Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-03-14
of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.

LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, March IL, 1878.
The Court continued it's sessions during the
past week. A report of the proceedings of
Monday has already appeared in the columns
of the ENQUIRER.
Tuesday was consumed in the trial of the
case of the State u.s. James Kennedy, color
ed, charged with perjury. The counsel for
defendant, w. A. Sanders, Esq, gave some
reasons for quashing the indictment, but his
motion to that effect was not sustained by the
presiding Judge The defendant, through
his counsel, exercised his right of challenging
Objectionable jurors, which delayed the trial
of the case. A jury was finally obtained with
Mr.. w. D. Simpson as foreman. The de.
iendant was indicted for perjury, in that he
swore that Carter Ross was in Shelby on the
night of the 31st of last March, when he
(Ross) was tried and convicted of stealing q
horse at this place on the same night. At
the beginning of the trial, the defendant was
placed in the dock, which Judge Mackey had
dispensed with on the ground of its being
"relic of barbarism." William Leckie, the
prosecutor and principal witness for the State,
swore that Carter Ross was in town on the 3lst
of March, 1877, and that Ross bought feath.
ers from the auction room of II. Hollister,
which had been placed there for sale by him.
Witness testified to making an entry of the
sale of the feathers at the time in his diary,
which was submitted to the inspection of the
Court and jury. H. Hollister testified to
selling the feathers to Carter Ross, but was
not positive in regard to the exact date ofthe
sale. There was other testimony which cor.
roburated that of the prosecutor respecting
the presence of Carter Ross in town on the
31st of last March. The witnesses for the
defendant were colored, one of whom, Willis
Jeter, swore that while engaged in ploughing
on Thursday before the 3lst of last March,
the defendant, James Kennedy, and Carter
Ross, passed by in 8 wagon. going in the d.
rection of Shelby, and Martha Hardin swore
that she rode in the wagon with them several
miles tie same day, and that when she left,
they we're still traveing-awsy from Ches-
ter Up to this point in the testimony the
State had made out its case, but the iutroduc-
ton of affidavits of reliable and responsible
citizens of Shelby, affirming that Carter Ross
was in their town on the 3lst of last March,
turned the tide in favor of the defendant
After argument by counsel for the State and
defendant, and a sensible charge by his Hon.
or, the case was given to the jury, who were
not long in rendering verdict of "not guilty"
An effort will doubtless be made to secure
the pardon of Carter Ross on the ground that
if he was at Shelby on the 31st of March,
1877, he could not have been here, and con.
seouently did not steal Gen. w. A. Walkers
horse, upon which charge he was tried and
convicted, and after conviction, sentenced to
the penitentiary for seven years.
The Court was engaged on Wednesday in
the trial of the case of the State Us. Mac Foot
and Harvey Roden, indicted for aiding and
abetting in the killing of Isaac Wilson by
Frank Roden, on the night of the 9TH Feb
ruary. The defendants, through their coun-
sci, Giles ]. Patterson, Esq, selected jury,
com posed entirely of whites, Of which Grand
ison Williams was foreman. The witnesses,
all of whom were colored, with one excep-
ton, gave different versions of the unfortu.
nate affair those for the State swearing that
Mac Foot held, and Harvey Roden struck
Isaac Wilson, while Frank Roden killed him.
The witnesses for the defence swore that Mac
Foot WAS at table playing cards when
Isaac Wilson was cut and that Harvey Ro-
den struck Isaac Wilson il order to protect
himself The testimony was as tedious as it
was conflicting, and continued throughout
the entire day.
The grand jury made their report in the
afternoon, and were discharged. The various
public Offices were reported to be in good con-
dition, and some repairs upon the jail were
advised to be made.
Upon the converting Of the Court at the
usual hour on Thursday morning, argument
began in the case of the State Us. Mac Foot
and Harvey Roder, charged with murder.
Mr.. Patterson made an elaborate argument