The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-21
The United statc. Court Adjourned.


The Court adjourned on Monday. The exciting
case Of tho United States rs. Arnlm, Crulnp and
Davidson, charged with violation of tho revenue
laws, resulted in verdict Of guilty, which
turned by tho jury, after dark, Saturday evei,-
Ing. Tho case had occupied ion days tme OF the
Court. It was prosecuted and defended ably and
vigorously. Three days were taken up with
consumed in eliciting tho testimony, and in dis
o and
OF ground was obetinatoly contested. The coun-
sci for the defendants (hIessrs. Eaalcy, Perry
field, and Porter, of Charles.on) seemed VOL
fortified and confident in their lines OF defence,
while District Attorney Corbin. and his associates,
don't on their side, aud terribly aggrossiyo in their
assaults upon the well defended positions Of their
opponents. 1t was manifest to tho spcctstors that
sential to success, known as the Bench and tho
Jury Boz: After sono severe skirmishing and oc-
casional heavy attacks from ono and tho othor
party to carry tho Bench on their sido ON legal
grounds, on clearing ZIP Of the smoke it WAS dis
covered with decided bearing to the law. side of
tho assapants. Tho Bench could not bs hold by
tho defence, and there was very just alarm
on that side, ct tho proapcet, that it's great
weight ,ov;Oa woad t pc projected BY 5o assa
as the final protection against the enemy. Strong
efforts worc made to defend this position against
the t p oSerpoWoring pressure, but when in tho end
as usual, entirely carried ly tho .assaIants. Tho
defenders wore, therefore, obliged to surrender at
discretion. It must be confessed that the Bench
rested at last softly and onderly upon the fallen
defendants aB tho nature of tho case permitted
Tho sentence OF tho Court was no moro than was
absolutely required by law but aeyero neycr-
theless; the penalties and costs imposed amount
ing to twelve thousand dollars and upward, with
tho alternative annexed, that If the Same were not
paid tho parties should suffer imprisonment for
one year each.
We would be glad to report something OF tile
eloquent and able arguments Of counsel in this
case, but neither space nor Time permits The
efforts made on the occasion were well calculated
to add to tho reputation Of the gentlemen engaged
most Of whom arc already very distinguished in
this State. Major Corbn the District Attorney
is new man in the Bar of South Carolina, and IL
may bo proper 10 state that he exhibited forensic
talents we'll qualifying him for the able and efi-
ciont performance of his arduous and responsible
duties In Justice to me defendants in the oasc
resented as very respectable indeed; and many
who heard their case with considerable patience
did not believe that they ought to have boon con-
garded their offence as unintentional, aud not
corrupt violation Of tho Law.
We regret not being ablo to report Tho leading
ponta in tho .Judgos charge, happening to be
aDsenI at its delivery. The case turned very much
in tie outset Of which diHtiller ia defined to bo
ono who mukos spirits by continuous dstliation
from grain; thing calculated to mislead, because
10 the body OF the Act, only, appears ciausc in
dicating that distillera generally should be liable
to special tax, and certain penalties for not paying
it. Tho defendants, in the caso we hayo bcon mi,
luding to, dist,llcd according TO tho proof, only
molasses. There were counts in tho indictment
for dietlling in their vinegar works. for roctifyng
ETC., which combined to swell the penalties brt
the heavy item was for tho spirits distilled from
Holasses, as to which thoy might, es intimated,
Of the Act Of 1885, especially il unfortunately over
looking tho other clauses which clauses their
sci earnestly argued did not alter tho casc