The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-21
ACCUSE EISENHOWER
lie OPENED FIRE AND STARTED
WINNSBORO AFFRAY
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY

Coroner's Jury Hears Details of Hor-
rible Shooting Affair-''NIan in
Dark Clothes" Seen, But is Miss
ins-Boulware Shot as He Came
Out U1armed.
That Sheriff A. D. Hood did not
fire the first shot in the court house
tragedy that stirred the entire State
on June II was stated in the testi-
mony of five or more witnesses at
Mondays inquest held at Winnsboro
over the body OF the lamented Off
Ger. BY the jury's verdict the death
of Sheriff Hood is charged to Clyue
Isenhower, Eal nest Isenhcwer, Jesse
Morrison and Jim Rawls.
A. l.. Scruggs, county treasurer,
was the first witness to testify. He
introduced the mysterious fellow who
wore dark clothes, but was in his
shirt sleeves at the time with dark
hat on. On examination of MI.
Scruggs by Foreman J. E. CoSn, Mr..
Scruggs said he could not say who it
was. The remainder of Mr. Scruggs'
testimony was unimportant except
that he too testified that several
shots were fred before Sheriff Hood
attempted to return the pistol shots.
"Now boys, let's all get around
him." was Sheriff Hoods statement
as the posse alighted from the auto
mobile as precaution, scid Mr.
Beckham, who accompanied the
posse across from the ,unty jail to
the court house; when on reaching
the middle step of the stars, accord
ing to Deputy Beckham's statement,
Clyde Isenhower drew his gun from
under his coat and began firing at
the negro.
"He attempted to intercept the
negro's rapid flight up the stairway,
but he could net do so, owing to the
confusion. The witness also saw
Sheriff Hood fire, but not until the
officer had been hit by several pistol
shots. Deputy B:.rnes teckham, af-
ter being shot, made his way back
down the stairs, where Ernest Isen-
hover covered him with his pistol.
Mr.. Beckham's plea, Why do you
want 20 shoot me, 1 cant do any
harm?' caused Isenhower to lower his
gun.
After Mr.. Hood had showed Clyde
Isenhower back" said Alexander
Broom in opening his testimony
Clyde Isenhower began shooting Mr..
Hoou. Several shots came from the
back and then the sheriff began to
fire." asserted Mr.. Broom.
Further on in his testimony Mr..
Broom swore that Ernest Isenhower,
James Rawls and Jesse Morrison,
whose name he learned afterwards,
were the three men behind the col
umns and that the three had pistols.
Mr.. Broom concluded his testimony
by saying that he drew his pistol on
| Ernest Isenhower who meanwhile
had covered Constable Joe Richard
son, who was in the act of holding
James Rawls at bay.
He spoke to Mr.. Richardson as fol-
lows: would you shoot white man
for negro?" All Of the parties
quickly put up their guns. That
Sheriff hood did not anticipate any
trouble was the opinion of Mr.. Broom
who lad been inconsultation with
Mr.. Hood the previous Saturday af-
ternoon.
E. W. Cameron, wIo gave the most
sensational testimony during the
progress of the inquest, testified as
follows: t'I was sitting out here in
the court housv yard when Mr.. Hood
brought the negro in. AS the sheriff
and the others were bringing the
| prisoner out OF the Jail yard Ernest
Isenhower, Clyde Isenhower, Jesse
Morrison and Jim RawlS followed
! them across here to the court house,
As they came in the gate of the court
house Clyde Isenllower was fooling
with his pistol, getting it out.
''They separated then and Clyde
Isennower came toward the steps and
Ernest Isenhower and jim Rawls
| went toward the column and Mr.. Nor
rison went that way, too, but I did
| not see him. Clyde isenhower stuck
his pistol up through the bannisters
and commenced shooting, but don't
know whether he was shooting at the
negro or at Mr.. Hood. Mr.. Hood
stopped when he started to shooting,
and he reached back to get his gun
There were three Or four shots fired
before Mr.. Hood got his gun out, and
I saw him grab himself. I saw Mr.
Hood get out his pistol and point ii
down and shoot two or three times
They were shooting so fact ]
| could not tell who was shooting.
was out in the yard. The only one
| could see was Ernest Isenhower, and
he was on the other side of the col
umn and Mr.. Rawls beside the col
umn. I saw him with a pistol, but