The Osceola times., 1881-11-05
Circuit Court Items.

The Grand Jury evidently intend
to make or break the County at this
term of Court, as they are summon
ing large numbers of people from
every Township in the county. The
result will be a large crop of indict-
ments for trifling misdemeanors,
much wealth for the Prosecuting at
torney, heavy cost bills against the
County, and very little good ac-
complished.
The case of Senator Driver, VS..
w. II. Grider, was decided in favor
of the Senator. Both gentlemen
wore bran new suit, of clothes, both
very handsome; it vos a very severe
strain on the jury TO decide the case,
but our Senator came out ahead, 81,
I from the evidence in the case, the
jury could hardly have done other
wise.
What a change has come over the
spirit of our dream! who would have
dared, ten years ago, to prophesy
that colored men would at some day
serve on Mississippi County Jury?
Yet, all this week, two colored men,,
John McGee and George Joyner,
have been serving ON the Grand Ju-
ry without molestation from any one,
and for aught we know to the con-
trary, are performing their duties
well. Verify, the times are chang
ing, and the people with them.
An amusing incident occurred in
Court last Monday: BY some means
when the Court adjourned, Judge
Mack and the overseer of the new
road along the river front, exchanged
hats, and when Court met, the said
overseer was called to the bench,
and informed by the Court that ow-
ing to the recent rise in the price Of
provision, and short crops, he, (the
judge was unable to furnish road
oversecrs with five dollar hats in eN-
change for those costing only two
dollars, after which the said oycrseer
retired amid the audible smiles OF
the audience.
The following named visiting at
torueys We're in attendance upon
Circuit Court: Col. O. =, Lyles, }.
c. McCabe, E. 7. Adams, and j. NJ.
Dickinson; all good lawyers, and
very popular here. Maj. McCabe is
widower, and Col. Adams is a
bachelor, and as they perambulate
our streets, with their gorgeous
+" store clothes" and "bilcd shirts"
they strike terror to the hearts Of the
rural swains, who thank the Lord
that Circuit Court can't last always.
DR.. J. T.. Felts, +. NJ. Tucker and
VIII S, Hayes were the Jury COM
missioners at this term of Court, to
select Grand and Petit Jurics for the
next term of Court.
THE ECHhEu RIDER g~E.
All of "Wednesday of thi, week
was occupied in the trial Of Frank
Richards lor the murder ol Fuuk
Pierce on Chiokasawha iu Juao last
The defendant was indicted Ior mm-
der in the first degree. The evidence,
however, was not of such a charac-
ter as to Justify verdict for the
highest grade of murder. The state
was represented by Mr.. L. f. Brown,
and the Defendant by Col. O. p.
Lyles, of Memphis, and Maj. Geo.
w. Thomson, of Osceola- Memphis,
all of whom made really able argu-
ments in the case, and were listened
to by very large number Of people
from all parts Of the county, The
Jury were out all night, and return
ed into court next morning the fol-
lowing verdict: "We, the Jury, find
the Defendant guilty Of murder in
second degree, and assess his pun
ishment at eleven years in the peni-
tentiary.' signed G., n. Carr, fore
man.
APropos, of the Richards case, a
good joke is told on the foreman OF
the jury in that case: lie is very
clever young gcntleman-a great
ladies' man, &c, and coming down
to town to attend a little social gath,
| priur at the residence of ono of thf
fair bellies Of our town, was pulled
by the sheriff and put on duty as :
petit juror, and when thc Richard,