Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03

| killing was done IN self-defence. ne Iact
was we'll established, that the deceased left
his work, went to the defendant, began a
quarrel with him, and when the defendant
demonstrated, drew and made several thrusts
at him with knife, compelling him, in self:
defence, to draw his pistol and fire :he fatal
shot The jury rendered verdict of not
guilty.
The court convened at the usual hour on
Wednesday morning. The grand jury pre-
sented true bill against Pres. Carter, color:
ed, charged with grand larceny. The case of
the State us. Peter Crawford, colored, charged
with burglary and larceny, was called for
trial. The crime laid at the door of the de-
fendant was stealing cotton from Mr.. James
Wilson. The principal witness for the State
was small negro boy, who was pushed by
the defendant through the hole through
which the band passes leading to the cotton
room of the gin house. After obtaining &C.
cess to this room, he unfastened the door,
through which the defendant entered, and
then filled bag with cotton which he carried
away and sold. This was the testimony which
led to the conviction of the accused. The
defendant was represented by j. A. Bradley,
ing its exceeding weakness.
Pres. Carter, who was charged with COM
plicity in stealing Gen. Walkers horse, made
a confession of bis guilt, and asked the mercy
Of the court.
The court reassembled in the afternoon, +,
and, as the Solicitor was unprepared to pro-
ceed with the sessions business, gave its at
tention for a short time to civil business, and
then adjourned. Before adjournment W. A..
Sanders, Esq, asked for new trial in the
case of Carter Ross, convicted of grand lar
ceny, on the ground that important evidence
had been discovered in favor of his cliert,
since the trial of the case. The presiding
Judge refused to grant the motion, for the
reason that the testimony establishing the
guilt of Ross was conclusive and could not
be materially affected by other testimony.
On Thursday morning the Court reassem-
bled at the usual hour. The case of the State
vs. Charles Williams, colored, charged with
numbering his child, was taken up for trial.
The defendant was represented by John A.
Bradley, Jr., Esq, and W. A. Sanders, Esq.
The Solicitor appeared for the State. The
prominent points in connection with this af-
fair have been given by me in previous cor
respondence. Theline Of defence was that
the deceased child came to his death from
dropsy, and not from a severe whipping CIV
en- him by the defendant, as alleged by the
witnesses for the State. DR.. W. F. Strait
and Mr. James Robertson, on whose place
the defendant was living, both testified to the
deceased being afflicted with dropsy. The
counsel for the defendant, Messrs. Bradley
and Sanders, conducted the case skillfully
and successfully. Their arguments in behalf
Of their client were convincing, and were at
tended by verdict of acquittal by the jury.
The trial of the case of the State Us. Dray.
ton Peeler, engaged the attention of the court
in the afternoon. The defendant was charged
with forging an order of G. H. Smith, in his
own favor, on G. w. McNeel, for some goods
The prosecuting witness, 6. H. Smith, testi-
fed positively to the forgery. His testimony
was corroborated by that of William Carter,
who had testified to an admission to him, by
the defendant, that he (defendant) had per-
petrated the forgery of the note. The coun.
sci for the defendant, S. J. Couch, Esq, sta
ted, in his opening address to the jury, that
he would prove the falsity ofthe charge on the
ground that the defendant was unable to
write Yet when the defendant was placed
upon the stand, he admitted his ability to
write, and, in the presence of the court and
jury, did write. The jury, after remaining
in consultation for considerable time, rem
dered verdict of guilty.
The grand jury made their report to the
court. They recommended the memorable
ing of the Legislature with reference to the
repeal of the fence law. They also recon-.
mended the revoking of the charter, by the
Legislature, incorporating the town of Chest
nut Grove Judge of Probate Dickey was
presented for incompetency. The condition
of the public offices aud institutions of the
county was reported to be in satisfactory
condition.
On Friday morning, Immediately after the
convening of the Court, the convicted crimi
mails, who had been brought into Court, we're
sentenced by the presiding Judge. Dublin
Shannon, and Abram Barnes, convicted of
burglary and larceny-three years At hard
labor in the State Penitentiary; Peter Craw-
ford, convicted of burglary and larceny-sev-
en- years at hard labor in the Penitentiary !;
Drayton Peeler, convicted of forgery, who
was recommended to the mercy Of the Court
one year in the Penitentiary; Ira White, Jo-
seph Ford, and Charles Smith, convicted of
burglary and larceny-three years in the
Penitentiary Carter Ross, convicted ofgrand
larceny seven years in the Penitentiary, and
Pres Carter, convicted Of grand larceny-two
years in the Penitentiary; Sam White, con-
victed of burglary and larceny, on the motion
of his attorney, w. A. Sanders, Esq, was
granted new trial by the presiding Judge
In consideration of bis weakness of mind, the
probabilities are that his trial will be inde6
nnitely postponed. The number of criminals
convicted is an evidence of the fitness of So.
licitor CASTOR for the position to which he
was elected last November.
After the sentencing of the prisoners the
case of the State Us Jerre T. Walker and Rcu-
ben Jeter, charged with trespass, was tried.
G. j. Patterson, Esq, and j. A. Bradley, Jr.
ESQ.,, we're the counsel for the defendants.
The prosecuting witness was DR.. A. P. Wylie,
who charged the defendants with taking a
mill band from his mill. The jury found
verdict of not guilty. The Court adjourned
sine die on Friday.
The prisoners were taken to the Penitentia-
ry on Saturday.
D. I. Walker, who was arrested and placed
in jail last week charged with issuing fraud
ulent school certificate, has given bond, and
been released from Jail. He has rendered his
resignation as Senator from this county,
which has been accepted. An election to gil
the vacancy will take place on the 18th of
May. Gen. w. A.rWalker is the peoples
choice for this high position, and he will
doubtless be nominated and elected. Not to
speak of his popularity and ability, he took
prominent part in the late campaign, and full.