The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-10-30

COURT.

Court convened last Monday at 10
o'clock, Judge I. D. Witherspoon pre-
siding, and Solicitor John S. Wilson
and Stenographer L. I. Parrott at
their places.
The case of B. S. Dinkins, charged
with housebreaking, was the first
called. The following jury, all white,
was impannelled:
D. B. Davis, foreman, J. NJ. Bar.
wick, J. n. Whits-L-A: Graham, B.
E. Herringt0u, 3. P. Fulton, james
Plowden, T. Leslie Bagnal, W. P.
Roberts, j. 81. Johnson, c. B. Cobia,
Sam1 Sparks.
The State objected to J. J.. Mitch
um, and the defense to R. E. Smith,
E. B. Fielder, c. L. Morris, r. NJ.
Brailsford, and G. R. Jones. Sam
Sparks wss put on his voir dire by the
defense, but he testified that he had
not formed or expressed any opinion.
We desired to publish the testimony
in this case in full, and early Mon
day morning applied to Stenographer
Parrott to know if he would furnish
us the testimony. He told US that in
case the Judge or the attorneys in the
case did not object, and if he could
get the time to make US copy of the
testimony, that he would give it to
US. We asked the Judge if he had
any objections and he told US he had
none. We likewise saw Mr.. B. P.
Barron, for the defense, and Solicitor
Wilson, for the State, each of whom
told US he had no objection. The
stenographer then told US he would
give US the testimony if he could get
the time to copy it. A short time be-
fore the testimony was concluded we
got note from the stenographer
that, CATER conferring with the law
yers, Messrs. Rhame and Barron, [
have decided to furnish the testimo-
ny to no one" Had Mr.. Barron OBJ
jected when we first asked him, we
could have made other arrangements
for getting the testimony, but when
the objections were raised it was too
late for US to do anything. The pub
lie is thus deprived of reading the
testimony in the case.
Solicitor Wilson represented the
State, and Messrs: B. P. Barron and
J. F. Rhame the defense. The State
put about dozen witnesses on the
stand. The strongest evidence in the
case was, 1) that Dinkins was seen
the night of the housebreaking with his
clothes soiied and his face in a sooty
condition. This was testified to by Mr..
|F. N. Wilson, Mrs. F. n. Wilson,
Hurst, Stukes, and James; (2) that
be confessed the crime to F. N. Will
son, claiming that be was drunk when
he did it; and (3) that paper was
found in a pocket OF a coat of Din
kins's, about 50 days after the house
breaking, which appeared to be a
combination ola safe. It had OF It
four different combinations, and the
State attempted to show that it had
been used in the effort to open the
safe, but that it was not the proper
combination. This paper had SCOT
and candle grease and finger marks
on it. Candles were found near the
safe, and tallow on the floor under
meath the combination lock.
The defense put up no witnesses at
all.
Mr.. Barron made speech for the
defense, Mr.. Wilson for the State, and
Mr.. Rhame closed for the defense. All
the speeches were able arguments,
and Mr.. Wilson's was one of the best
he ever made.
The case was given to the jury
about 5 o'clock. and in little more than
an hour they had agreed on verdict,
which was, not guilty.
The second case tried was that
against B. S. Dinkins for forgery. The
! Jury in this case was J. NJ. Richard,
son, foreman, j. n. Davis, J: w
Hudson, I. n. Tobias, R. R. Billups
Jr., Fl. S. Dollard, G. R. Jones, j. NJ
Bsrwick, D. B. Davis, B. P. Fulton
Sam Sharks. and J. G. Kolb.