The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-12
COURT IN .EDGEFIELD.
Mixed Times-Negro Lawyers-Interest-
ing Murder Cases-The Grand Jury Ig-
nores the Bill In the Case of the Addi-
son-Cressyven Homicide.
trRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

o.
Our Circuit Court began its fall session here
on M Monday last. Judge Platt presiding. The
iudqe did not reach here in time on Monday to
40 any business. Tuesday was occupied in
orranizine the juries. The grand jury con-
sisted of eight whites and eleven blacks; petit
Jury, No. /, was composed entirely OF blacks,
and No. 2 had a considerable sprink!ing
Several negro consta6les were employed ABOUT
the courthouse, and Hubbard's men were on
hand in goodly numbers. Solicitor P. L. Wig
gins was present for the first time, though 1t
has been nearly year since his election to
office. He is a Northern man, resides at Beau
fort. and, it is said, was buying cotton there at
the time of his election. r. B. Elliott, negro,
was present, and, it is reported, at the request
of his duties His confreres, Whipper and
Wright, who appeared in public on the stage
in the courts in the lower part OF the circuit,
have not made their appearance
On Wednesday the court was occupied IN
the trial of the case of the State vs. Thomas
w. Blease. for the murder of John A. Ruther-
ford. These were both white men, and the
Jury consisted of nine whites and three blacks.
The solicitor was assisted In the prosecution
defence was conducted by Messrs. Butler and
Youmans and Major ]. NJ Baxter, of Newberry.
The facts of the case as deduced from the evil
dence were about as follows: In June last,
Rutherford went to Blease's house for the set
tlement OF some business matters between
them. A quarrel enst1ed, IN the course OF
which Rutherford entered Blease's house in a
threatening manner Blease retired to MS
room. got his gun, and returning met Ruther-
ford on the piazza. and ordered him to leave
his house. Rutherford then advanced on him
with knife drawn, and received the fatal shot,
The prisoner introduced no testimony.
The argument was opened by Leroy F. YOU
mans, ESQ.,, in q vigorous, telling speech. This
was the first case in which he had defended
criminal before an Edgefeld jury. Heretofore.
as the prosecuting officer, the weight OF his
ability and zeal and learning was brought to
the aid of the State in bringing offenders to
Justice; and yet. withal, he was specially dis
tinguished for his uniform courtesy and fair
dealing. His argument in this instance only
proved that he is equal to the emergency on
either side of the case. He was followed by
Major Abney and Elliott on the side OF the
State. As this was the first speech here by
negro lawyer. it attracted pretty full court
room. He spoke the usual length of time in
quite fluent style, was temperate In tone,
and. upon the whole, made q fair legal argu-
ment. Major Baxter closed for the prisoner.
The jury after short absence returned ver-
dict of mot guilty"
Wednesday was occupied in the trial of the
State VS.. Benjamin BoOthe, for the murder OF
".
lumba and Augusta Railroad, last spring.
Boothe and others assembled themselves to-
gether unlawfully, and made an attack on
Major Abram Jones at his house, but returned
to the depot, half mile distant, without doing
Jones as much damage as they perhaps at first
intended. Before leaving the depot Beothe
drew his pistol, which went of and killed one
of his comrades, Luther TOney. They had
been on good terms and had no words at the
killing. But, as they were engaged In riotous
and unlawful conduct, the killing was not re-
garded by the jury as excusable, and hence
they found q verdict of manslaughter. The
prosecution In this case was conducted by the
solicitors, Messrs. Butler & Youmans and Carey
& Garey-the defence by Major Abney and l..
B. Griffin, Esq. This case was tried at the
June term of our court, but resulted In q mis-
trial.
The court is engaged to-day III tile trial
of Hillery Hardy and Lewis Freeman,
both negroes, for the murder OF Mrs. Caroline
Elkin. in March, 1863 This was one of the
most atrocious and diabolical murders that has
occurred in Edgeheld for years.
William Elkin, the husband, was absent from
about dusk Till 10 or IL o'clock at night, ana
on his return found his wife dead in the yard
beaten and mangled fearfillly negro girl,
some twelve or thirteen years oil age, Slept IN
the house, and swOre at the Inquest that Hill
lery and Lewis did the killing. She also test-
fed that they added the crime OF rape to that
of murder; but at the trial which first was had
in March last, she told two or three inherent
stories. The jury consisted of twelve white
men and respectable citizens. They were
equally divided, and mis-trial was the result
The case was again tried at June term win
six whites and SIX negroes, and resulted In a
mis-trial. This time they have one white and
eleven negroes on the jury, and It Is thought
that they will render verdict Of mot guilty. "
The case that was expected to attract the
most attention ut this term of the court was
that of George B. Addison and James Addison,
for the murder of Charles M Cresswell; but
the grand jury this morning returned mo biif'
as against these parties.
There are few more murder cases and
good long roll of assaults and batteries ana
larcenies, which will take up the whole OF the
present term of the court 1t is expected that
we will have an extra court, in January next,
for civil business, when Judge Orr will preside.
We have tried no civil causes, except by
consent of parties, since March, 1868;