The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-11-12
Trial Of J. l.. May.

1t will bc remembered that on the
18th day of September, y. l. May,
one Of the Bosses in the Mississippi
Mills at Wcsson. killed DR.. ID. l..
Smith, a practicing physician Of that
place. May was arrested, arraigncd
before MAYO. Patterson, waived cx-
animation and was sent to Jail ut this
place.
The case was taken up on Thursday
in Circuit Court, now in session. with
District Attorney Miller, pro'ccut-
ing, assisted by Mr.. Watkins. of CO.
lumbus. Miss, broilcr-in-l law OF
! DIR. Smith. j. :. Sexton was Lead
ing counsel for May, assisted by II. ii.
/ Thompson. OF l;rookhavcn, and {. a.
Hamilton, of Wcsson.
The special vcnirc Of twenty-five,
which had been previously drawn,
WAS then called. and before T. o'clock
the following jury was obtained and
cmpanclcd, aud the Introduction OF
testimony begun.
The first witness wa. u colGrcd boy,
jim Barnes, the only eye witness of
the shooting, by whom was establish
cd the fact otthc killing, which WIS
admitted by the defence. The State
introduced only few witnesses and
then rested. Court then adjourncdun-
/ III next morning. 4; the rc-a,Scmb-
LINK of Court, Mile Hogan, colorcd
woman, was pu. on the stand by the
defence, aud questioned aS,owhat she
had told May in regard TO intimacy
between Or. .smii! and Mays wife.
/ This was throwing down the gauntlet
for fierce legal combat. The jury
wa> sent to the room. while the point
was being argued. Counsel for tie
defense stated they would prove by
this witness, corrobora;cd by other
testimony. that on account Of improp-
or relations existing between Smith
aud Mrs. May. that May at the time
OF the killing was laboring under tenn
porarv insanity. The entire morning
was consumed in arguing the law
point, McSsrs. Miller, Sexton and
( Thompson participating. The Judge
rc.crvcd his decision and adjourned
cOGr: ut L. O'Clock.
At2o'clocl; Judge Wharton took
his seat and announced that testimony
10 prove insanity could be introduced,
but that all testimony as to wha, hap
pened previous to the overt act would
| be excluded The discussion of tech
nica!itics and legal points consumed
/ the balance OF the day.
On SATURDAY morning, when court
assembled, the friends of May were
hopeful but fearful of the result,
though from the movement Of counsel,
they felt that something out of tho
regular routine was about to occur.
4 conference was held by counsel on
either side, and then defendants coun-
sci announced that by agreement with
the District Attorney, May would
Withdraw his former plea and enter
plea Of guilty of manslaughtcr, with
the proyiso that he be allowed to III
,rol,icc testimony before the court to
show justification and TO obtain mod
Grafton in the sentence.
The jury was discharged. and Mrs.
Mullins, mother Of Mrs. May, Mrs.
Jno. May, sistcr-in-law, G.. u. Null
lins, an uncle, Miss Mullins, sister
in-law, Peter Bridges, brother-in-law
! aud two or three others were put on
the stand and testified as to the clarac-
ter OF MAY and to the fact of adultery
between Mays wife and DIR Smith,
but in justice to all parties we refrain
from giving the evidence. 1t left no
I, room for doubt ana cOnciusiNeiy sa'is-
fled the courts mind.
On the conclusion of the evidence,
the court requested May to rise.
Judge Wharton then, in very feeling
manner commented upon the case. AS
he referred to the blasted hopes of the
husband, the ruined domestic happi-
ness OF two homes, the shame and
disgrace brought upon the bright cur
ly-hcaded little girl, the silent tear
was seen to trickle down the cheeks of
strong men unused to weeping. The
Judge then asked:"What have you to
say why sentence should not be pro-
nouuccd upon you?"
/ Mr.. May said; ~ have nothing to