The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-04-08
Court.

The Sprirg Term of the Court of Com
mon Pleas and General Sessions for this
District, was brought to close on the
evening Of Saturday last. Many of the
cases on trial possessed more than usual
interest and importance, and the number
of clients. witnesses and spectators in at
tendance during the entire week, was un-
usually large. The number of gentle
men Of the legal profession was also
large, and presented fierce array Of
talent and legal learning.
The case Of the State VS.. Capt. Jesse
Scurry, for the Homicide of Col. John
Belton Williams, came up for trial on
Thursday morning. The high social po-
sition of the respective parties in this
cause, the well known ability and legal
learning Of the distinguished advocates.
who were retained to assist in the pros
ecution and defence, as we'll ms the i'm.
portance which is usually attached to
such trials oil created III the community
an eager desire to witness the proceed
dings. The examinations of the numer-
ous witnesses and the ar cuments of coun
sci occupied two entire days OF the term.
and were listencd to with unflagging in
tcrest throughout. 1t has never been our
privilege to witness more searching
aud impartial investigation of any cause
whatever, whether in the Court of Ses-
sions orCommon Pleas Theprosecution
was conducted by Solicitor Fair, nssisted
by Col. j. u. Irby and Mai. B.,F. -Psr,,
ru Inn Il 4 al
Jones, ii. G. Young, and the Hon. A.
=. Butler. rag - - IS
The speeches Of the counsel on both
s'des, were characterized bv great ability.
The opening remarks OF Solicitor Fair were
direct and forcible, reciting in a succinct
manner the prominent facts upon which he
rested the prosecution. At the close Of the
examination Of the witnesses, Col Irby adj
dressed the jury in p speech replete with
argument, and strong in its application of
the evidence to the crime charged in the in
dictment He was followed by Mr.. Jones
for the defence, in an argument Of much
power and cogency.-To him succeeded
Judge Butler. The forensic effort of our
Srnator was, in our estimation, most felic-
ilous, both in manner and in matter. Il
was concise We: perspicuous, fair in its de-
duction and strong in argumcnt, tree from
appeals to the sympathics ofthe jury, and
W addressed with great power, to their
reason and judgments. Hein turn was fol-
iower by Mr.. Young. Who sustained his
high reputation rs a jurist, by an able re-
statement Of the whole ground Of defence
The closing speech was made by Mai. Il. +.
Perry, who assailed with much power the
various positions assumed by the counse!
for the defence, and brought to bear upon
the resources Of woll cultivated mind and
the extensive stores Of legal knowledge
which he has accumulated during his dis
tinguished career at the bar. Tie harpe
Of the presiding Jud re WIS then given to
the Jurors, who retired to th"ir room to con-
slider of their verdict Th,r' was division.
and they remained closeted during the
whole night succeeding the trial, AT the
convening af the court, next morning at
ten o'clock, the foreman ofthe Jury hand.
ed in a verdict of"Not guilty" ..
Thus was conducted and concluded one
Of the most solemn and important trials
Of homicide that has ever been witnessed
in this community. We trust that il
has left salutary and an abiding i'm
preston upon NIL attended the proceed
dings. Long may it he ere another such
solemn scene shall I've re-enacted in our
courts ofjustice !-NeWberry Sentinel.