The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-05
The Press and Banner
Wednesday. Sept. S, 1877.
Work OF the Court.

The Court of General Sessions convcn-
cd promptly ut ten O'Clock on Monday
m ,rnin., his II nor Judge Northrop,
presiding. The jurors responded to The
call OF their names and the business OF
the term commenced without delay. This
to us, was a pleasing feature, as we be-
licve that it is the first court, under The
Republican regime, that opened prompt
" on Monday morning. USuallya great
or portion of tho first day OF court has
been lost to the county by the failure ot
Improvement, and return his Honor the
thanks of h ctax-paycrs for his prompt
Hess.
This court will not have very many in
tcresting cases to try, although the court
room was filled to a jain each day. The
case which probably drew the largest
crowd of idle and curious people was that
of the State against Weston Gwinn, col
orcd, for an unlncntionablc crime against
the person Of a little white girl. Rather
than bring the case to 4 trial it was agreed
between the counsel for the defense and
the State that the prisoner should plead
guilty of assault and battery. The other
more important cases arc the trial Of Lew
is Grant for the killing OF Hiram Weems,
ut Tabernacle cainp-nlccting, about four
four weeks ago, and Rinsv Cunningham
for the killing of-Lcwis Prince, about q
week later, while working on the public
road, near Lowndcsville. All the parties
are colored. The case against Lewis
Grant was progressing yesterday
evening when the cour adjourned. Mr..
Gary had made his speech for the defense.
McSsrs. Gravdon, Rock II Cason will fol-
low this morning at the assembling
of tho court. The Solicitor will close the
argument.
The following cases have been disposed
of:
The State VS.. Jack Haskell, for assault
and battery with intent to kill. Guilty of
assault and battery.
The State w. james l.. DillcShaW, lar
ccny. MOI. prossd.
The State VS.. Peter Wimbush, resisting
IN officer in the battle of Wimbushvillc.
mol. pross'd. -
The State against James Cunningham,
colored, grand larceny. Guilty. The Of
Tense in this ease consisted III the prison.
cr's breaking into q dwelling and appro-
priating to his own use a shot gun, Il &c
gucrreJtypc, a roll Of ribbon, a vest,
gloves etc, the property of Mr.. y. Pinson,
who lives near Nincty-siN.
The State VS.. Bcaurcgard WhOrton, AL
fred Mcdowell and Joseph Wcclns, as
sault and battery with intent to kill. Not
guilty.
The oifcnsc in the last named case con
sisted in some of the party making Il tar
get of a white man for pistol practice, but
tho shooting was so badly done that the
prisoners were released.
Mr.. Ernest Gary, after q very crcditahle
examination, was admitted to tho bar.
The present jury is deemed the best
that we have had since the war. Both
jurics were selected in strict accordance
with the law, and are composed OF our
best citizens. Jury No. l, with Capt. j..
~ Cochran rs foreman, has only three
colorel men, and No. =, with Col. u. u.
IIcrndon rs foreman, has no colored man
on It,. x =
The Grand Jury will be dismissed to-
day, and it is possible that the Petit Jurics
will also be dismissed until nexts.Monday.
1t is but due to Judge Northrop t" say
that the bar are pleased ut having him to
preside ut the present term of the court.
lie dispatches the business promptly and
rapidly is clear and impartial III his rul-
ings and charges, and treats the officers of
the court and bar with courtesy and afta-
bility.
The present court looks much likcthosc
of the oldcn time, and the people and bar
seemed gratiffed that we are hereafter to
lave the Interchange of circuits under the
new law.