The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-08


ter hearing the testimony Of six eye
witness and the attending surgeon,
rendered verdist to the effect that
David Langford came to his death fron
a sunshot wound at the hands of l. 0.
Burton on Saturday afternoon, JanG-
ary %.
The inquest was held in the court
house, beginning at s o'clock p. H.,
being postponed until tnat hour SO
that Solicitor R. A. Cooper could be
present at the examination OF the wiz
nesses.
The following gentlemen comprised
the jury: Nv. "A. McSwain, NJ o. Sum-
rer, ] T. Nayes, ]. H. Caldwell, ".
O. Wilson and M C. Clary.
DR.. James K. Glider presented the
following certificate > to the imme-
oiate cause of Mr.. Langford's death:
This is to certify that Mr.. David
Langford died from the effects Of a
gunshot wound in the abdomen, tha
ball entering on the left side, below
the ribs, cutting the pancreas, the in
testine and ranging back toward the
spinal column.
(Signed) James K. Glider, M. D.
"Feby 4th, 1916"
Five of the six witnesses testihed
under oath that they saw no blow de-
Iivered by Mr.. Langford, nor did they
SEQ a threatening movement, or an at
tempt to draw weapon made by HIM
One witness, however, Mr.. ]. G. Smith,
said ne saw Mr.. Langford deliver a
staggering blow into Burton's face and
then place his hand on his hip pocket
IN the manner of grasping a weapon.
Mr.. Smith is also the only one Of the
3even men who were in close prox1ul-
ity to the principals who heard Mr..
Burton say to Mr.. Langford, you mad
better not draw your gun" In fact,
Nr. E. L. Hayes said ne saw Mr.. Smith
coming down the street at the time OF
the shooting and that, although ne
tBRr. Hayes was near Langford ana
Burton, with no obstruction between
MIN and them, he heard Burton make
No such statement as testified to by
RSr. Smith.
The Testimony.
The first witness sworn was Nj.
NeSfy Long. who saw l. O.. Burton shoot
David Langford. He saw somebody
out his hand on Burton and tell MIN
not to shoot again. He saw che two
men standing ON the edge of the SIDE
walk talking, apparently not fussing at
AL Mr.. Langford did rot do anything
taas he saw before Mr.. Burton shot
him. He did not have anything in his
snana nor did he have hold Of Burton
After Burton shot Langford ne held
Ais gun Ike he was going to shoot
again. Mr.. Long did not near Mr'
kangford say anything after he was
shot. There were a good many people
on the street at the time.
W. V. Biedsoe, who was wording at
Jsae Lurey's store, almost in front OF
which the shooting occurred. testified
fhat between 4:3o and 5 O'Clock on
Saturday afternoon, the 2Sta, he no
tieed Mr.. Burton get cut OF buggy IN
spant IF the store and in a minute or
two afterward Burton and Langford
met in front of Mimnaugh's store. Bur
ron stepped back off the sidewalk, drew
a pistol and shot Dave Langford. MI
Inngtord staggered back toward tA6m-
naagh's store, seemingly recovered
and started to walk UP the street, when
Barton said, with an oath, If you
haven't got enough I'll give you an
oeBer one" Someone said, "Don t
shoot again!" to Burton as ne was
apparently going to fire another shot.
Just after the SHOOTING Mr.. Smith
Langford and Mr.. Long were support
ing Dave Langford, and Mr. Smith
l.angford asked, "Have you got your
pistol with your Mr.. David Langford
did not reply, though" the witness
said, "if Dave Langford had any pls-
tol never saw any attempt to pull It,
and was standing within 10 or II
steps Of them" In reply to a question
by Solicitor Cooper, the witness said
that when Burton stepped back Lang
ford turned his left side toward Bur
DoA. but made no attempt to follow OF
Upove toward him. They were within
reach of one another when the shot
was fired.
]. G. Smith who, in reply to Ques-