The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-06
n DAY IN COLUMBIA.

Courts.
Business impcllcd us to make a fly
ing visit to Columbia last week, tho
first for eighteen months, and tho Sec
ond since the trying and exciting days
that marked the close of 1876. OF the
changes that have taken place in the
State since the Hampton campaign, no
place affords more striking example
than Columbia-thcn u hot bed Of
Radicalism and crimc-now the centre
Of an honest government, sound poll
tics and restored civilization. It may
be of some interest to our readers to
know what was doing in this Mecca of
South Carolina Democracy, and what
changes had been mado in the dyon,otis
PERSONA.
Little change has taken place OH the
limo of the railroad, except the absence
ofcows OH the track as far down as
Ridgcway. Even below Ridgcway
We happened to see mono Of these, but
presume they had become tired of
their winter pasture of T iron and
crossties, and had taken themselves to
the woods and marshes for something
more digestible. Or it may be that
reckless engineers have long since
made clcon sweep of all the horses,
mules, cows, goats and pigs along the
line. In Columbia the usual number
Of hackmen were at tho depot, their
cries shrillcr, their carriages rustier
and their stceds moro attcnuated than
ever. by some we were reminded of
the Claimants explanation to Mr..
Pickwick, awe hitchos 'cm up very
short and drives 'em very fast, and
they can't fall down" There arc
nevertheless, at the stables, or owned
horses i'll Columbia. It's a marvel
how the hackmen live. Fifteen or
twenty hacks and half dozen passcn-
gers ut q quarter head seoms tho
general average.
THE COURTS.
A number Of lawyers from different
parts of the State were in Columbia in
attendance upon the Supreme Court.
This court on Thursday was engaged
in sort of Jarndycc VS.. Jarndyce,
case, about the division Of All estate,
the brief covering about two hundred
and forty pages. 1t came from Edge
field, and had been before several
Judges and numbcrlcss referees. Gov
crnor Bonham, Judge Bacon and Mr..
LcConte were on ono side, and Colo
mel Youmans, Speaker Sheppard, and
Mcssrs. Norris and Addison, of Edge
field, OH the other. BY tho time three
O'Clock camc oil tho Supreme Court
and oil the lawyers were engaged in
untangling the intricate knots. All
hands drew off for dinner, however,
and we were as much disappointed as
five had begun most Interesting
story and found "continucd in our
ncxt' on the bottom Of tho page. The
Supreme judges preside with dignity,
and bcstow careful attention to the
cases argued before them. BY the
way Chief Justice Williard's term en-
pires in August, 1880, and tho Legis-
lature will have to elect his successor
this winter. He will hardly be re-
elected. Judge McIvcr is prominently
mentioned for the place. An endcav-
or will be made to run Gen. James
Conner, an able lawyer a:d sterling
man; while Governor Simpsons
claims may be advanced, the chief
difficulty being that his term, as COVER
nor, will not have expired. His
ambition is rather judicial than politi-
cal, and although he has succeeded
admirably as governor, still the bench
is the lawyers crown Of triumph.
What has been said above is gossip,
yet it appears probable.
THE CASE OF McNINcH.
"Wednesday was consumed by the
S,,
in anothor cause celebre, the McNfnch
case from Laurens. McNinch was
sentenced to be hanged for the muir
der of Ililgore, and appealed for a new
trial. The case has stirred up the whole
county Of Laurcns, besides exciting
general interest elsewhere. The evi.
dcncc was conflicting, but the general
facts are TINT Kilgorc and McNinch were
both desperate mon when drunk.
Kilgore came to town ono day but re-
manned sober. He had no arms. Nc
Ninch and others. among them J. l..
M. lrby, got into q quarrel with Kill
gore. 1t is said they followed him up
on tho street, and that MeNinch fired
on him. Kilgore had nothing at first,
but some one gave him q pistol which
was defective. He was shot through
five times, and clinched with McNinch.
Irby stood by, and with drawn pis-
tol kept the crowd back. It is charged
that l,e prevented the police from sepa-
rating the combatants, and 1t is also
charged that McNipch was not the
only one who fired. This is denied
strongly by Irby's friends. Irby fled
because lie felt prejudice had been
raised against him, and McNinch after
trial was convicted and sentenced to be
hanged. Solicitor Ball and General
Darlington prosecuted, and Messrs.
Y. j. Popo, J. F.J. Caldwell, and per-
haps others were defendants counsel.
Among tho grounds Of the appeal are
that tho solicitor went into the grand
jury room, Solicitor Ball says this
was before the bill was handed out,
that no was not in during the time the
bill was in, and that he went at the
instruction Of Judge Aldrich), that tho
jury commissioners was related in
some degree to the murdered man, and
that States witness was Withdrawn
after testifying and without granting
the defence q erOss-examination. The
solicitor aud tho defendants counsel
Ia = III