Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-18
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer
LETTER FROM CHESTER.

Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, January Is, 1877.
Judge T. j. Mackey having returned from
Columbia, the Court reassembled on Wednes'
day morning. The case Of the State against
George Mobley, colored, charged with assault
and battery with intent to kill, was called and
the trial proceeded. The defendant was rep.
resented by S. P. Hamilton, Esq, and the
State by TIC. CASTOR, Esq. The prosecuting
witness was Mr.. John Grant, who gave
clear account of the assault aud attending
circumstances. Of course, the defendant and
bis friends gave an entirely different version
Of the affair, which secured verdict for the
defendant of one hours imprisonment in the
county Jail. e
During the trial of the case, the grand jury
appeared with q true bill in the case of the
State rs. Isaac Castles. .colored, charged with
an attempt to rescue. The trial OF the case
Of the State u.s. William Boyd, Richard Boyd
and Henry Boulware, all colored. charged
with grand larceny, then ensued. The defen.
dsnts were represented by S. j. Couch, Esq,
and the State BY the Solicitor. The prosecu-
ting witness was Mr.. William Stirling, who
testified to the breaking open of his smoke
house by defendants on the night of the 23rd
of December last, and to their taking there
from q lot of bacon and some whisky. His
testimony was confirmed by that of Richard
Boyd, who bee ,me witness for the State,
and in whose favor a nolle prosequs was en-
tered. He gave so clear and minute an &C.
count of the stealing that no doubt, whatever,
Of the guilt of the defendants could be enter
tanned. The jury rendered verdict sccor-
dinghy. The trial of this case was interrupt
ed, for brief time, by the appearance of the
grand jury, and their report of true bill in
the case of the State Us. Cato Porter, charged
with selling spirituous liquors without license.
The Court met for short time in the after
noon, but did nothing worthy Of note.
Thursdays session of the Court was con-
sumed in the trial of the case of the State Us.
J. A. T. McCarley, charged with the killing
of Alexander George The defendant was
represented by General W. A. Walker and
J. ]. Hemphill, Esq D.; the State by the So
licitor. An account of this unfortunate af-
fair was given at the time of its occurrence,
which was the 21st of last November 1t
will he remembered that the affair was occa-
stoned BY the political differences existing
between the parties; that cheer for Cham
berlain by deceased. answered by a cheer for
Hampton by defendant, led to the killing.
The preponderance of testimony on the trial,
established the fact that the defendant acted
in selfdefense in shooting the deceased. 1t
was clearly shown that the deceased received
his death wound while making towards the
defendant with drawn knife. The witness.
es for the State testified to the deceased hav-
ing no knife but their testimony was contra.
dicted by Mr.. Kirkman, who was present at
the time of shooting and saw the knife, and
also by the dying declarations of the de-
ceased, who admitted that he had knife
Another strong point in the case was the re-
treating of the defendant, and his shooting
when there was nothing else for him to do in
order to save his own life. The Court House
was densely filled from the beginning to the
end of the trial; the testimony, the arguments
by counsel and the charge by the presiding
Judge, were all listened to with rapt attention.
About dark the case was submitted to the
Jury, who were not long in finding verdict
of not guilty.
At the morning session on Friday, the
Court was engaged in the trial of the case of
the State us. Isaac Castles, colored, charged
with an attempt to rescue prisoner. The
defendant was represented by S. j. Couch,
ESQ. the State by the Solicitor. There was
considerable conflict in the testimony. Mr..
William Carter, Mr.. Joe Carter and Mr..
Thomas Wilkes, who were in charge of the
prisoner the defendant was charged with at
tempting to rescue, swore that such an at
tempt was made; while the colored witnesses
for the defendant made an entirely different
statement. The jury rendered verdict Of
guilty with recommendation Of the defend
ant to the mercy of the Court
During the trial of the case, the grand jury
made their report. Its most important fea-
ture was the acknowledgment and recogni-
ton of the Hampton government as the true
government of the State. G. NJ. McNeel.
and w. A. Worthy, recently elected County
Commissioners, were presented for not giving
good and sufficient bonds and S. j. Couch,
recently elected School Commissioner, was
presented for giving no bond. Judge Mack
ey directed the Solicitor to prepare an order,
to be signed by him (the presiding Judge),
6UlOluluK tuCSc OluCioio 4ioAA AioSuoAS'a6 WV
duties of their several offices until they have
given good and sufficient bonds. The grand
Jury reported no intimidation or violence du.
ring the late campaign in this county, and
the reign of peace and quietness at the pres
ent time.
Friday afternoon the Court was engaged in
trying the case of the State vs. Henry Torbit
and Frank Hopkins, charged with stealing q
hog. A great amount of testimony was taken
for and against the defendants. The jury
found in favor of the State.
/ neglected to state that on Wednesday,
Cato Porter was tried for selling spurious H.
auors without license and convicted.
On Saturday morning Judge Mackey pro-
nounced sentence upon the following persons,
all colored Isaac Jackson, convicted of grand
larceny, nine months in the State penitentia-
ry; Green Porter, grand larceny, two years
in the State peniteutiary; Frank Young,
grand larceny. nine months in the peniten'
tiary William Boyd, and Henry Boulware,
grand larceny, two years in the penitentiary
Henry Torbit and Frank Hopkins, grand
larceny, nine months in the penitentiary
Coto Porter selling liouor without license, q