The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-11
PASSING SENTENCE.

PASSING SENTENCE.
An Interesting Day in Court.
Yesterday morning HIS Honor jude
Thomson passed sentence upon thirteen pri
oners in open Court. We made the follow
Ing notes:
Farewell to Francis Hall.
MISUNDERSTANDING and Grand Lal
ccny.
The crime in this instance consisted in tn
breaking into the dwelling house of Enoc
Nelson and taking from his trunk $50 /
money.
Francis Hall, stand up:
| ilavc examined sour case with care. liner
Is no violence of burglary rs Mr.. Wilson lief
the house not closed, and the Court OF II
own motion arrests the Judgment. am Sal
iSiicd that the verdict OF larceny is correct.
dislike to sentence one OF your sex; II yoi
were Il man. ! would double or thribblc you
sentence. In regard To the conviction OF lnr
ccuy the sentence is that Frances Hall b'
confined In the pcnitcntilry of this state. u
Columbia, =. &, for a period Of eishtcel
months.
The State against William Jordan
MISUNDERSTANDING and Grand Lar
ccny.
Tho offence of which this convic wa:
charged consisted in the breaking into Tho
portion of the realty from the chimney, ant
stealing So in money.
William Jordan. burglary and grand larceny;
What | say to you might be said to several
sitting with yOl, whose general crime Is inc
same. Any defence set up In this Court. tina
there was oppression and violence to obtain
a confession will not 20 unliccdcd ; nor will
IhHir appeal be- in vain; In 1his you ! ha AZ,
day, should sleep ut night without fear OF dis
turbancc or apprehension of their property
being molcSted. The law protects them IN
this. You took advantage OF this, became
flush of money. 1t was not late at night. and
very soon Il Mexican half dollar made It's ap..
pcarancc at n hot supper. | say once FOR all
that the law is becoming more firmly settled
down for the protection against this crime oil
larceny. You are young. You have shown
that you are not able to live in 4 community
and unfit for the companiOnShip OF others
until you become better. The sentence Is,
that YOU be punished for the offence OF bur-
glary by confinement in the prnitcntiary OF
the state ut Columbia, S. G.. with hard labor
for Il period Of four years, and after tho cNpi,,
ration of this sentence that you be confined
in the pcnitcntiary for Il period OF two years
for the offence Of grand larceny.
The State against Samuel McGrier.
Indictment-Assault with intent to kill.
The offence for which the above mentioned
Samuel was called into Court was the plug
ging of Green Williams shoulder with lead,
while in attendance upon Il religious meeting
near the Buzzard Roost.
Samuel McGrier. assault with lntcntto KILL.
You have been found guilty OF an assault
with intentto kill. 1t has half the element o:
murder. and Is nearest manSlnughtcr, IL
b. y. Gary, ESQ., old In my han a petit.
ton for the mercy OF the Court, in the case OF
this prisoner. This petition c%ertiticS To his
harm less and inoficnsivc character, which Is
signed by many of our best citizens.
The Court am very glad TO hear that rec
concentration Of you. | will reduce your
sentence in consequence OF that petition, II
IL were not for the expense to the County, l
would send you to the Jail instead OF the pen
itentiary, expected 10 punish you for man
slaughter. sentenced to twelve months ut
hard labor in the penltcntiary.
The State against Citizen ROzeman.
Observation-Disclosures.
The prisoner was charged with murder In
the killing of Alfred Groves. 1t was In evil
icncc that Alfred Groves came to where prls.
oncr was grinding his axe. An old quarrel
about the ownership Of a Ratchet cnSucd.
when Citizen settled the quarrel by striking
Alfred on the head with an aXe.handlc. Death
followed in Il few hours. Tho jury convicted
him Of manslaughter.
Citizen Rozcman, murder, stand up:
1t seems to the Court
o. r. Calhoun, Esq.-I would call the attcn-
ton of the Court, to the remarkably good
Of this prisoner. lie has always
has been Unexpectedly caught In this
Your Honor will also please bear in
mind that the jury recommended him to the
mercy Of the Court.
