The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-08-01
SELF DEFENSE
MAY BE BUR.
DETTE'S PLEA
Granted Bail ia the Sum OF
$4,000.
HEARING BEFORE
JUDGE WATTS HERE
Mrs. Dee Bolt, o,ty Eye Witness oi
the Tragedy, ModiiicS her Testimony
Made at Inquest where She Ayers
She was Under Nervous Strain.

Mauc at inquest WncrC She Ayers
She was Under Nervous Strain.
Mf. Stoddard turned, still cursing
ana stopped over reaching towards the
ground and Robert shot once" sworc
Mrs Dec Bolt in The affidavit she made
and placed in evidence before JUDGE
X, c. Watts at Chambers Friday when
robert Burdcttc, slayer Of Stoddard.
made application for bail AT The in
quest held at the time Of tho killing
Mrs. Bolt had testified that her brother
shot S0ddard without warning, but in
hcr affidavit read before Judge Watts
she states that she testified then un-
der excitement and distress and "Stat-
Ell tho matter then according TO the
best way in her mind in her distressed
condition to save her own reputation. >
Counsel for the defense will no doubt
dakc advantage of this testimony on
which to base plea Of self dcfcnsc
at the trial which will como up in
September. Burdctt was represented
in the hearing by Simpson, Cooper &c,
Babb, the State being represented by
Solicitor Blackwell.
Following the hearing Friday bail
was granted in the sum Of $4,000,
which was readily furnished. In adj
dltion to the statement OF Mrs. Dee
Bolt, no other testimony was heard OK
cept aiiidavits affirming tho defend
ants reputation for law and order.
The following is thc statement Of
Mrs Bolt read al The hearing before
judge Watts:
Mrs. Dec Bolt, bcins duly sworn,
says that she is sister OF Robert
Burdettc who is charged with the Kill
ing of D. d. Stoddard on July 2lth,
1917. That on that morning She left
her fathers house TO so TO neigh
boris, Mrs. Weeks, to spend thc dav.
She went by road through tho fields
which passed dense piece OF woods
filled with undcrgrowth a negro wo-
man went with hcr part Of the way,
turning back before The opcn fields
We're passed and the woods reached.
On reaching point besides the woods
Mr.. d. d. Stoddard in The edge Of the
woods spoke 10 her and after some
conversation as 10 the whereabouts Of
her brother Robert and about the fam
lily and other meters. Mr.. Stoddard
asked her to step aside with him 10
which she replied, No indeed,
haven't time. lie insisted said she
would not be treating him right and
kept begging and begging; that She
then started toward Nh Stoddard
She told him about Robert leaving the
house With his gun. He said RObcrt's
not about here. 1t was then t:.at. she
started towards Mr. Stoddard. Robert
then stepped in the bushes and said
to Mr.. Stoddard What are YOU doing
here? Mr.. Stoddard began cursing
and said, What are YOU watching me
how to watch Mr.. Stoddard turned,
still cursng and stopped over reach
ing towards the ground and Robert
shot once. followed Don't shoot any
more and Mr.. Stoddard said Don't
shoot any more. You've killed me-
and went OF through the woods. In
short time he was dead; never smoke
any more. left after he died and
went to Mr. Weeks TO get him and
Mr.. Jenr IS TO so over there. Robert
went hers. That since the oc-
currence she had been laboring under
great excitement and distress OF mind,
have been confined to bed under treat
nient Of a physician. and is still in
bed. That she testified at the inquest
under excitement and distress and
stated the matter then according to
the best way in her mind in her dis
tressed condition to save her own
reputation"
Mrs. Dee Bolt"
Testimony mt Inquest.
Following is the testimony of wit
nesses who were examined at the in
quest last Tuesday:
Mrs. Dee Bolt being duly sworn,
says:
Il was going from my home to Mr.
Weeks and carried negro woman
part Of the way with me and on the
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