The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-11-25
THE EDGEFIELD LYNCHINa.


THE EDGEFIELD LYNCHING.
Proceedings In the Court or sessions-rhe
Trial Postponed, and tho Prisoners Ad-
mitted to Bail.
AS already stated, the grand jury of
Edgctield found a ''true bill" against
all the parties charged with the killing
of Culbreath. When the indictment
was read to the prisoners, their coun-
sci interposed q motion to quash il on
different grounds, eighteen in number,
which may be summarized as follows:
i. That the copy of the indictment
furnished them by the clerk OF Court
was not a true copy.
2. A challenge to tho array or panel
of the grand jury.
3. The objections TO the validity of
the grand jury because some of the
jurors were removed and some excused
and others were instituted in their
places.
4. A motion to quash the indictment
because of defects in certain of the
counts.
The State, through tho Attorney
General, answered these objections,
denying that any M of them was
lS luOlC Ill law.
The argument of the questions in
volvcd in the defendants motion COM
menccd before Judge Hudson on
Thursday morning.
An hour was spent i'm a technical
skirmish over points involving the
order i'll which argument should be
heard. The defence then proceeded to
open the case, Major Gary delivering
i fho nt,nrfn,r o,.,ok -, kl.. l.yc
lie delivered q splendid legal argu-
ment, absolutely free from anything
like sensational appeals, but confined
entirely. to the legal grounds upon
which tho plea Of the defendants was
based. He was followed by Attorney.
General Miles, who likewise addressed
himself wholly to the discussion of the
legal questions involved i'm the case.
MI. Mics took occasion, however, in
passing, to make a public acknowledge
mcnt Of his indebtedness 10 the coun-
sci associated with him, Mcssrs. Bon.
ham g. Bonham, and Gary & Evane,
for the valuable aid which they had
extended 10 him in the preparation of
the case.
General NJ. c. Butler closed the ar
gumcnt for the defence In a very
strong speech. Where human life, he
said, was concerned, it would not do
to come into Court and say thst
solemn F: ';':nction Of The l".A Lie
" whiorlhnG, been rHgtaw should be
trifled with. Before a man can be put
on trial for his life every provision,
every injunction of the law, must be
strictly and scrupulously complied
with. The State could suffer no
detriment by having the law strictly
enforced. The citizen could suffer no
detriment and would, besides, have no
excuse for taking tho law in his own
hands.
Judge Hudson then delivered his de.
cision orally, sustaining the State in
every particular aid overruling all the
points made by the defendants, after
which the Court adjourned for dinner,
the defendants giving notice of ex-
captions to the ruling of the Court.
The defence next moved to quasi
the panel of petit jurors, alleging vari-
Gus Irregularities, and argument vas
heard. Shortly afterwards, this mo-
ton to quash was abandoned. The
defendants counsel then moved that
the trial of the caec be postponed till
the next term of Court, OH the ground
of tho absence of a number of their
Witnesses and the expected absence of
Lientenant.G Governor Sheppard, one
Of the counsel, and Senator Talbert,
one of The defendants. Attorney
General Miles said he considered that
the motion was addressed entirely to
the discretion OF the Court. The State,
he added, was ready for trial.
After hearing the views of all the
counsel, Judge Hudson granted the
motion and continued the case.
A motion was then made to admit
all the defendants to bail, and tho de.
PENDANTS counsel spoke at como length
on this. The Encouragement said
that it was simply his duty, as the
officer of tho State, TO call the atten
ton of the Court to the law ON the
subject. The States attorneys, lie
said, wero glad that the responsibility
was on the shoulders Of the Court.
They made no active resistance to
the motion, as they did not feel it to
be in the line of their duty.
Jadgc Hudson said that he regarded
the circumstances OF this case 80 como
what extraordinary and peculiar, and
without expressing All opinion as to
tho weight of evidence In the case he
would admit all the Defendants to bail
In the sum of $500 each.
Poor Fellows.
Frustrated, dcbilitated, engeebied,
they feel as iftbey were hardly worth
picking mp. They would hardly give
Che toss OF q bright penny for q chance
ola choice between life and death,
But even such forlorn people can DO
renewed by the use OF Browns Iron