Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-02-13
New Jersey Crime and Justice.

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ono of the saddest revelations ever mado 10
n civilized aud Christian community. Per.
haps the City of Glasgow Bank swindlo and
the Tweed ring rasoality were equally as
founding, and certainly involved far greater
frauds. But hero, VIC SEQ a large number
Of sturdy farmers, intelligent rural citizens,
somo of thcm members of churches, all Of
them trusted by their ncighbors, conspiring
to cheat tho State, by forgery, lies and petty
thefts, out of few thousand dollars, dcs--
troying themselves, runing tho peace aud
comfort of their families for the miserable
mess of pottogc that they might havo
earned by honest labor. .nhe trials Of these
men have been going on for some weeks, 10
the midst of the greatest excitement, per-
vudipg the whole country. The Herald
gives tho following graphic account Of tho
last day: "the judgment day."
BELyIDERE, N. j., January rs, 1870
The closing scene of the first act in Warren
County drama Of fraud was enacted to day
when ten of the couuty's most prominent
citizens stood together in tho dook sentenced
criminals. Never was suoh scene Wit
messed here. Long before daylight the
merry jingle Of. tho. sleigh bells announced
tho coming Of tho farmers They came
from every direction FROM Easton, Phil
jpsturg, Washington, Hackeltstown and
the numberless smalle: towns and villages
for fifty miles around. Special trains on
railroad poured hundreds Of people into the
town until it overnowed There werc not
four square inches Of the floor seats, win
dow sils or backs of seats where man
could bcstow himself unoccupicd Iu tho
ladies' gallery tho scene was simply indis-
crlbablc. There was not room to sit down,
so cvcry one stood up. About half past
eleven o'clock Chief Justice Beasley, pre-
cecdod by four tipstavos, who forced pas
sage for him, entered the court room aud
took his seat on tho bench. The immense
assemblage was, instantly hushed to silence.
District Attorney Henry S. Harris rose
slowly, and in low tones, heard, however,
distinctly in every part Of the Court House,
snid
"A1ay it please tho Court, I now movo
Tor sentence upon those persons who have
been convicted at this term of COURT
The Court-Let the prisoners take seats
on this side of tho room (ponting to the
dock)
DR.. Cox came first and sit down in the
first chair. lie was pale and his eyes were
red with weeping. Next came Jesse King,
who was as red us Cox was pale, aud who
exhibited cX.remc nervousness. Then came
Simon a. Cummns, bis face furrowcd with
care, dospairing expression about his eyes
and bis lips moving as it in prayer. Ed
mund TccI came next, comparatively calm
aud well dressed, the muscles of his mouth
twiching convu'svoly, however, and his
face deadly pule. John N. Girens, with
clasped hands and knotted forehead, sat
down uext His quick ewes moved sharply
from side to side, aud he appeared to drink
in the expression upon every face, drawing
from them hopes or fears as they might in
dicato. Then Bulgin came in aud sat down
smiling = apparently light.henrted
Francis McDermott sat next to him, hold
ing his fur cap between his hands, his
bright gray eyes glancing from tho Judge
to his attorney. Slikcr was very pale, the
hue of death on his hands and face. Most
of the time lie sat with fuco bowed in his
hands and sobbed audbly. Mr.. Shipman
made an earnest plea for mercy for Messrs.
King, Bulgin, Cummins, Tcel and others.
Colonel Robson also addressed the Court
in behalf Of his clients, particularly Mr..
Teel, md submitted number vf petitions
and affidavits drawn by friends of the con.
victcd persons. The Court received these
papers and retired to confer as to the seuten.
ces. In the meantime the friends of the
prisoners had gathered within the bar as
near them as they could possibly get, and
would occasionally whisper words of comfort
to them.
In about half an hour the Court returned,
and the Whispering which had been going
on in tho room came to sudden stop
There was an intense silence as Chief JUS
t!ce Beasley turned to Simon A. Cummins
and told him to stand up. The old man
rose slowly and stood with bowed head
as tho Judge addressed him. Chief Jus
tico Beasley said: "Simon A. Cnmmins,
you have been convicted upon two indict-
mcnts of conspiracy. These transactions
arc certainally remarkable ones, and it is
surprising that they have excited such a
degree of attention and interest. This
series of crimes stands unexamplcd, fortu
natoly, in the history of the state Of New
Jersey and [. think in tho histo, y of this
whole country. A number of men reputed
to bo respectable. holding positions Of pubs
lic trust end private positions of promi-
ncncc, bonded together to rob their fellow
citizens. This would not bo 80 remarkable.
perhaps, in some crowded city where there
nre always to DO found persons ready to
embark in enterprises for plumber and rob.
berry, but in an agricultural community, in
a moral neighborhood, among good inAuon-
ces, with schools and churches at their very
doors, these crimes astound and frighten
society. | think the citizens of Warren
County have been remiss in their duty.
A stern lesson has been taught them, and I