The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-09-28
BEAUTIFUL BETTY COTTON.
(Continued from page 5. column p


drag it to the pool. The heavy bur-
den of a man who weighed over two
hundred pounds was, however, more
than even her remarkable strength
could cope with and she was forced
into calling her brother, Davy, to her
assistance. Staggering and stumb-
ling they bore the mangled corpse
down to the dark pool and plunged
it under the cover of the black Wa
ter.
The next morning residents in the
vicinity, having heard from negro,
wild accounts of the terrible tragedy,
gathered in indignant groups around
Becky's door. With unflinching face
and a voice that knew no tremor,
Becky told them that John Cotton
had helped to murder her father, and
had fled with the other assassins.
Weeks passed but no clue could
be found as to the disappearance of
John Cotton. Neighbors observed
the haunted look and strange actions
of Davy kennedy. They enticed him
away, and after cross questioning he
divulged all particulars of the double
murder and of Becky's implication in
the death of John Cotton. Explo-
sives were fired at the brink of the
pool and the mutilated body that had
not been sufficiently obscured arose
to the surface.
AS soon as Becky learned the news
Of her accusation she took flight.
Officers of justice were, however, hot
upon her trail She was overtaken
beyond Kings Mountain and brought
back to Edgefeld to stand trial for
!. life.
Let us not imagine that trial by
jury has become corrupt for it must
have ever been so. The trial OF
Becky Cotton occurred at Edgefle1d
one hundred years ago. The evil
dence of her guilt was overwhelming.
The testimony that branded her as a
murderess was indisputable. The
judge remained hypnotized upon the
bench. Prosecuting attorneys and
lawyers for the defence sat spell
bound before the witchery of a su-
perbly beautiful woman. >.Even
when wild with rage or coldly def
ant Beciy's beauty was of such a
type that =.
"A man had given all other bliss
And all his worldly worth for this
70 tase his whole heart in one kiss
Becky, with her magnificent tress-
fes unbound, and sweeping to her
i knees, Becky with eyes burning,
like stars wet with the glistening
dew of tears! Her cheeks flushed
with a crimson glow. Her mouth
like twin cherries, her musical voice
rising to heights of eloquence plead
ing her innocence, was a picture
mortal man would not resist. Becky
got off Scot free and the court be-
came actually hysterical at the con-
temptation of their detestable action
in ever having listened to condem-
natory accusations against so ex-
quisite an embodiment of ravish-
ing womanhood. .\
The Rey. M. L. Weems, in his ac-
count of this trial, gives the follow
ing description of Becky's triumph
over law and justice.
.'In short, Mrs. Cotton came off
clear; nay, more than clear, she
came off conqueror For as she stood
at the bar in tears, with cheeks like
rose buds wet with morning dew and
rolling her eyes of living, sapphires,
pleading for pity, their subtle glamor
seized with ravishment, the admiring
bar, the stern features of justice
were all relaxed, and both Judge and
jury hanging forward from their
seats with smiling faces and fondly
rolling eyes, were heard to exclaim:
Heaven! What a charming crea-
ture."
eyes, replied a bystander, a.
Baptist, If she had not been such a
murderess.'
ga murderess, auoth one of the
jury, very angrily, "a murderess, sir,
"tis false, such an angel could never
have been a murderess'
t'Thus beauty prevailed against
justice, and thus did the selfmade
widow force her way through the sa-
cred nettings of the law, even as
silver beetle driven through the slen-
der weddings Of spider, not only
extricating herself, but enthralling
her enemy"
Among those of the jury whose
poo1fipo Inks oopfoccod tho foroo of