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

that the recess womb De taken tneD,
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 conyening of court this
morning William Mcclure. defendant,
resumed the Witness stand, and cross
examination by the State was taken
up and Mcclure testified that on De-
cember 90, he was preparing to go to
Lavonia, Ca; that the other defen-
dants came by his house; that after
conversation they passed on; he later
started on his way to Lavonia; cross
ed 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 at store hour or hour and q
half; talked with other defendants;
they said nothing as to whipping OF
George Gibson and Tom Spights; did
not see whipping of negroes; heard
whipping Of negroes; heard Ed White
(negro) say, Let me get to that G.
| d negro and i will fix
him." / made no protest against
whipping OF negroes; Campbell
| anu OtuGE MnttC hch HSiO
not In store when negroes were being
! whipped; we had nothing to do with
| whipping; 1 didn't know why negroes
were being whipped; other defend
ants were close enough to hear whip
ping; did nothing to stop whipping;
after about Is minutes Cal Kay went
to door and told three negro men who
were whipping George Gibson and
( Tom Spights that he supposed they
had had enough beating; no other
defendants interferred with whipping;
I did not see the whipped negroes
until after the shooting; | couldn't
tell whether they were In bad shape;
don't recall MIR. j.. R. Earle (lawyer
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 and 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 saw
OF them they were within about zoo
feet OF me; they came within about
1875 feet before they fired; the first
time saw the Gibsons they had their
guns up; called 10 Afr. Paul Mer-
ritt, with whom / was talking. to
look out; the negroes fired and Mer-
ritt was shot in the back; ! had no
arms; saw none of the other defend
ants shoot back at tie negroes, but
heard ahooting; we stayed there
about three-fourts Of an hour
at store after shooting; don't know
OF Cal Kay going over into Georgia;
to Get some shot guns; we then went
Il 1>o< nn Inc ofI ON. "
TO Mr.. RhRme's house I told some
people / met to 60 down to bridge
and not let George Gibson come back
into South Carolina; / was afraid IL
George Gibson came back there would
be -uand raised sure enough; 1t OCCUR
red to me had authority a forbid
anyone coming into South Carolina
who would create any disturbance;
started on home: on arriving al my
store Eoles J wes called awsy; en-
my way home from Knox's Bridge ]
stopped by Mr.. Allen Merr!..'s koase; {;
!, was looking for Green Gibson; was
told Gibson had gone down behind
barn; / then drove on toward Fair
Play; i was still looking tor Green
Gibson, however,; the first saw of
Green Gibson he was near Frances
Nichols house; did, not start shoot
Ing at him; I'D not call to anyone
to come as there was Green Gibson;
then tried to head him. on, as I
!, got near to him he turned around:
/ called him to throw down his guns
J, and consider himself under arrest;
he replied that there was no damn
imam could arreat him: advanced
, closer and he pointed gun at me but
didn't shoot;;ig suppose he thought ]
was ont Of range is why no didn't
!. shoot; there had been no shooting up
to that time: at the time he pointed
!. his gun ct me he was isQuhtting on
!. up and started or again; I called to
aim again TO surrender: he said he
wouldn't do 1t; he then hneeles
down, took aim at me and fired l was
, shot In face: no other shots had been
made; II went on to Nose Williams
! house and got Mo5e Williams, gun; /
didn't shoot the gun: the gun. wasn't
loaded: Nose didn't give me any ehalla
until after killing was ali over; i saw
no one shoot as Green Gibson twhan
u wes shot Mr. Campbell came to me
\ i told him, was shot and he would
4 have TO arrest that negro; didn't see
s VIII Kay until after death OF Green
II Gibson y they sat me In the buggy
With Woodrow caMpbelI and I icf,
there; recall seeing none or the
defendants there where Green CaIb.
son was killed: don't remember how
! many Gtina from Georgia side: aftei
killing Of Green Gibson / weht "a
Allen Merritt's house: 1 was MOI
looking saE any more negroes: The
next day I held post mortsn oyes
dead body n Green Gibsrn: / dila Not
: sWeAr aay Of the defenaaffa: q dfd
not swear myaeIf didn't swear Tile
sesendsass because they were moi