The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-01-19
Court.

IN the C0nrt OF General Sessions there
were only two cases. The case of James NJ.
Turner, whose conviction for retailing liquor
without license, was reported in the last issue
Of the SENTINEL. Turner was sentenced 10
pay n fine OF two hundred dollars or six
months hard labor in the Penitentiary. The
counsel for the prisoner moved for new
trial, but the Judge refused the motion, stat
ing that the prisoner had q fair trial, and
that public opinion as we'll as the Legislature
WAS 30 strong against the two evils Of carry
ing concealed weapons and the unlawful
traffic in liquor, that it was the duty of the
Bench TO carry out the law inviolate against
such offenders. We understand the case will
be carried to tie Supreme Court.
The other criminal case was the State ag-
0inst 1. ii. Philpot for mulfensance in office,
and breach Of trust. The prisoner was ably
defended by Messrs. Perry and Child, who
0ontended that, while the prisoner may have
come short in office to some extent, yet the
facts and circumst ances of tho case did not
show that corrupt intent. which the criminal
law required fer conviction; that his kin lness
30 his friends to whom he had loaned money
which had not Been paid bnck, and somewhat
want Of due care in rnging the funds ell
seuSted TO him, rather than wrongful intent.
lad brought him to his present condition:
that ho was justi6able in not depositing the
money which came into his hands by virtue
OF his Office, in the bank, on the ground that
tho bank in which he was ordered to deposit
1t WIS unsafe; that the testimony did not sat-
isfaciorily prove that the prisoner had appro-
priated the money to his own use, and there.
fore was not guilty Of breach of trust as laid
In the indictment; that the doubts which must
necessarily arise in the minds of the Jurors,
would justify them in rendering verdict OF
not guilty. The State was ably represented
by Col. Orr, the Solicitor. He said that he
had no desire to oppress Mr. Philpot, but wns
sorry for him. But that when the law has
been violated, the penalty aua ached to such
violation must follow. He argued that Mr..
Philpot had violat ed the law in three respects.
First, that he ohght 10 have deposited the
funds pertaining o his Office in the bank as
required by low which he had not done. Sec
ond, that he was guilty Of breach Of trust in
that he had received funds which he had not
accountc cd for and that the testimony went to
show he had appropriated q part of said fands
TO his own use. Third, that he had violated
the law in that he did not turn over to his
successor the funds pertaining to the Office.
That the law held him responsible for nerli-
Yence in Office, and that from the Testimony
Of the case they should find verdict of guilty.
The jury, after few moments dcliberation,
returned with n verdict Of guilty. The Judge
in passing sentence upon the prisoner stated
shat il was painful to him TO pass sentence
upon IN old Confederate soldier, who bore
upon his person the marks Of patriotism and
valor, but the law must be enforced. The
sentence was fine Of two hundred dollars
and three months in the County iiail.
In the Court of Common Pleas the follow
ing suits were tried:
Action brought against The Atlantic and
French Broad Valley Railroad by Reese Bows
ca for compensation and special damages
The jury found for the actor verdict of two
hundred dollars
Action against The Atlantic and French
Broad Valley RaitVnd by Mrs. Majors for
compensation and special damages The Jury
found for the actress a verdict of three hun
tred ond sixty two dollars and fifty cents!
The suit Of w. A. Mcdaniel against Redden
Rackley--ActiOn on a lost bond. Verdict for
she plaintiff of one thousand eight hundred
end forty one dollarsand eleven cents.
After passing several orders of Reference
aud he trial Of one or two small cases before
the Judge, Court adjourned on Friday.