The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-01-30

The District Court.

The first Quarterly Session Of the Dis
trist Court for Lancaster convened at the
usual hour on Monday, the 2sth inst,
and is in progress AS our paper goes to
press. Judge Wthcrspoon presides. -
Though his first Term, the Judge dis
charges the laborious duties Of his posi-
tion with grea: ease, dignity and eflicien-
cy.
The Solicitor Of the Northern Circuit,
O. ID. Melton, Esq., was in attendance At
the opening Of the Court, and announced
that John ID. Wylie, Esq, had been dep
uuzed as prosecuting attorney for ihe
State in the District Court for Lancaster.
He also announced that the States busi'
ness begun in the Superior Court, and
where recognizsuces had been taken 10
appear at that Court, would no. be taken
up at the psesent Term, no regular order
Of transfer 10 tho District Court of cases
Of which the latter has Jurisdiction, hav.
ing yet been made.
The Grand Jurors summoned 10 this
Term were discharged, and from the peti,
venire, eighteen were drawn, in accordance
with the amended District Court Act
The late Act provides An Importance OF
one Term in civil actions, and ths Judge
announced accordingly, that 'ihere would
be no business on that side Of the Court.
The States business WAS then taken up -
There are no cases, so far as We know, Of
any considerable magnitude.
The first case taken up " a. ,ha. Of the
State VS.. Sylvester Small and Eliza Small,
a white man and freed woman, charged
in the Indictment with the felonious tax
ing and carrying away load Of oat
chat, from the gin house Of the ProsecT.
tor, Mr.. VIM. Belk, OF the value Of one
dollar. Mr.. Wyhe having previously
been retained for the defence, w. NJ. Con.
nors Esq, WAS assigned by the Court to
prosecute in behalf Of the State. The
investigation OF this case occupied seve
raj hours, the witnesses being numerous
and principally colored; resulting fually
i'll considerably more of chcG than sub
stance. The jury rendered verdict Of
no. guilty.
The next case WAS the State vs.. Nelly
Mcllwain, n freed woman, indicted for un,
lawfully appropriating to her own use, q
certain white bonnet, Of the proper goods
and cha,tels Of the proserutrix, Miss
Laura Blsylock. The defendan, not hav
ing secured the assistance If counsel, the
Court assigned x. Is. Allison, Esq, to
conduct the defence. The witnesses in
this case, as between white and colorsi,
were about propor,ionately equal. The
information elected from them upon the
subject matter Of the investigation WAS
varied and comprehensive; and when our
reporter left the Court room, late in the
afternoon, the States Attorney was 10 the
midst Of an able argument. to demonstrate
that the aforesaid Nelly was guilty Of the
felonious appropriation OF the atorenamed
parapbranSlia Of tho said Laura.
Tie time when the Court will adiourn
is yet uncertain-probably in a day or
two. II is with pleasure We note the
order preserved by the Court. Although
q large number Of persons were in atien.
dance on Monday, the utpost order and
decorum Vas maintained, greatly 70 the
credit Of the presiding Judge and officer.
Of the Court.
The presence Of so many freed people
10 Court is a novelty in this vicinity
Their behaviour, both in the Court room
and on the witness stand, WAS commenda.
bic, and encouraging to the future ad
vancement Of the race.