The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-06
EX-GOVERNOR MOSES.
Particulars of His Recent Attempt to
Commit Suicide.
Detroit Free Press, October 81.

Detroit Free Press, October 81.
DETROIT, October 3O.-Franklin j..
Moses, Republican Governor of South
Carolina in the days of good stealing,
who is in jail here for swindling a mum.
Der Of clergymen by representing him.
self as the Rev. DR.. w. w. Hicks, Of
Washington, tried to hang himself in his
cell to-day. Moses was afterwards
brought into the police court, charged
with swindling. He pleaded guilty, and
was sentenced to three months in the
House of Correction. His lawyer hopes
to effect his transfer to an insane asylum.
Ex-Goy. Franklin j. Moses, of South
Carolina, charged with stealing SIS from
Rev. E. L. Rexford, D. D., pastor of the
Uniyersalist Church, by obtaining that
amount from him by falsely representing
himself as Rev. DR.. Hicks of Washing
ton, spiritual adviser of Guiteau, the
assassin of President Garfield, made an
attempt about 5 o'clock yesterday morn
ing to hang himself in his cell in the
County Jail. The prisoner made rope
from two handkerchiefs, which he placed
around his neck and tied one end to his
cell door, in Ward No. 4. He then
kicked stool on which he stood from
under his feet, and was struggling when
the noise was heard by a prisoner who
occupied an adjoining cell. The inmates
of this ward are not locked up i'll their
cells at night. This saved the ex-Goyer-
nor's life. The prisoner who heard the
noise arose aud going into the corridor
found Moses hanging. His face had
turned black, and in minute or two
more he would have been strangulated.
The prisoner used an old pair of scissors
which were allowed in the ward for hair
trimming purposes to cut the would be
suicide down, and laid him on his bed,
where he was revived through the exer>
tions of other prisoners, who had been
awakened by cry of alarm. Moses said
but little of his attempt, although lie
acknowledged that he was determined to
die rather than go to prison. He real.
lied the position he was in and for some
time had been very despondent. This
was the first attempt at suicide in the Jail
for many years. -,
When Moses was brought into the
police court yesterday afternoon for trial
he looked very pale and feeble and dis
PLAYED some nervousness. Hew neatly
dressed in black, but had an unshorn
face, which he turned away from the
spectators who gathered to get a glimpse.
of him. In front of the prisoners box
sat Rev. DR.. Rexford with his wife and
daughter, ready to proceed with the case.
Moses eyed the reverend gentleman
whom be had swindled, but did not
speak to him. At 2.15 o'clock Justice
Miner called the case of John F. May"
when his attorney, George x. NJ. Collier,
arose and asked that it be continued un.
til the mental condition of his client
could be established. He said that since
the last adjournment of the case be had
made diligent efforts to > get witnesses
here in his behalf, but had failed. He
corresponded with number of persons
in the Southern States, who were &C.
quaintances of the prisoner, and received
several answers; but on account of the
election excitement they could not come
here until after the close ofthe campaign.
Among the letters received was one from
the Secretary of the Navy, who wrote
that the son of the prisoner is in the
Naval Department in California. Itwas
certain that he could not come to help
his father out.
Justice Miner replied that the case had
already been continued au unusual length
of time, and he could not see how the
prisoner could be benefited by another
adjournment. There is no positive assu-
rance that witnesses in his behalf would
be present at future time. IF a con-
tinuance was granted it could only be
done until November 5, as the case will
then have been in court for month, and
under the law it must be disposed of in
that time-otherwise the court would
have no jurisdiction.
Mr.. Collier ss:1 that he was authorized
by his client to Jay that if he does not
furnish any evidence at the time the
case is adjourned to he will withdraw his
plea of not guilty and plead guilty.
The attorney agreed that if the court
was disinclined to grant another adjourn
ment it would be useless to proceed to
trial, as the facts in the case were well
understood and trial would be waived.
The court said that he bad been very
indulgent in the matter of continuing
the case, both to the complainant and
the defendant. The business of the
court demanded that it be disposed of
within the time prescribed by law.
MIR. Collier said in answer to this that
an adjournment of two or three days
would be of no benefit to him.
Justice Miner-"What do you intend
to show for your client?"
Mr.. Collier-"I desire to prove by
medical testimony that my client is en-
tirely irresponsible for his acts. He
has been travelling from place to place
engaged in the business he is charged
with here. I don't know anything about
him except what he has personally told
me and what l have seen in the papers"
The Court-"I have no judicial knowl-
edge of The case"
Mr.. Collier consulted Moses and then
announced that he would withdraw his
plea of not guilty and enter one of
guilty. The attorney asked the court
whether he would defer passing sentence.
Justice Miner said be could not do
this, and then addressing the prisoner
asked him if be desired to withdraw his
plea. !,
II do," replied Moses.
"Have you anything TO say for your
self?"
81 desire to say so much that I do not
wish to trespass on the time of the court
in my CASE"
"You have the whole afternoon before
you. I will listen patiently to what you
say"
Moses again said that he did not wish
to 20 to trial and the court then sentenced
him to Imprisonment in the House of
Correction for ninety days without the
of fine.
Mr.. Collier asked that the prisoner be
allowed to remain in Jail until Monday
before being taken to prison, which the
court granted.
Moses was then taken back to Jail and
confined in the fourth ward. He was
visited by patrolman who had known