The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-16
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS. The
Court met, Yesterday, mt 10 A. M.

The case of the State against Jumes A.
Bowley, indictment bribery, wus called.
The Attorney-General read to the Court
9 certificate directSd to, the presiding
Judge, from DIR. d. z. Clayton, setting
forth that on last night, Generul Dennis
was thrown from his carriage and pain
fully injured 30 much 80, that he would
he unable to be out for week or ten
days to come. The Acknowledgement
stated that he relied almost wholly upon
General Dennis testimony, in order to
make out the case for the State, and
could not go to trial without it, and
asked for continuance. Mr.. Youmans
opposed continuance The cOntinu-
ance was granted, and the Attorney-Gen-
eral directed to examine Dennis bond.
AT subsequent stop OF the proceedings
the Attorney General stated that he had
examined Dennis bond, and found it
sufficient to bind him to appear mt the
next term Of the Court
In the case Of the State rs. Robert
Smalls, indictment counselling breach
OF trust, at the instance of the Solicitor
formal order WAS made for the defend
ants arrest, fixing his bond ut So, 500,
with one or more sufficient sureties. for
his appearance at the next term of this
Court, to be taken by the Clerk of the
In the cases OF the State as. J. H. Bry-
ant, Uriah Portec and j. J. Goodwin and
Ellison NJ. Weston and VIM. NJ Huyne.
County commissioners, indictment for
official misconduct, Mr.. Youmnns moved
All arrest of Judgment and for q new
trisl. Overrulcd
In the above cases, the Court asked
the Attorney-Generali if lie had examined
INTO the punishment provided for these
offences?
The Attorney General stated the
statute requiring the Commissioners, in
case of failure or refusal to perform
duties required by law, to pay $3.50 and
lose their Offices. He said that the $3.50
forfeiture might work by way of fine,
and TINT the offence being nalfeasaace
IN office, amounting to misdemeanor,
the Court. under the common law,
might fine or imprison, or both, at its
discretion; but suggested that the fine
should not exceed $3.50.
MIR. ioumans said that il the $3.50
clause was IL forfeiture, the case belonged
to the civil side Of the court
The Court said the sentence would be
passed upon the Commissioners ON Mon
day next.
Mr.. loumans moved that Raleighs
peace bond be reduced from 81 900 to
$500, because of Raleigh's inability to
give bond for the former amount.
Granted.
James Bailey plead guilty to petit
larceny. and not to grand larceny, rs
crroneously reported yesterday
The Court stated that the Court of
General Sessions would probably not
adjourn until the middle of next week,
because of the unfinished business now
before the grand jury. The Court of
Common Pleas would be held, however,
In the meantime.
The Court stated thut Ben. Wood, who,
with Jesse Gaffney and Esop Thompson,
hnI been convicted of grand larceny, had
had no attorney to represent them. and
In the opinion of tho Court he had been
convicted upon evidence Of an INSULT
cient character, new trial was ordered;
wherupon the Solicitor entered IA noNe
iroSeQm; as to him.
The Court then passed the following
sentences upon the following prisoners:
Jesse Gaffney and Esop Thorn pson, con-
vlcted of grand larceny. two years i'll
penitentiary; Aaron Gilbert, convicted
OF receiving stolen goods, knowing them
to he stolen, five years IN the peniten-
tiary; James Bailey, petit larceny, two
months in County Jail; James Williams,
convicted of larceny, two months in the
County Jail; Washington Dotrey, con
yicted OF larceny, two months in County
Jail; Henry Johnson. convicted of grand
larceny. three years in penitentiary;
Robert Bean, grand larceny, one year in
penitentiary; Edward Thomas, grand
larceny, three years i'll penitentiary; jas.
Dickinson. grind larceny, five years in
penitentinry; VIM. Kibler, grand larceny,
three years i'll penitentiary: Robert John
Hon. petit larceny, two months in County
Jail; John Bryant, mnnslaughter, five
years in penitentiary. The Court ndiui-
nistcred lectures to these prisoners upon
sentencing them. Judge Carpenter nc
companicd the sentences with se,sonable
advice and kind counsel to the parties to
reform their conduct, to cultivate habits
OF industry and sobriety. aud tn enter
upon new and better course of life. In
the case OF one who had offered no de-
fence. and had pleaded guilty of petty
larceny, light punishment of two
months in. the County Jail was passed
upon him: This leniency was due to the
interest which had been manifested in
his behalf by respectable persons, who
had been moved by the appeals and ear
nest efforts of the mans wife. The Judge
feclingly reminded him"Uf his heavy
obligations tD this ,fntirIn9 friend, and
iin pressed upon him tho .oSffcsponding
dhty of nourishiug towards her loyal
and grateful sentiment, and of ever
treating her with tenderness and consi-
deration. I -
The grand jury have found number
of true bills thus far and are still in ses-