The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-09-30
CORBETT CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE
Orangeburg Man Who Killed Three
Men Last Fall on Trial For His

Wen Last fall Oh lrtiii E'r IHH
! Life.
Orangeburg, Sept. 27.-The taking
of testimony IN the case against car
los Corbett, charged with the murder
OF Bryan Salley, was concluded today
and the arguments OF counsel begun.
The arguments will be resumed to-
morrow after the jury has made an
inspection OF the place OF the killing
and the case is expected 10 reach the
jury Tuesday afternoon or night.
Featuring the testimony Of the day
was the statement of both Corbett
and his wife that one OF the men in
the party had attacked Corbett wltE
a pistol before he opened fire. This
serves as basis for Corbetts defense
that he shot in self-defense and IN de-
fense OF the castle.
Testimony was resumed this morn
ing at convening Of court at $3.50
O'Clock with Mrs. Carlos Corbett on
the stand for the defense. Mrs. Cor
bett testified that on Friday before
the shooting on Saturday night, her
husband had hauled five one horse
wagon loads Of sugar cane pumlce and
placed il in a washed place in front
OF their home. Saturday, she said
they drove in their buggy over toI
Salley to do a little shopping where
she visited relatives for a short while
in town and then they returned home
about an hour of sun, had early sup
per and retired.
Awakened by Big Light.
About II o'clock, Mrs. Corbett
stated, she was suddenly awakened
by big light and thinking the prem
ises were afire she aroused her hus-
band, told him to take the pistol and
fire to enlist assistance from neigh
bors. When she went out. the witt
ness said, her husband told her theI
pumice in the road was afire and she
drew water, while Corbett carried II
10 the scene Of the fire, which was IN
the road just in front of their
house. She soon gave out drawing
water. she said, and Corbett told her
to 20 to the steps and rest, as shel
said she could do no more il the whole
premises burned down. About thel
time she was seated at the front steps
Mrs. Corbett continued, car came
up in the road and she heard some
one speak in vile terms, she giving
the exact language in court, and say
ing also there he is now putting out
our fire, we will give him hell and SET
it again." They then drove the car
around the fire and turned in toward
the yard, the witness said, and stop
ped the car, all getting out after
each other and started toward her
husband, firing a pistol, Mrs. Corbett
stated that she did not know how
many shots were fired before her hus-
band opened fire and she then went
into the house. Later her husbano
came into the house, she SAID, ana
told her TO get his best clothes, after
which he went out with a flash light
When he CAME in the house, the wit
ness said she asked II he was hurt
and said she thought they had killed
him and that her husband had told
her he thought he had killed three OF
them. Corbett, his wife said, then
dressed and left to surrender and she
spent the remainder OF the night i.
the barn.
Carlos Corbett on Stand.
Carlos Corbett testified deliberately
and calmly giving his version OF the
killing. He corroborated his wife as
to his putting the pumice in the r"ao
on Friday and as TO their activity on
Saturday. He was aroused by MS
wife about IL o'clock, he said, anu
was told the house was on fre. lie
Jumped into his overalls, Corbett
said, took the loaded pistol from the
bureau and about three or four car
tridges nearby and ran out OF the
house TO fire the pistol TO alarm the
height borhood, but did not shoot.
Putting the pistol in his right pocket
and halls in left, he and his wife be-
gan lighting fire as Mrs. Corbett testi-
fed, the witness said. While his vile
was sitting on the steps and he was
fighting the fire with the water IN the
tub, he said he heard an auto coming.
He also heard the statement testihed
10 By Mrs. Corbett as coming from
the auto, Corbett said. The auto came
on up around the fire, the witness
dllu slOPPCe LA - -
house with one wheel about to his
front yard, the car broadside TO him.
where the occupants got up and be-
gan to get out. He thought he recog-
nized the voice of Jones Salley telling
the boys to give him hell, the witness
testified. and then three or 1our
jumped into the road, he said. and
were making for him, one shooting as
he came. He opened fire, Corbett
said. and immediately reloaded ana
emptied what he reloaded with, since
after he reloaded two more men were
coming toward him from toward the
! back of the car.
Shot in Self-DefenSe.
He shot in self-defense and de-
Tense OF the castle, COrbctt tcstlhed,
As the shots from the advancing crowd
Here going TO where his wif" was. TOO.
Mr. Corbett said that hc did not
! know who the parties We're ~ tn"