The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-07-27
IN THE COURT

Trial of Edgar Bradley
For Murder Of " F..
OutLaW
All of Wednesday morning until
the recess for dinner was taken
up with the arguments before the
jury by counsel for the defendant
and for the prosecution in the
case of the State VS.. Edgar Brad
ley for the murder of W. F. Out
law. This case has proved to be
very interesting and there has
been a big crowd present since
the beginning Tuesday morning.
Immediately after the court had
reconvened after the recess for
dinner Judge Wilson charged the
jury and it retired. At six O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon the jury
was still out and no verdict had
yet been returned. The testimony
in this case was very contradic-
tory and the jury has to decide,
more than anything else, which
side. was telling the truth. For
instance, Marie Outlaw, daughter
of w. F. Outlaw, who was mur-
dered last Christmas day, and who
was one of the states star wit
nesses swore that her relations
with Edgar Bradley We're simply
that Of a friend and that she was
not engaged to him. Edgar Brad
ley on the witness stand said that
he was engaged to Marie Outlaw
and that they were to be married
on the second of January, 191.
When asked if Mr.. Outlaw knew
of this and whether he approved
of this or not Bradley said that
Mr.. Outlaw knew of their en- age
ment and of their impending mar
riage and approved Of it. y On
the stand Marie Outlaw said that
her father disapproyed Of her go
ing with Edgar Bradley and had
told Bradley that be did not want
him to be going out with his.
daughter, unless there was third
person along. Edgar Bradley on
the stand said that Mr.. Outlaw
had never said a word to him
about going with his daughter and
had even said to him upon one
occasion that he liked him better
than. any other young man that
he Knew: When asked il she
wrote to Edgar Bradley she ad-
mitted that she did and that she
wrote to him possibly once a week.
But when shown letters, which
Bradley said that she had written
to him, she denied having written
any Of them to him except one,
and this one her mother denied
being the girls hand writing,
when she was, pleced upon the
stand. Thus it was throu ghout
the case, the evidence Of eacr
side was directly contrary to- that
offered by the othet side. The
arguments before the jury con-
sumed four hours in the morn
ing. First Solicitor Frank Nc
Leod and then Mr.. Robert Dennis
of Bishopville addressed the jury
for the prosecution. After their
pleas were finished Mr.. ]. H. Cliff
ton and Mr.. NJ. L. Smith of Cam
den spoke for the defense Ill
Mr.. Smiths argument several let
ters alleged to have been written
by Marie Outlaw were read to- the
Jury. One Of these letters con-
tanned a beautiful and touching
little rhyme which ran something
like this.
81 wish you were a tiny cup,
In which I drank my tea,
lips,
It would be kiss for me-
After Mr.. Smith had finished
for the defense Mr. It. G. Mcleod
of Bishopville closed for the stat,
with an eloquent plea for convic-
ton. The defense's whole case
rested on self deefnSe which the
young man claimed. 1t was ad-
mitted by the state that Mr.. Out
law struck the first blow and that
he followed Bradley out Of the
house. This and the fact that
Bradley did kill Outlaw were the
only facts that the State and the
counsel for the defense agreed
upon. Bradley claimed that he
did not curse Outlaw and did not
dare him to come into the yard.
while the state claimed that he
did do these two things. The
state claims that Mr.. Outlaw had
started to walk back to the house
and glanced over his shoulder
when Bradley shot him in the
side .pIf the head and shot him
again in the: breast when he spun
afound. Bradley. claims,lthat Mr..
Outlaw had his gun at his Should
er and was ready to fire when he
shot him. The shooting was done
with a twelve gauge shot gun, us
ing number seven shot at dis
tance of about fifteen or twenty
feet. After Bradley had done the
shooting he came Immediately to
town and delivered himself to Of
ficer Johnson.
The entire afternoon was taken
up in the arguing Of motion by
Mr.. r. D. Epps to throw out the
case Of the State VS. Robert Gard
ner for grand larceny The negro
was tried and convicted at the fall
term of court. but Judge Bowman
ordered a new trial over the OBJ
lection of the attorney for the
defense and now Mr. Epps objects
to him being placed on trial again
on the ground of former jeopardy.
In the case Of the State VS.. Ed
gar Bradley for the murder OF w.
F. Outlaw on last Christmas day.
Judge Wilson had to order mis-
trial after the jury had been out
for eighteen and a half hours.
Dallas Baker and Eddie Woods
,uora fannd nnt o1iltY OF the