The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-19
LEXINGTON LESCHEES FREE.
The Jury Remain Out One Hour and
Bring in Verdict Of Not Guilty."
Especial to the Register.

LEXINGTON, June 49, When court
opened this morning, from the size of
the audience in attendance, no one
would have supposed that it was the
day fixed for the trial Of the much dis
cussed lynching case. Very soon, how
ever, after the assembling of the court,
it was manifested that trial of more
than commonplace Importance was to
take place. Besides we'll filled house
of the white citizens Of the County, a
contingency Of the best ladies of the
village graced the occasion with their
presence. Miss Rosa Cannon and Mr..
Caughman's wife were among those
who were present. Messrs. Caughman
and Taylor were brought into court
and took the dock. Neither one of them
gave any evidence of braggadocio, nor
did they appear to be tinid or nervous,
but with Il manly, respectable and COM
manding demeanor answered to the
charge contained in the indictment, Of
being the principal and accessory in the
lynching Of Willie Leaphart on the 5th
Of May. They pleaded not guilty, of
course.
Solicitor Nelson prepared Il statement
Of what Mr.. }. Wilson GibbeS, 4 mate
rial witness who was absent, would
swear to ifprescut, and announced that
the State would be ready to proceed
with the trial if counsel for the deten-
dants would allow it to be introduced;
if not, he would have to ask for Il con-
tiuuance.
After short consultation among the
five attorneys who were representing
the prisoners, they agreed to admit it
rather than haze the case continued.
At the request of the Solicitor all the
Jurors were placed upon their voir dire,
and it was developed that several Of
them were disqualified on account Of
having expressed an opinion or enter
tanned such pronounced views rs would
prevent them from renderinga 4 fair and
impartial verdict according to the law
and the evidence.
The panel was exhausted after nine
Jurors had been accepted by the defen-
dants, and new venire Of fifteen was
drawn, but it was not necessary to
serve them all with "Summons papers
rs At least l:alf dozen Of those thus
drawn were about the Court House. AS
they were brought in they We're pre-
sented to the prisoners. 1t took two
hours and a half to complete the jury,
which was finally made up Of the fol-
lowing members: Carroll Bookman
foreman, William II. Hendrix, J. G.
Derrick, V. ). y. Jettcoat, sam n.
Slice, J. Lee Booker, Jessie l.. KyZer,
\. \. Burt krislrr, Fl. W. Klcckicy,
W. 7. Roof, J. :. Noo!ey and :. NJ.
Gross.
The last named juror was the fore
man of the Coroner's jury which held
th.,'inquest over the dead body Of Willie
Leaphar.., and which would not charge
Caughman orTaylor with having taken
any part in the lynching. This juror no
doubt would have been objected to by
the State if Solicitor Nelson had re-
mcmbcred this fact. The evidence tes-
titled to to-day on the stand WAS about
the same rs was given before the Cor
oner, which was fully reported in the
Register, and as il WAS Of such recent
occurrence the readers Of The Register
will remember the circumstances.
The STATE closed its evidence in two
lOufS. IL WIS Iip SUI piiSe w XII oiiS
when Major II. y. Mcetzc, senior coun-
sci for the defendants, announced that
they would offer no testimony, but
would risk their case Oh the proof
brought out by the Stale.
Mr.. {. VI. Etird opened the argyll
ments for the defendants, followed by
Solicitor Nelson for the State. Major
H. \. Meetze closed for the defense.
Judge Witherspoon'S charge to the
Jury was an able one and entirely fair.
The jury were one hour in reach
ing 4 verdict Of mot guilty. In
fifteen minutes after the verdict Mr..
Cal. Caughran was taking 4 quiet
walk on Main street with his wife and
4 couple Of friends.
Nr Caughman IS prepariAga q history
Of the case from its origin up to the
present time. with the inc id :nts Of his
Short prison life. He purposes issuing
il in book form. 1t will also contain
the testimony aud the speeches deliv-
cred at the trial. The court Stenographer
was to-day engaged by Mr.: Caughman
TO take down the speeches for that
purpose. Three hundred ofthe books
have already been subscribed for at 81 a
>,;a1S