The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-12-01
OFFICER OF THE LAW
BRUTALLY Assault TED
TRIAL
ELECTS TESTIMONY
Several Witnesses Tell How the
Shooting of Sheriff A. d. Hood
Occurred.

York, Nov. 28-Immediately after
court convened Monday afternoon the
twelfth juror in the case of the State
against Ernest Isenhower, Jesse Nor
rison and James T. Rawls, charged
with the murder of Sheriff A. d. Hood
of Winnsboro, in Fairfield county, and
a negro prisoner, julie Smith, charged
with criminal assault, was secured.
The State then called A. D. Scrugps.
treasurer of Fairfield county, as the
first witness. Mr.. Scruggs testified
that he was sitting inside the railing
whlch separates the court house yarI
from the street when the automobile
containing Sheriff Hood and his deou-
ties and julie Smith, the negro pris-
oner, arrived from Columbia. He
stated that as the crowd with the
sheriff and his prisoner started to-
ward the court house he fell in be-
hind them and went along also. He
swore that as the sheriff and his party
started up the steps leading to the
court house, he saw a hand raised up
near the steps holding a pistol and
that the pistol was Immediately dis
charged. According to his evidence,
Sheriff Hood then drew his pistol
and began to fire also. He stated that
general fusilade of at least 40 shots
was then fired and that it all took
place in about 25 seconds. Hood then
proceeded into the court room, with
his body leaning to one side. The
witness testified that he recognized
Ernest Isenhower and saw him shoot
toward the sheriff and his party.
w. w. Turner was next called. He
testified to seeing Clyde Isenhower
approach the crowd with gun which
he had taken from his coat pocket.
He stated that he saw Clyde Isen-
hover raise his hand with the gun
and fire through the lattice work Of
the steps and that he also saw Ernest
IsephoWer and Jesse Morrison fre
at the sheriff and posse. He became
good deal excited on cross-examiua-
| ton.
w. L. Haynes, city policeman, said
he met Hood in the court house yard
and walked beside the negro pris-
oner, julie Smith, as the sheriff TOOK
him up the steps toward the court
room where the court was in session.
He stated that he saw Clyde Isen-
hover raise his hand by the side Of
the steps and that he was holding a
pistol. The witness testified tina.
Sheriff Hood said, "You can't do that"
and that Clyde Isenhower fired at the
negro. He swore that Sheriff Hood
did not fire till at least two shots had
been fired, that Hoods pistol seemei 4
to hang in his pocket when he tried
to get it out. He testified that he
saw Ernest Isenhower fire also.
| c. B. Taylor, a farmer, testified that
he saw Clyde Isenhower get his gun
out of his coat and shoot the negro
prisoner as he was going up the steps
of the courthouse, and that he con-
tinued to shoot two or three times
more. He said that, after Clyde Isen-
hover had shot, Hood reached for
his gun and began to shoot in return.
Stated that he also saw Morrison and
another man shooting at the sheriff,
and that Ernest Isenhower also shot.
j. w. Hood, P. A. Matthews and
r. w. Matthews were introduced to
show that the defendant, Rawls, was
in possession of a gun that day and
that from casual examination it
showed that it had been used At this
Doint the court adjourned till Tuesday
| morning.-Columbia Record.