The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1920-04-09
FOUR WITNESSES HEARD
IN THE G0SSETT TRIAL

Abbeville, April 8.-The trial O
John and Kenneth Gossett, charge,
with criminal assault, was begu,
hero at 10 o'clock this morning. Boil
young men pleaded not guilty to tn,
indictment and the selection of a jur,
was Immediately begun. This wa,
not completed until a o'clock this af
ternoon, an extra venire having to bt
drawn. Both sides exhausted its full
quota of challenges, the state five and
the defense 20. When court adjourn.
ed at 2 o'clock this afternoon four
witnesses for the state had been ex-
amined. The trial will be resumed at
$3.50 o'clock tomorrow morning. The
court house could not accommodate
more than half the crowd here. All
boys under 18 years old were ex-
cluded.
The alleged crime was committed
Sunday afternoon, March ID, when two
l6 year old girls on their way to
church were invited by the Gossett
boys to take ride. When they got
to the church the boys would not
stop the car, driving to the country
instead, where they kept the girls two
hours. Only one Of the girls is bring
ing charges.
The prosecutrix was the first wit
ness this afternoon. She was on the
witness stand one hour and 35 min
yates and was subjected to a most
searching cross examination by Proc
tor Bonham, representing the defense.
She wept much Of the time she was
testifying, and her mother swooned
once and had to be taken from the
room and given medical aid.
Climax of Testimony.
Testimony Of the prosecutrix reach
ed its climax when she said Kenneth
Gossett threatened to kill her If she
called again to her girl companion,
who was leaving the car and threat
ening to walk back to Abbeville.
The car had been driven between
four and five miles into the country.
The first stop was made on bridge,
where the party stayed five or ten
minutes. Here the girls arIsaled te
the boys to drive back and one Of The
girls attempted to crank the car her.
self, but she testified today that Ken
Meth sGessett removed the switch key
and put IT in his pocket. They then
drove about mile further on and
turned into q side road. Here n stopJ
.sss-.
BY both girls today that Kenneth Cos
sett threatened to keep them there
until midnight if the prosecutrix did
not get out and walk with him down
the road to find place to turn the
car around. 1t was at this time that
the younger girl started to walk back
to the city. John Gossett followed
her, the two returning to the car in
five or ten minutes, according to the
testimony. When they got back to
the car Kenneth Is said to have told
them he was not yet ready to 20
back. The younger girl started to
walk home again and went short
distance down the road out of sight Of
the automobile. John Gossett follow
ed. They remained away Is or 20
minutes. Returning to the car, the
prosecutrir came running to meet
them, crying, and told the other girl,
'He has ruined me-"
The prosecutrix testified that Ken
meth Gossett had cursed her and held
her in the car. She swore she resist
ed him until she was exhausted. She
is subject to spells and she testified
that she became 30 frightened that
one of these spells came on during
the struggle and she became uncon-
scious. In fighting her alleged as
sailant she tore her clothing, her waist
came from under her belt and her hat
was crushed. She cried all the way
back to Abbeville, and told her sister
what had happened as soon as she got
home.
j. Olin Sanders, sheriff of Ander-
son county, was a witness for the
state. The Gossett boys were taken
to Anderson when they were arrest
I'd March II. The young women were
also taken there to identify the boys,
the prosecutrix fainting that day
when she walked into the Jail and
came face to face with Kenneth Cos
sett. Sheriff Sanders said Kenneth
Gossett told him in the presence OF
three other officers that "he took the
e:Eis out for this purpose and though,
if the girl would go riding with him
that she was crooked"
Sheriff Sanders also testified tina,
Kenneth Gossett, in answer to the
question if he had put his hands or
the girl, said of course he had, wher
he went out for the purpose he did.