The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-09-14

sitting on the front seat, About three
the car and struck the boy several
times over the head with the black
jack. He heard the licks and beg
ged them not to do it. Kirby grabbed
Fox and Kirby dragged the defense
less youth onto the running board Of
the car and Fox proceeded to cut
him. AS Fox began to knife him the
victim cried out for mercy saying II
am dying now" mo, you are not
dying now, but you soon will be-, the
witness said Kirby exclaimed. The
boy pleaded for his life and offered
his assailants full immunity If thew
would spare him, but mercy was not
thought Of. d Kirby ordered .Gappins
to turn the car around and tie al
most lifeless body was placed inside
and a hiding place was sought. The
witness testified that Kirby favored
carrying the body to the Savannah
river and throwing it in, but he beg
ged that it be left on the roadside
where it could be recovered by rela-
tives. The witness testified that Kir-
by, when he (Gappins) had begun to
point out that they were all in for
trouble, replied, "If. 1 was convicted
for all 1 have done they would have
to electrocute six men day for a
year to get even.'' 1872
The guilty trio then. planned to
make their escape in the stolen car
to Tampa, Fla, which they learned in
passing through Aiken was 651 miles
Kirby threatened to kill the first one
who told of the killing. He insisted
that Gappins, who was driving, .'step
on it,
The witness admitted that the plot
to steal the car had been hatched on
the Thursday before the crime was
committed. 1t was proposed to take
it to Florida, where Kirby had q
brother in the automobile business.
There they would be able to dispose
of it to advantage.
On cross examination Gappins. de-
MED holding Brazelrs head while the
cutting was being done. He declared
that he did not leave Fox and Kirby
because he was afraid of Kirby, whom
he knew to carry gun. He admit
ted telling a lie at Waynesboro. Ga.
but claimed to be telling the truth
now.
Asked where his wife was he said
that the last time he had heard of
her she was in Jail.
Kirby Testifes.
S. j.. Kirby, the first Of the three
men to be put on trial for his life.
took tfle stand IN his own behalf. Ap-
parently a man of some 80 years, he
is Of slender build, with an elongated
head, and shifty eyes that roam
about the courtroom, looking an
parently more at the floor. He has
a sallow complexion and was ap-
parently somewhat unnerved Tremb-
lingly he told his story, incorporating
his hearers. Saying that he realized
that he was facing death and had a
soul to save and Il mother and other
relatives in heaven to meet, he de-
tailed the crime and painted the other
men as the arch conspirators who
had Matched and executed the plot.
While he, Kirby. was weak enough to
allow himself to be persuaded to take
part In the enterprise. He did not
admit that he held one of the Brazell
boys arms while the cutting was
being done but further than this he
would only admit that he acouiesced
In the deed through fear of Fox and
Gappins. He told of the plot to steal
the car. claiming that Gappins had
Matched it. and testifying that Gap
pins was particular about the kind of
car he wanted. which must be n Cad
lilac, King or Il Pierce. Arrow, so
that, the party would be able to make
time when the time came to make
the getaway. He told of. efforts to Sc
cure BlS Ell, Il negro driver VINO
had new car. but they were unsuc-
cessful and finally he secured BraZell.
Kirby told his tale with scarcely an
interruption and while it was given in
a low tone of voice quiet prevailed in
the courtroom and every word was
listened to with intense interest by the
immense crowd
He was still on the stand when