The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
The Verdict of the Jury.


Court re-assembled after the usual recess for
dinner His Honor on the Bench, the jury In
their places, and all seats in the auditorium m
filled with interested spectators, Clerk Zeigler
said:
"Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen: Have you
agreed upon q verdict?"
The foreman, responding for the jury, said:
1--WE have"
Receiving the papers from the foreman Of
the jury, Clerk Zeigier read:
1.-THE State OF South Carolina againt James
T, Franklin. Forgery. and uttering o forged
note Guilty. Recommended to mercy"
I. H. MCCALLA, Foreman.
The prisoner, upon the announcement oil
the verdict, wept, and seemed to feel very
deeply his condition.
The Prisoner Comes to Judgment
Sentence of the Court.
James T. Franklin, stand up: In this case
you are charged with fogery. 1t seems to me
that you are guilty beyond the least dou6t.
counts in the Indictment I have no doubt Of
the correctness of the verdict The legisla-
ture looks upon the crime Of forgery. with
such horror i allows Of no alternatiHeh 81 ot
according to the grade which has been proven,
and other circumstances, from one to seven
years at hard labor In the state penitentlary,
You have proven up to this time good char.
acter, and good character is worth great
deal In doubtful case, but cannot prevail In
your case. There Is q time when all persons
begin to commit crime, and In order that
others may be deferred from committing
like offence, 1t is necessary that imprison-
ment may be imposed upon you, such as you
would feel and such as they would fear. II
happens that in this cese, no considerable
harm was effected in your conduct, but the
intent remains just the same. In considera-
ton Of the statements in regard to your case,
and no harm was done, will make the SEN
the Court is that you be imprisoned in the
State penitentiary at hard labor Tor the perloo
Of two years.
Remarks...NOtice OF Appeal.-.An Err
ror Corrected..-Other Matters.
His counsel have given notice OF appeal, and
pending that appeal. an order has been grant
ed, permitting bail in the sum OF twelve nun
dred dollars.
The Abbeyille correspondent of the Augllsta
Chronicle erred in saying that the prisoner had
confessed his guilt to the Solicitor, His coun-
sci informs us that he has not done so.
Messrs. Benet & Cason, who have never neg.
lsstea the interests ,Ss Of elent Will s'aha oS
Thus ends the first chapter OF 9 case wnlcn,
In some respects, Ia q remarkable one, ana
will forever be notable record In the annais
of the Court for Abbeville county.
Mr.. Franklin is plain farmer, with limited
education, O.. industrious habits, and the
States witnesses proved the excellence OF MS
the present charge was brought against him.
Mr.. Franklin had not often been to town any.
where, and 1t was, perhaps, among his nrst
visits to Abbeville that he got into Inns trou,
BILE. How he ever conceived the idea, and so
perfectly carried out his plan, Is mystery TO
every one, and 1t seems the merest accident
that he did not succeed in getting the money:
His former exemplary life, MS excelieat
wife, his innocent little children, his respect-
able klnkred. and other pleasant surround
ings, make this sad case indeed. HIS sen.
tence, to the thoughtless may seem ngnt, puC
family.