The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-01

because Of some private matters
between these men and himself
That Cockerill did not tell de-
ponent who the gang Or that
bunch as he sometimes referred
10 them. was, and deponent could
not find out. but gathered the inn
preston that il was number Of
men living in the neighborhood, in
crested in running Wallace off, and
that these men knew something
about Cockerill Of such nature
that they could get Cockerill in
trouble if he did not do as they
said:
Cockerill then went on TO say
that he went to Wallace's house in
accordance with the design, and
stayed there until an opportunity
arose when he thought he could
get something on Wallace and that
the charges against Wallace were
the outcome of his visit; THAT when
the charges were made, it was the
plan of "the gang" merely to run
Wallace Off, and that the gang
wanted to settle the case, if Wal
lace would go off: that no one
thought the case would go as far
rs it did; that he, sCocllerill. went
ahead and testified as he did at the
trial, because he could not help
himself. having already committed
himself to rhe story: that the story
he told at the trial was not true,
and that Wallace had done nothing
wrong: that Cockerill was willing
to tell this story for the purpose
Of Running Wallace away, bur since
the trial had resulted as it had. he.
Cockerill had been greatly worried
and felt that innocent blood was
on his hands:
Cockerill also said tllat he had
not been able to sleep at nights
on account OF worrying about what
he had done; that he had been
troubled and uneasy, and that, Of
his own volition, he had gone TO
see Wallace and told him that he
wanted TO tell the truth, but that
he was afraid to go to Wallace's
lawyers in Sumter for fear il would
leak out; that Wallace had told
him that he could go to Columbia !;
that he, CockeYill. told Wallace
that he did not know anyone in
Columbia 10 80 to: that Wallace
had then given him deponent' s
name and address and told him
that deponent would take him to
a lawyer for the purpose; Cocker
III also told deponent that he had
made Wallace promise 10 let him.
Cockerill, know before the matter
became public. so that he. Cocker
i'll, would have the chance 10 get
away
Cockerill seemed to be. in his full
senses; he did not appear 10 have
been drinking: he seemed anxious
to talk: appeared 10 be q con-
science stricken man. with 4 bur
den Of which he wished to rid him
self. and told his story over and
over to deponent; that they talked
altogether for two or three hours
that night and again the next day.
That on the next day, deponent
took Cockerin TO Mn: A. aN HoI-
man, a lawyer whom ceponent
knew; that Cockerill told Mr. Hol-
man what he had told deponent
the night Before and asked Mr..
Holman to fix up Ar affidavit for
him; that Mr. Holman. in depon-
ent.S presence. advised Cockerill
that he was laying himself open
to be indicted for perjury and sug-
gested TO Cockerin that the aft
dayit could be so drawn that it
would not appear as if Cockerill
had knowingly ard wiilfully testi-
fed to something that was not true;
that Cockerill replied that he was
tired of lying and was going to tell
the truth and stick TO it, and take
the consequences. that Wallace was
an innocent man. and that he,
Cockerill, could no longer have his
blood on his hands; that Mr. Hol-
man then fixed up the affidavit and
deponent saw Cockerili sign it.
That deponent went out OF the
Office with Cockerill. and when
they reached the street. Cockerill
threw back his head, and raised his
hand. and said Thank God. have
got that burcen Off OF myself.
That Cockerili appeared then TO be
< man who had been relieved Of
something that had been pressing
him down. and seemed more cheer
fui.
That deponen1' wife. Mrs. Rob-
erta Ha1chell. was not present when
deponent and Cockerill We're talk
ing the nigh, Cockerill came. but
was present the following morning:
and heard Cockerill tell his story
over IN substance as herein SGT
forth.
That the conversation Cockerin
had with deponent was altogether
free and voluntary on Cockcrnl $
part: that deponent in no way held
out any ipducement TO him TO say
what was said. hut. on the con-
trary, Cockerilrs whole attitude
and demeanor was that OF a man
who had come to deponenl for the
purpose of telling him the truth
about the matter which had been
worrying him.
Signed: W. II. Hatchcll.
Sworn TO before me this 2Gth day
of December 1921.
Signed: a. S. Hardy. L. s.
Notary Public for s. G.