The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-04-26
The Trial OF the Beaufort County Commits
SiOncrS.

The trial oil llle Beaufort county commits
| In the United States Circuit Court
yesterday, H:s Honor Judge Hugh l..
Bond presiding, the trial Of the Beau
fort County Election Commissioners
was resumed. Mr. OCvnnor conclu-
ded his argument for the defence, aid
was followed by Mr.. Corb;n for the
prosecution. After Mr.. Corbin had
closed, the Judge delivered tho fol-
loving
ctARdE TO the jury:
Gent'emenSoJthc Jury These dcfen-
dants are indicted uudcr the 22d Sec.
tivn of the AIT of May 1870, enti-
tied, "An Act to enforce the Rights
Of Citizens" aud | need not say to
! you, gentlemen, who have listened to
the witnesses in this case, that it IS
, trial of the greatest Importance 1t
involves the purity Of the ballot box,
aud caution you to consider the evi-
dence with the utmost care. You
must divest yourselves of all party
feeling, # any you have. and look at
the facts proved, not as pal tisaLs, but
as citizeus and sworn jurymen, You
are to weigh the ,esti timony diliberatc-
ly, aid Upon tic s6lcmnitS ST your
oaths give your verdict promptly. In
Judging, gentlemen, of the value Of
tho tcst.mony,You arc to take into
consideration tho manucr Of testify.
ing, and the experience of the witness.
eb i'll tho matter Of which they testify
-theit style, tone, force aud appear
ance. When yod come to discuss the
matter of hand writing, its value will
depend entirely Upon tie, ,cppottu3i.
ty the witnesses had for G!io%&ing IS
character, and their experience in
distinguishing ono man's style from
another. 1t is your duty in this case, to
find out whether or not, the crime
charged in the Indictment has been
committed at all--if no such offences
have been committed, of course. that
is the end of the case. The offences
are set forth in four separate cuuu,s.
Upon the indictment you can bring IN
several vcrdic,s.
| FIRST. Inc general verdict Ot not
guilty as tc a! parties.
Second. You may find one or more
of tho parties guilty aud the rest not
guilty.
Third. You may 6ud all of the
parties guilty on one or more Of the
counts, and not guilty upon any
other.
You arc to remember that the
Affirmative Of this issue is upon the
United States the Government must
assure you that the defendants are
guilty beyond reasonable doubt. 1t
must be doubt for which reason
exists. Tho testimony is fresh in
your minds, and touches no intricate
matters of law. The ease has been
terscly presented, and has been
argued with great ability OH both
sides. l hope you will use
your best endcavors to reach
a verdict this time. You may take
the case.
The jury retired, and at 6 o'clock
! P. NJ, asked for Instructions in the
matter Of poll lists, as they deem ed
it essential to know if the lists in
court wore the originals or authenti-
Gated copies. On being inform ed
that they wero exact copies Of those
in the Secretary Of States office, they
resumed. the ,doliberati"n of the case.
| At 10 O'Clock p. NJ, tho jury returned
the following
VERDICT
We find the defendants, Alfred
Villa us, white, and j. S. langley,
coIored, guilty on all four Of tie
counts in the indictment, and r. II.
Gleaves guilty as to the fourth count
and recon mend them to the mercy of
the court
The jury was then polled, and as
each juror was called and asked as to
his agreeing to the verdict, lie answer
ed ia the nthrmatiye. 9''
| Mr.. O'Connor, counsel for tho de-
fcndants, gave notice that he excepted
to tho verdict, and was allowed tilno
to state hisgfodnds; ~. ''''"
/ On motion of the District Attorney,
4 the defendants were ordered to DO
taken i9to ,custodYto await the dispo.
sltion Of the Court.
| The Court then adj ,urned, to meet
to-day at 10 o'clock a. NJ. "'',i
Sod and Terrible Affair on the Baltimore
| +"' and ffIffn RdiIrhGd