The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-07-16
CORONER'S JURY
FINDS VERDICT
INQUEST OVER SHERIFF HOODS
BODY CONCLUDED.
Hood Alleged to Have Been Killed By
Two ISenhOWerS, Jesse MOrri-
son and Jim RawlS.

d. Hood did not nre the nrSt SnOt
in the court house tragedy that stirred
the entire State on June IA, was
stated in the testimony of five or more
witnesses at today's inquest held over
the body of the lamented officer By
tie jury's verdict the death of Sheriff
Hood is charked to Clyde Isennower,
Ernest Isenhower, Jesse Morrison and
Jim Rawls.
Sensational testimony was offered
by Alexander Broom and E. V. Cam
eron.
A L. Scruggs, county treasurer, was
the first witness to testify. He in
troduced the mysterious fellow who
wore dark clothes, but was in his
shirt sleeves at the time with dark
hat on. On examination of Mr..
Scruggs by Foreman ]. E. Coan, Mr..
Scruggs said ice could not say who it
was. The remainder of Mr.. Scruggs'
testimony was unimportant except
that he, too, testified that several shots
were fired before Snerig Hood at
tempted to return the pistol shots.
'FNow boys, let's all get around
him." was Sheriff Hoods statement as
tie posse alighted from the automo-
bile, as a precaution, said Mr.. Beck
ham, who accompanied the posse
across from the county jail to the
court nause; when on reaching the
middle step of the stairs, according
to Deputy Beckham's statement, Clyde
Isenhowed drew E.is gun from under
his coat and began firing at the ne
gro. He attempted to intercept the
negro's rapid flight up the stairway,
but he could not do so, owing to the
confusion. The witness also saw
Sheriff Hood fire, but not until the
officer had been lit by several pistol
shots. Deputy Barnes Beckham, after
being shot, made his way back down
the stairs, where Ernest Isenhower
covered him with his pistol. Mr. Beck
hams plea, ''W.y do you want to shoot
me, I can't 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
Eisenhower began shooting Mr.. Hood.
Several shots came from the back
and then the sheriff began to fire." as
serted Mr.. Broom. Further on in his
te~+:--~ay Mr.. Broom swore that Err
nest Isenhower, James Rawls and
Jesse Morrison, whose name he learn
ed afterwards, were the three men be-
hind the columns and that the tree
haG p;a.too..-1. -. 0--5sm concluded his
testimony by saying that he drew his
pistol on Erness Isenhower, who mean
while FAD covered Constable Joe Rich
ardson, who was in the act of holding
James Rawles at bay, He spoke to Mr..
Richardson as follows: Would you
shoot a white man for nre-v" All
of the parties quickly put up their
gus. That Sheriff Hood did not an
ticipate any trouble was the opinion
of Mr.. Broom, VITO had been in con-
sultation with Mr.. Hood the previous
Saturday afternoon.
Sensational Testimony.
E. W. Cameron, who gave the most
sensational testimony during the
progress of the inquest, testified as
follows: 81 was sitting out here in
the court house yard when Mr. Hood
brought the negro in. AS tie sheriff
and the others were bringing the pris-
oner out of the Jail yard Ernest Isen-
hover, Claude Isen.ower, Jesse Nor
rison and jim Rawls followed them
across here to the court house. AS
1cey came in the gate of the court
house Clyde Isenhower was fooling
with his pistol, getting it out.
"'They separated then and Clyde
eisenhower came toward the steps and
Ernest Isenhower and Jim Rawls
went toward the column and Mr.. Nor
rison went that way, too, but 1 did not
see him. Clyde Iseni1ower 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 s-ooting, and he
reached back to get his gun. There
were three or four shots fired before
Mr.. Hood got his gun out, and saw
him grab himself saw Mr.. Hood
get out his pistol and point it down
and shoot two or three times. They
were shooting so fast I could not tell