The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1960-05-06
News of Columbia e Tyrrell Co.
Subscriptions Mrs. Blanche w. Cohoon, Call Her.
Phone Bill, Columbia, N C. She win welcome Of
Columbia and Tyrren County
PRISON TERM FOR
IA TYRRELL NEGRO
FOR MANSLAUGHTER

Negro, charged with murder OF
Richard Lee Badham, %, Negro
on April 8, last was found guilty Of
manslaughter, Wednesday, in Tyr
rell County Superior Court. He
was sentenced to not less than
eight years nor more than ten years
by Presiding Judge Chester R.
Morris.
Represented by counsel Carl L.
Bailey of Plymouth, McClees took
the stand in his own behalf plead
ing self-defense. His testimony wan
substantiated by that of his wife,
Callie McClees. He admitted run
ming business in the country
about five miles west of here--a
combination of pop shop, pool room
and dance hall with piccolo. He told
that about 20 times he had ordered
Badham from his place of busi-
ness due to unruly behaviour
cursing, using bad language, break
ing bottles and one incident the
breaking of three booths. He ad-
mitted not having sought protec-
ton from the law in any of the in
fractions. He further testified that
on the night of the shooting, Bad
ham had again been ordered from
the room for using bad language,
and that Badham returned a few
minutes later by way of the back
door and started for him with an
open knife, and he the defendent,
shot to stop him. He claimed that
the victim after having been shot
closed the knife and put it in his
own pocket, and that there were
about 35 or 40 persons dancing to
music in the 32x22 hall at the time
of the shooting. He admitted hav-
ing lost his beer license, and having
been convicted on previous oc-
casions.
DR.. James r. Howerton in pro-
fessional testimony said that Bad
ham was dead when he saw him,
and that from the point of entry
of the bullet in upper left abdomen
with no exist, his professional
opinion was that it caused the
death. He stated no other external
marks as bruises or decorations
were present on the body.
State witnesses Matte Alexander
and Lonnie Jean Owens testified
they were standing near both of the
men when the shooting occurred
and they did not remember seeing
McClees being attacked by Bad
ham, nor seeing a knife in the
hands of the victim, nor on the
floor after the shooting. The girl
testified that she saw McClees pull
the pistol from his pocket and fire;
that Badham grabbed his stomach,
tried to grab table while walking
away from McClees and crumpled
in the corner. She said she was
second cousin to the victim. She
further testified that there was no
dancing nor music at the time of
the shooting. Owens testified he did
not actually see the pistol being
drawn, but he asked McClees if
he shot Badham, and that McClees
admitted the shooting.
Sheriff Clair E. Morris cooberat-
ed the testimony of the two States
witnesses as same report told him
at the time of investigation. He
said the evidence given by Nc
Clees and his wife was contradic-
tory to the report they gave him
following the incident.
The two States witnesses Alex
ander and Owens were subpoened
also by the defendent with seven
others. The others did not take the
stand for questioning.
Character witnesses: H. I. Dav-
export, Mayor, and w. H. McClees,
prominent Merchant testified de-
fendent had a good reputation.
Law enforcement officers E. l..
Moseley, J. L. Poston and Sheriff
Clair E. Morris gave it as bad.
McClees has been held without