
moment" he vehemently declared.
Ernest Isenhower did nothing ex-
cept defend his brother Clyde, and
shot to save his life," said the speaker
Sheriff Hoods deputies had instruc-
tions to shoot every Isenhower who
hove in sight. There were thirteen
bullet holes in Clyde Isenhower's
body in addition to those bullet holes
in the courthouse wall. Do you gentle
men think for a moment that Sheriff
Hood, Clyde Isenhower and Ernest
Isenhower were the only persons who
did any shooting in this tragedy
Those deputies did most Of it and
they were carrying out their instruc-
tions Clyde Isenhower Is now at the
Judgment bar of God and so is Sher-
iff Hood. The negro julie Smith Is In
H.