The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
kRHE FIRST DAl OF THE TRIAL.
Sitting uf the Cour,. ur,..OrganizatSon Of
the Jr~y--Thr,> Panels Necessary
Before the Jury Complete.

>C0rrrt convened pronLly at hal!-paSt nine
Giock, Ets Honor J1d5 Wallace Rresifn,eng
tcrs N. 6. Zeigier, Ass liant Clerk l.. D. Con-
Ter, Sheriff j.. +. c. D1e and members OF
he Bar, we're in their Plies ready Tor the dis
Eharge Of their respect Nduties.
Reporters for the Ne,oS,d Courier, the %
tsmCta Registe,, the Au9ta Chronicle, and the
ocai press were undeRood TO be present
eady with pencil and pa.r to note whatever
interest might occnr.
That portion of the seatwhich are usually
et aside Tor co!ored spstators Was almost
Imply, not more than twdozen dusky faces
being visible. On the optsite side, where the
white people sit, nearly essy seat was taken
The Clerk called the rolpf juGors.
The case OF the the State adjust John c: Fer,
O'clock. Solicitor Orr, MeFs. Leroy F. You
anans, NJ. L. Bonham and !. C. McGowan APP
pearsd for the State, Will Messrs. Benet &
smith and EugSne B. aaAk represented the
Witnesses for the State Hre called by the
Solicitor. The witnesses I'd the defence were
called by L. w. Smith, Esq
tHette BeltOn and LccySaIdcrs rot an
/ swerRg to their names VIXEN witnesses for
the State were called, were A!ied again with
outrcsponse. The Court discted the Sheriff
to send for them. Waiting pr their appear
astce the business Of the Cort was suspended
FOR about fifteen minutes =
Spectators We're present tewitncss the sec
ond trial Of perhaps the most interesting
case that has ever been, tied at Abbevilc
most wide spread attention throughout the
State. Tue drawing OF th.j jury consumed
nearly two days, and the number who wee
drawn to serve i'll this case sofar as we are in
. formed, was greater than vas ever before
drawn at any trial. From fi.a to last, VIZ be-
R1ieve the total number Of jiirors VINO were
drawn was elghty-two, and by reference to the
following synopsis of what was done, the diff
Guilty OF procuringa n jury may be Partially
nderstood by the reader.
AT ten minutes past ten O'clock the prison
~ 4 4l>n
room, when he occupied the bench in
.ock. The prisoner seems to be somewhat
iSposed, and during the time while wait
lof + progress 10 tn. trial, he was allowed to
ne to vae jury room, that he might be more
ease or mo<<eerscGn mo<e scG niortable. or perchance
he might he freel~ frU,n ttAsgaze Of the
wd. HIS manner Indicates al ay9.ppreciation
he gravity Of the situation.
he question now aDse as toHwhcther the
soner should he arraigne$ and after
3 discussion, the Court expressed per.
Willingness to atcede to the wishes OF
prisoner in this particular. Solicitor Orr
tha he had been srraigned at a previous
[sart ard it was his custom 10 hare the Clerk
bmmence with "these rood and lawful men,
&c., of the arraignment. Mr. Benct, of coun,
lei for defense said thatthe prisoner desired
10 en- Ter u plea Of mot glilly-DecauSc or un'
Gu ndaessof mind at tie time Of the homii,
[cide"-he desired to eiter special plea.
Chc Court SO consented, ana tns G'erk d Or pro
men, :" who were to lo,k upcp1he prisoner
&Se bur, and who were;o coin pose the jury,
and set upon the trial. fhe frs juror VINO
VIZ K. T.. Cnnkscales-sta.e ordered him to
J. y. CocIran-at reQuest Of prisoner, sworn
" courtwHave o you any bias for q against the
Juror-No, have no bias Or prejudice in
the matter, but have formed an opinion.
Court-Is that opinion cfsuch nature as to
| affect your Judgment, and TO prevent you
, from oiyinr a fair and Impartial verdict ac-
cordlng to the evidence waieh you may hear
a9,a 9urorSi ore don't know but nat it might.
(.ourt-Stand aside. H.
W.P. Devlin-sworn on ar dire at request
ofprisoner. This Jnr9r 3 nao olaS or pfSSa. S
no kin to prisoner by blood + marriage, and
knew of no reason why he spuld not give an
Impartial verdict. Prisoner Effected to him.
A r. Robertson-At reqSst of prisoner
sworn on uoi, dire. Like the Seeeding juror,
he seemed to possess the necs,Saly qualihca-
tions. but he was objected to 7 The prisoner.
T. NJ. Knox was next cailcu,Yhen the STATE
. ordered him to stand aside.
L Woodhurst-At rcqu,t of prisoner
sworn on roi,. dire. He had n prejudice or
bias, thought he had formed compressed an
Opinion as to the prisonergul;t or lnno-
cence. He thought that opinn Wou!dnot az
. feet hisjudgment in sitting olthe case He
conld take The oath to give th9rlsoner fair
aud impartial trial. lie is no. LII 10 the prls'
this point Mr. Benet attr: ted the atten.
ton OF the Judge.
The COurt-DOeS the counSeDr the defense
desire to ask the juror any qutions?
Mr.. Benet-Would 1t not be Pill TO ask the
jurors upon what circumstaneIor facts they
have based their opinions? lnlght Ue we'll
10 ask them if they had read tl very full ac-
counts of the previous trial 1published in
the Press aud banner and the :jtscnger. Tneil
opinions might be based Oh th4 4aci.-
Court-Their having read th9ewspapcrs is
= immateri.l. That fact would Sl disqualify
\ them from sitting as jurors on Z case.
Solicitor-From this Jurors lth, I would
say that he is competent TO Sit 9hls case.
Court see no reason for ordtng this jul
- ror 10 stand aside. prisoner obited to him
W. P. Wideman-At request oriSCner Na:
sworn on his UOir dire. tic mad iDlaS or pref
udice. Had formed all oplnion-
Court-Upon what facts or funlstanceS
did you predicate your opinion
JUror-I formed my opinion tn what
had heard OF the case.
kCOurt-lf sworn, could you 4der q 1all
pd impartial verdict? Can take tho
Juror-No, sir.
Court-Stand aside.
Robert w. Hes;er-State orda1 him te
and aside.
James 6. Evans--At request 4Drlsoncr
las sworn on his roir dirc This pr swor,
bat be had no prejudice or bias II he hat
,rmcd an opinion lhut he il 10 ! TO 1ht
risoner; and ti'tt hak"ew o no Non !.
could not render ta'r and lmpIal Yer
let. Prisoner objected - him.
J. C. Jennings- sworn.
ii, ii, Cla1np-At request q priSer wa
worn on his roi,' dire. lie ha! no b pr pref
.dice had formed an opnior, whl4mit II
affect his judGn!"n'.
-Court-Stand aside.
c. NJ. Calhoun-At the request of some
Ewas sworn on his Doir dire. He had Mas O
prejudice whatever, though 1t is rossii tina
fhe had formed or expressed an opinion
Court-IS il Of slcl & nature rs ThaC
jeur judgment in wing u Ytrdici?