The GOurt-It seems from all sides that you
II good character. In consequence Will
impose the lightcSt sentence. | am tired of
This continued and repeated sentencing oi
persons Of color. | think the jury were right
m rendering their verdict of manslnu@htcr.
You are old. and did not intend the r0nse-
Iurnccs of that net. think this Is the case.
You dit not think death would result. II you
had your choice 1t would have boon 9th
This is an illustration OF q violation
If ohe law, | have enforced the slightest SELL
,cncc could. Convicted Of manslaughicr
recommended to the mercy Of the Court.
to the pc~nitcntiary Of III state. ny
Columbia. =. G., Il: hard labor for the period
II two years.
The State against Robert Myers and
Henry Myers.
Observation-Disclosures.
The offence in this case was the killing OF
T.. Truwilt, one Of the most pcaceablc citi-
zcnS in the County.
In reply to Mr.. Gary's argument for Il new
trial His Honor said:
I canno. ALLOW tho zeal and carncstncSs In
OF his clients to draw ne away from
the facts Of the case. In reply To the nrIu-
mcnt for II new trial tibet curt looks to me rcr-
diet of the Jury, which in this case WAS one OF
and not Of murder. ! viii only
state, as ! r%ccOllrcl them. some legal oDlcc-
ton. or rather, facts. There can be no union
of mind that would make one man RESPONSE
bic for the act Of another. If however n per-
son on the impulse of the concur
with another IN the performance of an illegal
they arc guilty Of coliSplricy--thc highest
kind OF conspiracy. They may he guilty OF
by such act, though they may not
be personally acquainted. Conference Is not
necessary to conspiracy. Conlcdcracy and
conspiracy are not synonymous terms. If
one uni,cs with another in the doing OF an
illegal act, ii is conspiracy, and each Is bound
by the act OF any one of the cOnSpiralorS.
The zeal and carncStncsS with winch this
case has been conducted by the counsel for
the defense Is co~mmrndablc indeed, but the
cannot grant Il new trial.
Robert and Henry Meyers, murder:
You are charged with murder in the killing
Of T.. l.. Truwitt. The jury have found you
guilty of iutlslaughicr. Upon reflection !
am satisfied they were right. You havca bet
ter understanding Of this case than the Judge
or anybody else. from the seriousness and
earncStncSS of your counsel. | have no dotlbt
YOU nave you same feelings. You may think
the sentence undeservcd and society hard on
YOU. II measured by what YOU think you
deserve you may judge 1t severe, but accord
ing To the feelings Of those from whom you
took Il head and protector 1t Will appear
light. I am ignorant of you past life, never
heard of your name, until / saw IL IN the
newspapers, but | venture to say. you Will
find that on several occasions you have found
the spirit OF violence In your breast, II that
passion has characterized your conduct, | am
going to say one thing to o You can take
it rs you please. o are comparatively Il
young man. You are doomed either 10 &C
down, down. or rise and become Il respectable
man. the downward course Is easy. If you
receive your sentence mildly, and do no
thin society ut war with you, 1t Will scruti'
niZe your conduct, subdue and .rcprcss youi
feelings. for ! Inn going TO send You where
YOU will have to restrain our actions, If no
your feelings, and feel yourself thatyonr pun
ishment Is deserved. F.ndcavOr TO be Il better
man, do not think yourself an lshlncalitc
with your hand against everybody. and every
your sentence expires In a few years, you will,
come back here charged with Il grarcr offence
and return to society Il hardened man. Life
will be with you like n pendulum, you vii
years out. think It the turning point 0
your life. If it had not been for you, your
son would not have been here. How soon ht
learned the use Of Il knife, to rush up, ant
strike with 1t. On your son | will impose TIT
slightest punishment the law will permit. !
have thought in passing sentence on you, |
you were not n better man In five years, yor
will he no better in ten or fifteen.
Henry Myers sentenced to be confined II
the pcnitcntiary AT hard labor for five years.