The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-03-03
OUR COURT.

full employment for another week after
the present. The Criminal business or
the Term would have been dispatched
on Tuesday last, but for the unexpected
. appearance of Mack Evans, against
whom an indictment of murder was
found at the present term, and who a!tc!
an absence Of several months, voluntarl-
lv surrendered himself a few days since.
His trial occupied the greater part OF
Yesterday, and at the time oftAis present
Yr...pg is not yet concluded. L7ince
convicted-see below.
Our record of the business OF the past
week, closed with the notice OF the case
of the State VS.. Francis Bigby, Ann
Maxwell, Henry Thos. Robinson, Davy
Newton, and Henry Bigby, for arson in
burning dwelling house on the place
of Mr.. Jas. Searight near Donaldsville,
which was then pending. The jury
brought in q verdict of guilty against
Frauces Bigby, Ann Maxwell and Hen
ry Bigby.
Next followed the case of the State VS..
Henry Thompson for burglary, i'll enter
ing the dwelling of Mr.. $. L. Russell
Russell in October last. The crcum-
and making brutal assault upon Mrs.
stances of the offence made it one OF The
most aggravated character, and the guilt
of the prisoner was established with q
.clsarness and weight Of evidence, which
left no doubt on the mind of any one
present. ..-
Iu the case of the State vs. VIM. l..
McCord, for assault and battery-ver-
dict not guilty.
Same VS.. John Johnson, Wade ke!!ar
and Walter Butler, grand larceny, in
stealing bale of cotton, the property Of
2 Mr.. Watson-the defendants pleaded
guilty. .. a.,,-.
Same VS.. Aaron Mitchell, the Town
Marshal-verdict not guilty. .
.~, Same vs.. Henry Cochran, murder, in
killing fellow freedman on the place
of Mr.. John, Sybert-verdict guilty Of
Inanslaughter.- ..s.G .
..
sl Marshall, for an assault with intent
TO kill, upon Mr.. Jas. McCrary---.Terdiclt.
guilty as to Samuel Marshall.
! On Tuesday the prisoners were brought
before his Honor for sentence, and the
following sentences were then pronoun-
oed, accompanied in each case with
most admirable address, suggested by a
review of its peculiar circumstances,
and enforcing the wholesome truth, that
the way Of transgressors is hard.
State VS.. Courcey Donnald, and CAL
L: vert Johnson-sentence, each, hard Ia,
Dor in the Pen itentiary for one year.
Same Va. Frances Bigby, Ann Max
well and Henry sBigby, arson, hard Ia
Dor in the Penitentiary for ten years.
Same VS.. Henry Cochran, uanslaugh-
ter, hard labor in the Penitentiary for
+. two years. - ..t
Same VS.. Henry Thompson, burglary,
hard laborin the Penitentiary for twelve
years. ... .-..--....-
Same We. John Johnson, Wade Keller,
and Walker Butler, grand larceny
hard labor in the Penitentiary for eight
months. ... .... ..,. :.
Same VS.. Sam Marshall, assault and
hattery--three mouths in the County
Jail: u ,''~4... ,1 ...@
I'm the case of the Same VS.. Nc Evans
= for murder the accused was found guilty
of murder, and sentenced to hard labor
in the Penitentiary for five years. .H,5
The sentences were comparatively
light, and the just punishment Of the
guilty was tempered with becoming
mercy. All circumstances of miti8A-
tion were duly considered in awarding
3 punishment, at the same time that the
law was vindieated. For instance the
plea of guilty and the exhibition Of be-
coming penitence in the case against
johnson, Keller and Butler, induced his
Z Honor, to remit four months Of the i'm
prlsonment- ...
As we have said, the addresses accom-
panying the passing Of sentence were
admirable Of their kind-earnest, prac-
tical and efsctive-giving sage coun-
sci and wholesome admonition, drawn
from large experience of life-and ap-
pealing alike to the reason and the
heart. AS vindicating the majesty Of
:. the law, and enforcing the necessity Of
its due observance, they formela fitting
= accompaniment to the sentences them
selves. -. -.
The juries are applying their scaling
~compasses to all the war, and ante-war
debts. With regard to war debts, the
rule so far applied, finds the true value
In good money, halves that amount and
calculates interest:on the remainder.