Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-17
SLAYER GETS 1s YEARS

Charles B. Kimbrell who killed John
Skidmore at Hendricks Cross Roads
near Boyd's Ferry bridge several
weeks ago was on yesterday sentenced
to Is years Imprisonment after he had
submitted to second degree murder.
The following relative to the trial from
the Charlotte Observer this morning
viii be of interest throughout York
county:
Submitting to second degree murder
for the killing of John w. Skidmore at
Hendricks crossroads in Lower Steel
Creek township, October 16, Charles
b. Kimbrell was sentenced TO Is years
in the state penitentiary yesterday
afternoon by Judge James L. Webb.
A special venire of so men had
been summoned for jury dlty in the
case but the submission eliminated
that necessity and the testimony was
reviewed by Judge Webb The decis-i
ion to submit the case was made yes
terday morning before court, convened
with the consent of Solicitor Francis
0. Clarkson and John G. Carpenter,
solicitor elect for the district, and Col.
7. l.. Kirkpatrick, who aided in the
prosecution of the case.
According to the testimony, Kim
brell shot Skidmore while the latter
was standing beside his automobile at
the front of KimbrelPs store in Lower
Steel Creek township. The defense
contended that the shot was accidental,
that Kimbrell aimed his gun at the coil
box of the automobile, pulling the
hammer back at the same time. His
finger slipped off Of the hammer and
the first shot struck Skidmore, Kim
brell contended. i,i 90 . .a.-
The defense placed q number Of
witnesses upon the stand, their testi-
mony being to the effect that Kimbrell
was harmless and peaceable when
sober but that he was practically un-
manageable when drinking. 1t was
alleged that Kimbrell and the dead
man had been drinking together prior
to the shooting. A number OF witness
es testified that he frequently was un-
der the influence of whisky and that
he was regarded as a dangerous man
when drinking.
Among the witnesses who testified
regarding the character of the man
were Squire T. N. Hall, Frank Neel:.
John R.. Porter and James Foster.
Several of the witnesses averred that
Kimbrell had an abnormal mind but
stated that this was not noticeable to
any great extent except when he was
drinking
The first witness examined by the
state was George w. Owens, who runs
blacksmith shop about so yards from
the store. He stated that he saw Kim
brell fire the fatal shot, saying that the
man placed the gun across the wrist
of his left arm and fired. Skidmore
was standing beside the automobile at
the time and one of his hands was
resting upon the car, the witness
testified. The man fell when the first
shot was fired, Owens stated. Kim
brell then fired three other shots at
the falling man, afterwards, turning
and firing one shot in the direction Of
the blacksmith shop according to the
witness.
Mr.. Owens stated that Skidmore
made no move to attack Kimbrell,
saying that one of his hands was rest
ing on the automobile and he was
holding a cigar in the other. Skidmore
had already started the engine Of the
car and the defendant was about Is
feet away, the witness said.
Wade Owens, i6-year- son Of the
first witness, told practically the same
story of the affair.
+. E. Rankin, another member Of the
road force, testified to the effect that
ne had been in the store short time
before the killing and that the men
were drinking although they were not
drunk. He left the store before the
shooting, he said.
Ed Hicks, negro employed by Skid
more, told of stopping at the store with
the man sometime before the shooting
occurred. According to his testimony,
Kimbrell pointed a gun at him, telling
him that if he did not pay the small
sum of money that he owed the de-
fendant, he would kill him. Later, the
negro stated, Kimbrell forced him to
get on the counter, telling him to stay
there. until told to move by the de-
fendant. The negro stated that when
he left the store he had gone about 100
Yards when he heard the shot but stat
ed that he was scared and kept going.
Other material witnesses for the
state were G. NJ. Riley and Dan Brad
Icy, city detectives, who arrested the
man. They stated that he was sober
and rational when they saw him about
) o'clock on the afternoon Of the kill
ing. J. w. Nicely, a ncighbor, told OF
Continued on Page Eight)