The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-05-02

stolen goods. Sentence, nVe montns mprls-
onment.
The State vs.. Dickson Cokeley-Larceny.
Sentence, eight months imprisonment.
The State vs. March Brown-Larceny. Sem
tence, two months imprisonment.
The State vs. Grace Wright-LaIceny.
Sealed sentence.
The court then adjourned sine die
Couar OF GENERAL SESSIONS AND COMMON
PLEAs-HoN. zEpHAN1AH PLATT, PRESIDING.
The court met at the usual hour and proceeded
to the trial Of Hugh Donohue, for The murder
of his wife. Messrs. 7. B. King and John
Grimban appeared for the defence.
This murder was committed on the 18th Of
January last in row of houses at the foot Of
Hasel.street, and was fully reported in TIE
NEWS at the time Of the coroner's inquest.
The prosecution presented several Witnesses,
but the most important was Margaret Taylor,
the young daughter OF the deceased. She tes-
tilted that no one was in the house OF the time
but her mother, step-father and herself; that
her mother and the prisoner had been drink
ing and had quarreIlsd, when her mother
struck ODonohue with stick Of ightwooi.
This maddened him, and though her mother had
left the house he followed her into vacant lot
and struck her on the head with the same stick,
| inficting wound which caused her death in q
few days. After being struck she was taken to
the city hospital, where her death occurred.
Dr.F.P. Pofcher testified to the character
| Of the wound, and stated that it had produced
lockjaw, which caused death.
Coroner Whiting stated in substance the
testimony which had been elicited at the coro-
ner's inquest Margaret Taylor then being
ths only witness, and her testimony was the
same as that given in court. -
Mrs. Mingo, who was neighbor Of the
O'Donohue's, said that she was called in after
the row, and assisted in washing and binding
up the wound. Her description Of the wound
tailed with that given by DR.. Porcher, who e1-
amined the woman at the hospitaI. Mrs.
Mingo never saw the deceased after she had
left the house, and only heard Of her death
casually. srs.eeg
| Another witness was introduced, but abe had
imbibed 80 freely that she was unable to give
any connected statement, and put the court in
broad grin by her free and easy manner to-
ward both the Judge and the Attornsy-Gen-
eral. The former was alluded to as "my child
and ssny darlint," and her answers to the At
torney Generals queries were wild and incohe-
| rent. She was told to go down, and she re.
piled "she would, as the wssh-tub was better
place than such court" and stalked out ol
the courtroom with the air Of tragedy queen
The prosecution having closed, and the de-
fence having no Witnesses to offer, the argu'
ment was opened by John Grimball, Esq, fol.
lowed by the Attorney General for the State
and T. B. King, Esq, for the defence. After g
charge from the Judge, the case was given tc
the jury, who returned q verdict Of not guilty
During the trial the Grand Jury had returned
to the court, and the Judge requested the At
torney- General to suspend his examination un
til they we're heard. The foreman, MIR. E. j
Dawson, then handed the presentment Of the
Grand Jury, which was read by the clerk, al
follows
| COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS AND COMMON PLEAS
| oHARLEsToN DISTINGUISHING TERM, 1853
| We, the Grand Jury, assembled by order o
court, do report, that in the discharge OF the
duties assigned us, we have visited the differ
emit public institutions and have examined
carefully into their condition.
| The courthouse needs 9 few repairs, whlcf
are essential to preserve the building from the
weather. The roof leaks badly in several
places, and the action Of the water has loosenee
The ceiling in many Of the upper rooms, an6
caused it to be broken. The east wing OF the
third story is in bad condition, and needs
several repairs. In various parts OF the build.
ing the sashes are broken, and the weights
and glasses destroyed. We would also sug.
cest That the janitor's house be separated from
the court yard by fence, and the premises
| made more private. A number Of unauthor
| lied persons have frequent access to the build
ing, and the damages may be traced to this
| cause.
The Jail was thoroughly inspected, and
found to be in oleanly condition, the sheriff
having taken every care OF the prisoners con-
Of the visit there were one hundred and twc
inmates-eighty-six colored men, five white
and eleven women. The latter are kept sepa.
rate from the males. Dr. F. l.. Parker has
the medical charge Of the prisoners, and
their general health is good. The provisions
furnished are sound and Of good quality.
II the doors and window bars were painted it
| would preserve them uOm ru6I, ana attempt-
ed escapes would be more easily detected.
The general management OF the jail is, how.
ever, good, and, while it is the best in the
State, it may compare fayorably with those Of
larger cities. When witnesses are confined in
the Jail they should be allowed extra accommo.
dations in the way OF sleeping and eating, and
not be classsd with the other prisoners. The
yard and outbuildings Of the jail are clean and
in perfect order. II the four windows on the
northern wall, opening on the yard, were
bricked up it would add to the security Of the
building and remove probable means Of es-
cape. The present sheriff has been faithful in
the discharge ofhls duties, and the jail and
yard are in as secure and in as good order aa
could possible be expected.
The fire-proof building was also visited, and
the jury we're satisfied with its condition, but
would offer few suggestions which, if car
ried out, will add to the comfort OF the differ
,ent public officers whose business is conduct
ed in this building. When the, building was
repaired the basement door on the south side
was closed and an iron railing substituted,
This could be changed at q comparative small
expense, and the passage way be opened to
Chalmers-street, south side. Sinks should
also be placed in the building for the accom-
| IL 49, ntad