The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-04-09
KENNETH G0SSETT ON STAND IN own DEFENSE;
COUNSEL FOR DEFENSE MOVES FOR DIRECTED VERDICT
State Rests Witnesses For Defense CaledProsecux
and Companion Stand--Dr. Gambrel Iestfies
Prosecutix Says Kenneth Gosset Threatened
to Kill Her

was begun shortly after four o.
,clock and was given in so low voice
that it could hardly be heard and
throughout was punctuated with
sobs. She told how she and her girl
companion had started out on Sun
day afternoon, March IA, for a
young ladies meeting at the Bap-
tist Church, when on North Main
street they were accosted by Ken
meth and John Gossett in an auto
mobile. 1t was brought out later that
the two defendants had been riding
with two other girls during the after
noon and had been seen by the prose
cutrix and her companion. The prose
cutriX told how the Two of them got
into the Ford car, with the under
standing that they would be let out
at the Baptist Church, and that
when the church was reached she in
sisted that she be let o.t, but
thought no great deal of it when she
was taken through the Square, but
all the time insisted that she be let
ut. She testified that about two
miles out she had met Mr.. Richard
Sondley in car with some other
men and had made no out cry.
She told of how they had first
stopped on a bridge over Long Cane
reek, where they had stayed about
D minutes, during which time the
prosecutrix continued to urge a re-
turn to town. Later said the wit
ness the car was cranked by John
Gossett and they went about a mile
1urther' another bridge being cross
eo' After the secondbridge was
rossed they went a few bundred
yards up the road, turning off into q
cleared place, stopping a few Yards
IN clear view of the road.
"hen the final stop was made tect;
mony was given by both girls tod,v
That Kenneth Gossett threatened f.,
Keep them there until midnight if tho
prosecutrix did not get out and wall,
with him down the road to find q nlaco
10 turn the car around. It was AT tbis
tlme that the younger girl started n
walk back to the city. John Gossatt
followed her, the two returning to tbo
car in five or ten minutes, according
TO the testimony. When they got back
10 'he car Kenneth is said to have told
IAei'l ne was not yet ready to go back.
lie younger girl started to walk
nome again and went a short distance
oo"n the road out of sight of the au-
tomobile. ohm Gossett followed. They
remained away Is or 20 minutes. Re-
''rnlng to the car. the prosecutrix
came running to meet them, crying.
ana told the other girl, "He has ruin-
ed me-"
Inc prosecutrix testified that Ken
meth Gossett had cursed her and held
her in the car. She swore she resisted
him until she was exhausted. She is
subject to spells and she testified that
she became so frightened that one of
these spells came on during the strug-
gle and she became unconscious. Tn
hghtlng her alleged assailant she toro
her clothing. her waist came from
under her belt and her hat was crush
ed. She cried all the way back TO
Abbeville. and told her sister what
mad happened as soon as she got home
j. Olin Sanders. sheriff of Anderson
county. was witness for the state
The Gossett boys were taken to An.
derSon when they were arrested Mar
l.. The young women were also taken
there to identify the boys. the prose-
Continued on Page Four)