The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-10-24
The Court Of General Sessions

Adjourned Saturday last,-Judge Al
drich presiding,-after close and ardu-
Gus sitting, the amount Of business being
large, and ofa most grave and serious
character the criminal docket being full
Ter, perhaps, than ever before known in
this district. The Court of Common
Pleas, in accordance with recent
act of the Legislature, was not open.
The patience, courtesy, zeal and le-
gal ability displayed by the Judge and
counsel wasa gratifying evidence (most
of the cases being among frcedmeD from
the Court that We arc recognizing the
new order of things, and that impartial
justice will be rcndere | as between white
| and colo1ed. For the first time has ne.
gro evidence been admitted in this court,
and the most Of it offered was ola credit
able character.
Maj. ouber, acting Solicitor, (Col. Fair
being sick) depo:ted himself with an
amount of modest dignity gratifying to
his friends. lie was most ably assisted
By Mr.. Simpson Of Laurcns, and Mr..
Melton Of Yorkvilc.
Mr.. Perrin, of Abbeville, Mr. Sullivan,
Of Laurens, Messrs. j. H. Baxter, Henry
Summer, Y. J. Pope, ". R. Spearman,
J. F. j. Caldwell and Thos. Moorman,
were cngagedin the business of the Term.
The other members Of Our Bar were not
employed, inasmuch as the civil side of
the Court was closed.
The following is summary Of the
proceedings
Wednesday. State VS.. Wesley Whit
man (white) for murder Of Lewis Cure
ton, freedman, found guilty-appcal
for new trial. Defended by JAS. NJ, Bax-
ter; MesSrs. c. II. Suber ard S. ". Mel
ton for the prosecution.
Thursday. State VS.. Samuel kiblcr
(freedman,) fr Observation-Disclosures
guilty and sentenced to be hanged on
the first Friday in January, 1867. De-
Tended By MessrS. Spcarman and Gald-
well Thos. ,Moorman for the prosecu-
tioa.z 1t is believed that the sentence in
this case will be commuted.
Friday. State VS.. Hilliard Dawkins,
Booker Duckett. Jim Posey, Albert Da-
Wis, Emanuel Gunter, Dave Lane, Harvey
Pratt, andArmistead Cook (freedmen) for
the murder of Mr. Lemuel Lane. Messrs.
Baxter, Summer and Pope for the de-
fence. Maj Sube- and Simpson, for the
prosecution. Hillia:d Dawkins was
found guilty and sentenced to he hanged
on the first Friday in December. Booker
Duckett, Posey. Davis, Gunter, and Lane,
found guilty but appealed for new trial.
Arnnistead Cook, cleared Of the charge OF
q confederate in the murder, was remain
,led under an indictment for robbery.
There being no evidence against Harvey
Pratt, to his great joy and the satlstac-
tion of the lawyers who aided in his
offence, as we'll as the entire commu-
nitv, he was discharged.
AS we were much pressed during the
week for time and labor, we arc unable
to present the history of facts discovered
in the melancholy Lane murder case.
The prosecution and defence were con-
Quoted with signal ability. The gentle
men engaged in this case displayed depth
of thought, and culture, and an earnest
impasSioned eloQuence. Indeed, so far
as we were permitted to listen to the ef-
forts of the different Attorneys engaged
during the session, We were persuaded
that, for ability and zeal, the Bar
Of Ncwbeqry would do honor to any
community. While every effort was
made 'to bring the guilty to feel the
strong arm of the law" nothing was
left. undone to defend the poor,
miserable prisoners at the bar. And
Judge Allrich's charges to Jury while
they hold the "scales of justice" evenly
poised, are always merciIul. The young
members at the bar, for their legal attain
ments, deserve a need Of fpraiSe, and GER
tainly they have it at our humble hands.
We learn that an extra court is order
ed for Newberry on the Sd Monday in
November.