The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-04-02
SAYS LIFE AND HOME
WERE IN JEOPARDY
Corbett's Statement-Thought He
Had Killed Four Instead of
Three-Thinks Parties Were
intoxicated.
State

CARLOS Corbett, who shot three men
Heath and seriously wounded 4
rth, near Salley, Aiken county.
hrdav night. claims he shot IN self
kfense and to protect his home which
was jeopardized by fire started by
the parties shot.
The following special from Colum-
oia to The Charlotte, N. CO. Obser-
yer was printed yesterday morning.
giving Corbett's side Of the trouble:
Columbia, S. c., March 2s.-Carlos
A. Corbett, who last night killed
nBryan Salley and seriously wounded
kugh Tanning, Julian Cooper and
baes Salley at the Corbett home, IN
rangeburg county, two miles froif
\lley, came to Columbia early this
prning in an automobile and sur
hdered himself to the state penlten-
: AIRY authorities.
Corbett said that he acted IN de-
ase of life and to protect his home
Eainst the alleged marauding party.
According to Corbett's story, he
md his wife were awakened last
Knight about II o'clock, by flames
J shooting up in the front cf his home,
which. along with his farm buildings
was threatened.
He said that he had cane stacked
in front of his house to the height
of three feet paralleling the pubhc
highway, and this was aiite with the
flames shooting toward tie house.
When he had the fire under control,
H. said, the automobile bearing
MARTY which had passed his mouse
anne back UP the road. He averred
Chat one of the party said: He has
put out the fire. let's start it again:
Corbett said he was standing III
dense smoke emanating from the
smoldering Goals and they did not see
him.
Threatened His Life.
S'When this threat was made,
said Corbett, II warned the party that
/ would protect my wife and my
home at all hazards and afte:' I bad
spoken, one of the mel, hoarse
vetoed man, Jonas Salley, l :hlnK eX.
-eiaimed: Damn you, We will XII
you!' With this, two OF the men got
out of the front of th4 car and ad-
yanced towards me with their hands
. in their hip pockets an:l TWO other
1knen left the rear of the car with tner
Rnds in their side pockets like they
ere going to draw their knives.
lbese last two ad9ancci as if they
we're irving to- cut nis off from the
rear.~ / then began shooting. ;.
Corbett said that when he tlrst DIS
! covered the fire he smelled an door
of either gasoline or kerosene, and
he is of the opinion that some men,
Der of the party sprinkled the cane
and then ignited it.
He was of the opinion that the
members of the party who live at
Salley were drinking. He claims that
he was cold sober and has not taken
drink of Intoxicating liquor during
the past eight years. He could at
tribute no cause for the men attempt
me to burn his house as he alleged.
= Formerly Was Police Chief.
.Corbett was formerly chief OF
police of Salley and is now farming.
He is about six feet tall, of sparse,
powerful frame clea-. cut face ana
piercing, fearless eyes. When seen
at the State prison he was calm and
collected and no element Of nervous
ness was apparent. He said that ne
came to Columbia to give himself up
to avoid possible further trouble.
He said that he has large family
connections in the Salley section as
have the dead men. Had ne re-
nained, these two elements mlgnt
nave come together, engenderlng
possible riot and further bloodshed:
( He said that he shot with SO
calibre Colts special revolver and ne
said, 81 thought got one at every
crack" He was under the impress
sion that he had killed four men.
One May Recover.
Jonas Salley, who is desperately
wounded, but has fighting chance
according to his physician tonight,
was brought to Columbia early this
morning in car and placed IN
local hospital.
He was shot three times. One of
the bullets went through the fore
part of the head, penetrating both
eve balls and binding him. Two
entered the left arm between the
elbow and shoulder. One of these
lodged in the chest, this last bullet
being the only one in his body. He
4 will be operated on tomorrow and
his eye balls will be taken out, ac-
eording to his physicians.
Corbett has retained Ex-Governor
Cole Blease, to whose house he went
before he surrendered to the state
penitentiary authorities, as his at
torney.
URGES FARMERS TO
STUDY COTTON COST