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"Evidence for the Defence"
Jesse Pate sworn on the part of the defendant says: Mr. Edwards rode up and I met him and said: I am going over to your house. He said wait a few minutes and I will go with you. I said John dont go in, you, and Carter are going to have a difficulty. He (Edwards) said he was not going to have any difficulty. Mr. Carter told him not to come in. I saw a pistol on Mr. Edwards, he still advanced, and Mr. Carter told him not to come. Edwards advanced with his thumb on the cock of his pistol. His pistol was on his right side. The belt could be seen. He commenced swearing while his hand was on his pistol, and called Mr. Carter a God d-d son of a bitch. He was in that position when the gun fired. He advanced ten feet from the time he put his hand on his pistol. I have known Mr. Carter six or seven years intimately. I never saw him in any difficulty before. I have known John Edwards for 12 years, he was an overbearing man. I look on him as a dangerous man, a man likely to put into execution any threat he might make. 
(Signed) Jesse Pate his x mark

J. M. Self sworn on the part of the defendant, sayeth: when Mr. Edwards came in the gate I was going from the office to the house. I saw him put his hand on his side as he advanced towards the office door. I was in the office before Mr. Edwards came. There was two (2) guns in the office, one (1) Mr. Carter's, the other my own.