The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-09-16
BRAZELL CASE ON in
LEXINGTON COURT
COURT ROOM PACKED WHEN
COURT OPENED
Deputies Ordered to Search All
Persons Entering Court Room
For Arms

Columbia, Sept. 12.-At II o'clock
today the Lexington grand jury retir-
ed with the Indictment against Jesse
Gappins, C. O. Fox and S. J. Kirby,
charged with the murder of William
Brazell, Columbia, taxi-driver.
The court room in Lexington was
tpacked when Judge Sease called for
order this morning. The court an
Inounced that there would be no dis
order. Deputies were ordered to
search all persons entering the court
house for arms. Officers stood at the
doors armed with repea fng hf1es.
When the court room doors, guarded
by deputies behind which were held
/ the three men taken to Lexington
early this morning from the state
penitentiary were opened at 1915
Mr.. and Mrs. Brazell, parents Of the
dead young man and the young sister
of the late William Brazell entered.
In few minutes, the court room
was packed.
The solicitor called, arraigned the
prisoners and presented testimony to
the grand jury. Judge Sease charged
the grand jury and within a few min
utes it retired with several murder in
dictments, including the one against
Fox, Gappins and Kirby and that
against the members of the Cook FAM
lily, wife, daughters, son and two
friends, James Barfeld, and one
Wheeler charged with the murder of
the head of the family, Marcellus
Cook.
At noon the grand jury had not re-
ported ON any of the indictments, but
as Judge Sease had requested that
the indictment against the three
charged with BrazelPs death be con-
is;dered ''true bill'' would be re-
turned during the day.
In his charge to the grand jury
Judge Sease made reference to the
recent lynching at Chaplin of Will
Allen, negro, who killed white plant
er and he declared that he proposed
to see that there was no trouble dur
ing the present trial.
! The Lexington grand jury at noon
today returned a true bill against
Fox, Gappins and Kirby, charged with
the murder of William Brazell, taxi
drier. The court named lawyers to
defend the men and recess was TAX
en- until 8 o'clock to allow the lawyers
to consult at which time, it stated
the lawyers would announce whether
;or not the men would announce
!, whether or not the men will demand
1.-The three days allowed in which to
prepare their defense. Judge Sease
ordered the prisoners to plead mot
guilty. as required by law in all mur'
der cases.
/ The three lawyers, all of the Lex.
lington bar, are: Mckenzie Barre, fol
Fox; T. C. Sturkle, for Gappms; A
B. Martin for Kirby.
The handouts on the arms Of the
prisoners were ordered removed wher
the report of the grand jury was read
The little town of Lexington is
crowded with people today and dur
ling the morning proceedings the cour1
Ihouse was packed.
The grand jury also returned a true
. bill against Mrs. Cook, Minnie Cook
her daughter, Ira Cook, her son ane
James Barfeld, Sr., one Wheeler with
the murder of Marcellus Cook.
Before daylight Monday morning
i. while all Richland and Lexington
counties slept civil guard, dozer
strong, escorted Sesse Gappins, c. o
Fox and S. J.. hiray from the state
penitentiary in Columbia to Lexing
ton and there the three men who were
scheduled for trial Monday for The
i, killing of William Brazell, Columbis
taxi-driver, were locked in the cour
room, the officers guarding all ap
proaches armed with repeating Wan
chester rifles. There was no sign Of
a mob and in indication of trouble
, AT the gates to the court yard ane
, about the doors stood small crowd:
of citizens during the early hours Of
1.-THE day but no one, not even news
papermen, was allowed to enter. The
, court room served as jail from be
fore daylight until the court conven
ed at 10 o'clock.
, The prisoners were taken to Lex
, ington by automobile. Three state
constables, heavily armed rode in ar
adavnce car and following came the
car with the prisoners and with othel
!constables. In Lexington the guart