The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-02-08


many among the nervous portion of the
community are AFRAID of going to these
courts and that the rufilan brotherhood
knows 1t and turns it to account. It
seems as II some were daily deputod to
be there for the sole purpose of making
tho place unapproachable. The others
come to show sympathy with those
OF their friends who have had the mis-
hap to be found out, and TO cheer them
up as they enter and depart in the police
van. 1t Is Just to add that much has
been done lately TO render the ap.
proaches OF the London police courts
less OBJ bjectionable.
One OF the policemen who had appre-
hended jim on the last night, having
seen me, took me into court. 1t was q
large. clean, lofty room, yet tho air was
unpleasant on account of the unwashed
condition Of the greater part Of pub
lie present. This public was composed
OF the same set Of wanderers described
by my friend, the cobbler as the upper
crust Three or four detectives scat
tered in the place quietly watched all
about them, taking particular notice of
the prisoners at the bar In order to saw
what they knew of them or to make
their acquaintance.
Jim was introduced and placed at the
bar. His notorously bad character
gained for him the distinction OF being
attended by IN extra policeman. b.
fore eyen noticing the magistrate, he
looked around and smiled t., q few
friends who were in the court. The first
witness called was the wife of the pris.
onor. Every one looked for her. Jim's s
fierce visage turned deadly pale. Three
times the usher called the same name.
bui his summons remained unanswered.
Suddenly policeman entered the court
by the public entrance and said fow
words to the Inspector sitting by the
witness box. This official arose and
begged the magistrate to hear the
agent, as he could explain the woman's
absence.
The policeman was sworn, and, hav-
ing &. ven his number, proceeded to re-
1ate that, according to his instructions,
he had gone TO the lodgings occupied
By the prisoner and his wife to bring
the woman to court. He had found no
one on the premises except another
lodgcr. n seamStress, who had told h IN
that Jim's wife had disappeared. He
was Inadvertently going to repeat the
scnmstrcss' conversation, when he was
stopped by the magistrate upon the
plea that hearHaY was no evidence. He
only added that the woman was in
court, i! his Honor wanted to put any
question to her, The seamstress was
put in the box, and. having kissed the
Bible, on the conclusion of the perfect
ly unintolligible words OF the oath, ~
rcrcrently mumbled as customary bv
tn" ushor, she was invited by the clerk
t. say what had happened in the morn
ing between herself and tho prisoners
VIE. Sho then narrated that early in
the morning Jim's wife had got up, al
though looking very i / and hardly able
to stand. and that she had told hcr that
she was going away ccause she knew
that the police would fetch her, and
take her before the court to deposc
against her husband. She had sub
Acmently gono out and the witness
had not hea Il Of her since. The mar
istrate directed that inquiries should be
made 10 discover what had become of
her. was q forward examined In nv
turn. and | told what I knew of tho
events o the last night
The next witness called was the no.
ilceman who energetic interference
had not q second too on prevented
Jim from killing his wife. This wit
ness did not answer to the call OF his
name. but the Inspector stood up and
said that on inQuiring at the hospital
where tho man had been conveyed he
had been told that he was delirioua, and
besides other bad in 'urics, suffered from
Il congestion Of the brain.
1he case was, therefore, romandcd
1or another week, in order to permit
| nc magistrate to hear the constable and
tho prsoncrs wifo. But neither on tho
appointed day nor on tho one fixed for
1nrt er remand were those witnesses
III court. six weeks elapsed before the
constable had sufficiently recovered to
conc into the court. He was pale and
still very sickly-looking. A chair was
given to him.
The magistrate was just delivering a
sentence OF eighteen months imprison-
mcnt with hard labor on miserable
and starving looking girl for tho steal
inG Of n handkerchief. On the removal
OF this sod-looking object. who on hoar-
ing her sentence 1ell into hysteric' >, Jim
was put Mt the bar. The magistrate fr,t
asked if anything had been heard OF tho
prisoner wife, and n policeman first
entered the witness box. Having been
sworn, lie related that six nights since
the body OF n woman had been taken
Ut Of the Thames, and that it. had bcon
stated at the Coroncr's inquest that it
WAS tho b, dy OF the prisoners wife.
Answering question of the magistrate,
the witness added TINT the CCroner's
vC, .lict was accidental death
Iltis wi ness having retired. the con-
va'csccnt constable was examined His
account of his encounter with jim was
straightforward and impressive.
Tho magistrate then asked the prison.
e. il! he had any question TO put to tho
wi'nCss.
no. replied jim, doggcdly.
The magistrate subsequently de-
mnndod of him If he preferred to no
dcnlI with by him at oncc or scnt to tho
Superior Court. Jim having selected
a. he dcalt with at once. tho magistrate
nskcd him II he had any statement to
make for his dcfcnrc.
"No," said Jim, firmly.
Having just heard the magistrate In
fict eighteen months imprisonment
with hard labor for the theft of hand
kerchief, was confident that this vii
lain, who had half murdered his wife,
and whose longtried cruelty, rs it hap