The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-03-01

take the. consequences, that Wallace
was an innocent man, and that he,
Cockcrill could no longer have his
blood on his hands; that Mr.. Hol-
man then fixed up the affidavit and
'dcponent saw Cockerill 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
got that burden off of myself" That
Cockerill appeared then to be man
who had been relieved Of something
that had been pressing him down,
and seemed more cheerful.
That deponent's wife, Mrs. Roberta
Hatchell, was not present when de-
ponenf and Cockerill were talking the
night Cockerill came, but was present
the following morning and heard
Cockerill tell his story over in sub
stance as herein set forth.
That the conversation Cockerill
had with deponent was altogether
free and voluntary on. Cockerills
part; that deponent in no way held
what was said, but, on the contrary,
Cockerills' whole attitude and demean-
or was that of a man who had come to
deponent for the purpose Of telling
him the truth about the matter which
had been worrying him.
(Signed) w. H. Hatchell.
Sworn to before me this 26th day
of December, 1921.
Signed. A. S. Hardy, (L. S.
Notary Public for S. C.
Sworn affidavits as follows which
were the direct contradiction of the
previously filed affidavits were read
by the Attorneys for the state, So
licitor Frank A. Mcleod and l.. e,
Wood
Personally appeared before me
N. B. Cockerill, who being duly
McLeod, solicitor of the Third cir
cult, has read very slowly and e.
planned fully to me the following
affidavits: affidavit made by w. II.
iatchell, of December 26, 1921,
the affidavit by A. w. Holman,
dated December 81, 1921, and an
affidavit alleged to have been made
by me dated December 10, 1921.
l did not go Ito the home of w.
RI. Hatchell and introduce myself to
him, for had never heard of him up
to that time. Mrs. Bernicc G. Wal
lace, together with DeLeon Wallace
took me to Columbia on the night of
18th December, 1921, leaving Sumter
IN the night time and arriving in Co.
lumbia after II o'clock in the night.
Mrs. Wallace said she wanted me to
go with her before Governor Cooper
to get, Nh. Wallacc's sentence com
muted Nfrom clectrocution to life SEN
tcnce, l thought | was going to a
hotel but found l was at the home of
Hatchell, to whom / was introduced
by my sister, Mrs. Wallace, upon ar
rival there.
Mr.. Hatchell asked me if Wal
lace was q guilty man, and l told
him that he was. | did not state
to nj NOR to anyone else that | was
scared of anyone in Sumter County,
further deny having said anything
to him about gang or bunch getting
me to set a trap for Wallace, and
deny that any such was done. have
never been threatened either before
or since this crime by anyone con-
cerning my testimony in the case.
deny stating to Mr.. Hatchell OF any
one that there was any plan so far as
know or have ever heard of to run
Mr. Wallace off.
l did not tell Mr. Hatchcll or any-
one else that | wanted to have a
chance to get away before any affi-
davit was published. | left Column
bia on the night Of December 18th
and arrived at my home near Sumter
at about 2:30 the same night. l have
been at my home within five miles of
Sumter ever since this time and have
been going about my business just as
usual, coming to Sumter in the mean
time whenever wanted to. l did not
raise my hand and say "Thank God
| have got that burden off myself"
| wish to rcaffirm the testimony
given by me in this case on trial.
| told the whole truth then and I
stand by it for what | then said is
and was the truth And this I stat
ed fully to Mr.. Hatchell and my sis
ter, Mrs. Wallace. I have never had
conscience or suffered any loss Of
sleep by reason of my testimony given
on the trial of this case; and ali that
is stated in Mr. Hatchells affidavit
that is in conflict with what l here
and now state is absolutely untrue
and false.
Before leaving for Columbia, Mrs.
Wallace got a negro man to get Il jar
OF Whlskey for me, a two-quart Jar
full, upon which | started to drink
the night before leaving, and contin-
ucd to drink from this supply until
it vas all gone by seven o'clock on
the morning after the arrival in CO.
lumbia, and Mr.. Hatchcll went off
and got half pint of whskcy for me
and after finishing this he got me
another half pint. I do not know who
paid for this whiskey but no one
asked me to pay for it, I was in a
drunken and hazy condition from the