The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-08
Inquest Over Killing
ofMr. David A. Langford

so (across abdomen and threw his
rignt hand to his hip, so Tin manner
of grasping weapon in hip pocket, and
Burton pulled his pistol and shot Lang
ford, with his pistol held so Cat hip.
When Ar. Burton shot Mr.. Langford,
Burton said, You had better not draw
your gun l hollered at Ira and WaI7ed
at him not to shoot any more. Mr..
Langford turned his mead while was
talking TO Mr.. Burton and looked at
me, still keeping his hand on his hip.
He then moved few steps toward
Mimnaughs store, and Burton put his
pistol in his pocket and said no man
cou,d call him liar and hit him in
the face and think ne would not do him
anything
The witness said after Mr Langford
was shot two men came to the corner
of Milnnaugh's store and got him."
Replying to Solicitor Cooper, Mr.
Smith said he did not hear Mr.. Burton
say anything before the shooting; tnat
he knew Burton we'll for a little over
three years, ever since coming to New
berry and had been to see him at the
Jail since the shooting and had talked
with him about the shooting. He
knew Mr.. Langford when he saw him.
w. Hilliard Long, called at the re-
quest of Juror W. A. McSwain, said
that he saw the shooting, but heard
no talk between the principals. "As
soon as Burton shot him begged him
not to shoot any more, and as soon
as Burton turned away stepped over
to Dave Langford and held him UP un-
til Mr.. Smith Langford came up and
took hold of him
Mr.. Long did not hear either Mr..
Burton or Mr.. Langferd say anything
after the shooting. He said Mr.. Lang
ford had his left side toward his assail-
ant when shot and stepped back 0us
did not seem to stagger much He
saw the pistol in Burton's hand and
saw him fire at Langford and stated
positively that the latter made no at
tennt to draw a. pistol
E. L. Hayes testified that he was in
front of fEayes' drug store when he
first saw Burton on the day Of the
shooting and walked UP toward MINI
naugns store to just behind Burton,
who was holding to an awning post
in front Of the store with mis- left hand.
He did not hear any words pass be-
tween the two men, but saw Burton
pull his gun and stick It right in Dave
Ian gford'a stomach and fire."
Dave had his right hand hanging
down and his left to his side" said Mr..
Hayes. "I did not see Langiord strike
burton. l saw Langford at the time
the shot was fred. I am not kin to
either party. Langford turned to the
left as Burton pulled his pistol sec
o1d time"
The witness stated that after shoot
ing Langford Burton several times re-
peated that che didn't allow no c.
ID man to hit him in the face and
cali him liar" He says Burton kept
mis- pistol pointed at Langford and that
he and Mr.. Smith begged Burton not
to shoot any more. "The gun was in
few inches Of LangforFs body at the
time he was shot" said Mr.. Hayes, who
stated that he was not more than 10
Or II feet distant from them.
"Mr. Smith was coming down the
street at the time of the shooting. I
did not hear Mr.. Burton say, You had
better not draw your gun,' as testified
by Mr.. Smith," was the witness's con-
Guiding statement.
R. F. Mills, who was standing in the
door of shoe store next door to the
Busy Bee cafe at the time Of the snoot-
ing, saw Mr.. Burton and Mr.. Langford
standing in the relative positions as
described by the other witnesses. Mr..
Langford had his right hand hanging
at his side and was holding his coat
with mis- left, when Burton pulled his
pistol and put it almost against Lang
ford's left arm-ahout Is or 20 inches
and fired, said MT. Mills in desert
ing the occurrence. "At the gun-fre
Langford turned around with his back
to Burton. who then said, III shoot
any damn man who calls me a liar
and slaps my face Burton drew his
pistol a second time and pointed it at
T opoford ooain h11+ c0n1ahodv nra-