Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-13
Walker Steele. Prince Mckinney was ap.
pointed foreman of Jury No. 2.


supernumerary Juror-Wm. s. Wilkerson.
The first case tried was an appeal from q
trial Justices court-the State us. Reuben
Coins, colored, charged with assault and bat.
terry. When this case was called, bis Honor
remarked soto voce that he feared this com.
munity is becoming badly demoralized when
so distinguished citizen as Reuben Coins was
to be arraigned in the courthouse for assault
and battery. The evidence went to show that
Reuben and Jingo Crawford and his three
sons had dispute in town one day in the
month of last October, and as there seemed to
be no other mode of settling the difficulty ex.
cept by resorting to blows, they decided to
retire outside the corporate limits of the town,
"where the law would not interfere with
them," and let the fate of the issue be the f.
nal arbitrament. A scrimmage ensued, in
which Jingo, it appears, resorted to the STRAIT
egy of "butting" Reuben but his head came
in contact with Reuben's teeth and Jingo
caved, when the other combatanta were
separated, but only to answer before trial
justice Wagner. Squire Wagner decreed
that one Of Jingo's sons should 60 to Jail Eve
days or pay fine, and that Reuben should
pay fine or 60 to prison for like period.
To this Reuben demurred and Appealed to
another forum. Reuben took the witness.
stand in his usual tragic style, and made out
a very good case for himself; but to the ques-
ton by the Court, he could not answer posi-.
lively how often, whether six times or ten
times, during the past three years, he had been
arraigned in that Court for various misde-
meanors nor after permission was granted by
the Court, could he sufficiently tax his inge-
nuity as to connect the present difficulty with
the grave which Reuben alleged his enemies
digged for him last summer. But he asked
permission to enlighten the Court on one sub
ject, and that was that on his former trial be-
fore Squire Wagner, that dispenser of JUS
tice, the retail dealer in the article, tampered
with the jury, visiting them twice after they
had retired to make up their verdict. This
created the sensation that Reuben desired,
and his Honor at once summoned trial justice
Wagner in his presence. That public func-
tionary promptly appeared, and stated that
he conferred with the jury twice, at their re-
quest, giving them legal instructions, but ut
terly denying that he "tampered" with the
Jury. The statement was substantiated by
two of the jurymen, and the case resuming its
normal condition, after being instructed by
the Court as to what constitutes an assault,
the jury retired, and soon returned with q
verdict ofguilty. Reuben was then sentenced
to pay fine of So and the costs Of the prose-
cution, ,,or 60 to Jail for thirty days. He is now
ruminating in solitude upon the glorious un'
certainties of the law, and wondering how it
is that the present Court sees through larger
spectacles than did the Court below.
State vs. AMI Darwin, Harriet Darwin,
Thomas Darwin, and Margaret Thompson,
all colored. Charged with burglary and lar
ceny, by forcibly entering the dwelling of Mr..
John R. Alexander, and taking therefrom
suudry articles Of the value of 1925. Thomas
Darwin had fled the county and was not ar
rested. AS to the other parties the jury re-
turned the following verdict ami Darwin,
guilty of burglary and larceny; Margaret
Thompson, guilty oflarceny; Harriet Darwin,
not guilty.
State %. Alfred Smith, colored burglary
and larceny. Pleaded guilty.
State ps. Napoleon Worth, colored assault
with intent to kill. Verdict of guilty, and re.
commended to the mercy of the Court.
State vs. Adolphus Rice, colored; assault
and battery. Nol pros. entered.
State %. Lawson Neeiy, John @. Hall,
VIM Neely, Alexander Mcdonald aud Jew.
ell Hopper; assault and battery. Verdict,
VIM. Nicely, Jewell Hopper and Alex. Nc
Donald not guilty. Lawson Neely and John
@. Hall guilty. The last two having fled the
State, were tried in their absence, and sealed
sentence will be left with the clerk Of the
Court.
State ys. Joseph Pealer, colored; rape and
assault. Verdict, guilty.
State %. Harvey Herndon and Withers
Ellis, both colored assault and battery. Har.
vey pleaded guilty. .. -.
State Us. Amzi Darwin and Margaret Thom-
asson, both colored; burglary and larceny.
Verdict, guilty of petit larceny.
State Us. Cornelius Pride, Minor Moore and
Henry Massey, all colored assault and bat
terry on the person of Mr.. ]. G. sledge. Yer.
dict, guilty.
State vs. Joe Massey, alias Alex. Berry, and
Joe Leech alias Joe Adams, both colored !;
grand larceny. Pleaded guilty.
State ps. Joe Massey alias Alex. Berry. Joe
Leech alias Joe Adams, and VIM. Sandifer; !;
grand larceny. MOL. pros. as to VIM. Sandi-
fer, who was made States witness. Verdict
of not guilty in the case of Alex. Berry and
verdict of guilty as to Joseph Leech.
State ys. James L. Williams and VIM. W.
Williams resisting an officer. Verdict. VIM.
W. Williams, guilty; j. L. Williams, not
guilty.
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