Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-03-28
SOBSON STAND
AS HE RECITES
STORY TO JURY
Hesitates At Answers
When Grilled In Cross
Examination


FLORENCE, S. c., March 28.-
Attorney A, L. King, counsel for Ed
mund Bigham, on trial for the MUIR
der of his brother, Smiley and four
other members of his family, started
the closing argument for the defense
today and he was followed by Solic-
ltor Gasque for the prosecution. It
was expected the case would be given
to the jury this afternoon.
Edmund Bigham, the defendant,
took the stand late Saturday ana
gave detailed story of his actions
from January to the time of the
death of his relatives. he spoke in.
clear voice and appeared to have
an excellent memory for details The
continuity of the story was broken.
however, when he reached the cross
examination stage and when a dues-
ton came up that was not easily am
sWered, he would lean toward Solici-
tor Gasque, asking him to ''hold on
minute" or "just wait"
when he described the finding of
ms brothers body, Bigham showed
the first sign Of feeling, breaking
INTO sobs, and it was several minutes
before he could continue. The wit
ness again broke into sobs when he
described the finding of the bodies
OF his sister and the McCracken chill.
dren.
Blgham made statement concern
ing the financial affairs of the fam
l!y, telling of loans he had made and
declaring he never had received any
| share In his fathers estate. The
family owed him, he said, something
like $4,000 and he had given them a
mortgage covering the difference be-
tween that amount and $4,000, the
amount named in the face of the
deed to the property which had been
made to him by the rest of the fam
| lily. 1t was this deed, he said, his
wife sought to record the day he was
placed in Jail
On cross-examination Bigham was
asked why he had kept this deed in
his possession after it had been re-
fused record. He declared that Mon
roe Spears, of Darlington, had told
him to keep the deed, but admitted
Mr.. Spears never had seen the paper.
Didn't he tell you to destroy that
deed or it would break your neck?"
shouted the solicitor.
No, he didn't" replied the wit
ness, "if he had, would have done
it."
The reply caused roar of laugh
ter in the courtroom and resulted IN
Judge Memminger declaring a recess
until o'clock tonight.
With a sobbing voice, the defend
ant told of how he had seen his
mother staggering in the yard, her
face covered with blood. He had just
returned from a short trip to Robert
Foxworth to see him about hauling
some wood. When he had left the
house with his family, he said, ne
had seen Smiley, his brother, bend
ing near some beehives.
'"The last time l saw Smiley was
right there" he said, "as | came
home at the top Of the red hill
saw Smiley. his hand in front of him,
going across the road. About 90
yards from the house, saw mother
Describing the incidents about the
house the MORNING after the tragedy
Bigham said that shortly after day
light he opened the blinds and then
went out to the lot with Mr.. Flowers.
"He says / gave him pistol; | take
his word for it, for I don't know
Between me and my God | never
went out of that yard from that time
till Sunday night. don't remember
telling the searchers the direction to
take to find Smiley's body. did
tell the direction I had seen him go
ing"
Preceding him on the stand was
his daughter, Louise, IA years old
Louise Bigham told story that du-
pIicated that of her mothers except
in minor details. Her memory failed
in some details vitally affecting her
fathers defense. When called upon
to recognize Eichelberger and say
whether she had made certain state
ments to him, she disowned ever fav-
inCr seen tba detectiva