The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-05-24

nctte? Mercy! What mercy did Harri-
| son show that good woman, his hoth-
er, to force her to sit through this
ordeal? And Frank M. Jeffords, what
mercy did he show his two sisters sit
ting beside him and his brother and
that innocent woman, his wife? What
mercy did Treece show his mother?
Mercy! What mercy did they show the
poor wife of John G. Annette and his
little children?
"The verdict ought to be, must be
and shall be Guilty.!
Killed Twelve Days Ago
John c. Annette was killed in the
Elmwood filling station at the corner
of Elmwood avenue and Main street
at about II o'clock Tuesday night,
May 8, His body, thrown in his own
car, was discovered in ditch beside
the Bay branch bridge on kirkland
avenue at 1870 o'clock. Tuesday
night by six National Guardsmen, who
had seen the wrecked automobile as
they passed on their way home from
drill. Sheriff T. Alex Heise was no
titled and he and Deputy Sheriff Will
liam II. Thompson began work on the
case. At about 1890 o'clock the fill
ing station was discovered on fire and
at 1:30 o'clock Sheriff Heise and Dep
uty Sheriff Thompson, learning of this
fact went to the filling station, to
become convinced that the crime had
been committed ther and the body
later carried to Kirkland avenue and
deserted. Chef of Detectives S. S.
Shorter, Detectives Bob Broom, Jim
Broom and w. II. Kelly were then
called in on the case by Sheriff Heise
and by 2:45 o'clock Ira Harrison had
nt hi
Hampton street. Glenn Treecc was
taken into custody at the same place
by county and city officers few min
utcs later Confronted with his blood
stained coat found by officers over
the head of his bed, Harrison con-
fessed to the crime when he was
taken to the poicc station, involving
himself. Trcccc and Frank Nj. JEFF
fords. Jeffords was arrested at the
filling station at about o'clock.
Treece at the police station also made
q confession and Jeffords, officers
said, admitted that he had chad part
in it," Jetfords was Arnette's part
ner. Harrison and Trecce were en-
ploycd at the filling station.
At 1880 o'clock Wednesday night
May 10, the coroner's inquest was
held. At 9:30 o'clock the following
morning the indictment, charging the
three men with murder, was presented
ito the grand jury and at 3:42 o'clock
Thursday afternoon they were ar
raigncd.
Trial Begun Tuesday
Tuesday morning, May 1G, the trial
was begun, the cmpanelling of the
jury being completed at 12:41 o'clock
and the taking of evidence begun at
1854 o'clock. For three days the
state built up its case against the
three men, 32 witnesses being called
to establish the truth Of the confcs-
sions, which officers testified had been
made by the three men and upon
which the state based its case.
The state rested at 6:15 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon and the defense
was begun Thursday morning. At
1912 o'clock Harrison took the stand
to rccitc calmly in detail his version
of the crime, which throughout the
tention was the true story as to the
manner in which Mr.. Annette came to
| his death. Harrison admitted strk-
ing the first blow, claiming, how
ever, that Jcffords afterwards chokcd
| Mr.. Annette and struck him in the
head with an automobile axle Two
unsuccessful attempts at Mr.. Annette
life, Harrison said, were made Sun
day and Monday nights, the plot to
kill him having been first mentioned
to him by Harrison and Trcece, he
said, Thursday of Palmafcsta week.
AT 4:04 o'clock Trcece went on the
stand, to testify that he had not be-
lievcd that Harrison and Jeffords were
to kill Mr.. Annette and that he had
merely followed orders. Under cross
examination he abandoned this story
to admit finally that Harrson's ac-
count of the plot and crime was the
truth as he knew it.
At 1920 o'clock Thursday morning
Jcffords was put on the stand in reply
to Harrison's and freezes accusa lions
of his being the ''mastcr mind" in the
alleged plot and it's execution. On di-
rect examination he denied all knowl-
edge Of any plot to kill Mr. Annette,
denied striking any blow and admit
ted that he had helped load the body
in the automobile and had attempted
to conceal the crime. Under torturing
ss-eXamination he maintained his
story until the end. At 4:30 o'clock
Thursday afternoon the defense rest
ed and at 1882 o'clock arguments to