The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1892-07-15
KINGS SENTENCE CONFIRMED.
THE SUPREME COURT SAYS HANG HIM.
Friday, August ~, 1899, the Date Fixed
for His Execution.
Jackson special to the Americana

Jackson special to the Americana
The Supreme Court of the State
met in adjourned session at Jack
son the 7th instant to render opin-
ions in n number of cases, the most
important being the famous murder
ease of II. Clay King, who killed
David H. Poston Oh the street, at
Memphis, March 10, last year,
Poston was leading counsel for
Mrs. Gideon Pillow in a sensational
suit between her and King, in which
their social relations were involved.
King claimed that his wife's honor
had been alluded to in such a man.
ner in cross-bill as to necessitate
a retraction or Poston's life. The
case was heard about four weeks
ago and taken under advisement,
Grief Justice Turney being Ill at
that time.
When King went into court that
morning he did not look as well as
he did when the case was heard by
the court The long confinement
and anxiety is evidently telling on
has strong frame. He sat in a rock
ing chair, his faithful wife byhim.
Opinions were delivered in other
eases and then Judge Lurton read
the opinionof the court in the King
trial, affirming the opinion of the
lower court. Judge Snodgrass dis
scented in an able opinion concern
ing the misconduct of the jury,
holding that the onus of proof was
on the State and the case should be
reversed. The opinion covers six
ty-one pages Of legal cap and takes
up all objections, claiming error in
the lower courts and on which the
defense relied for a reversal
The application for change OF
venue was taken up. 1t was held
that the Judge had not exceeded his
authority in refusing change OF
venue, and the defense had noteven
exhausted all the peremptory chal.
lenges, and under the act Of 1875 6
continuance, because of too great
excitement, rests In the sound dis
erection of the court. The assign
ment of error that Juror Smith had
previous to the trial, formed and,eX
pressed an adverse opinion to de
PENDANT was held as not sustained
a clear case not having been made
out. The misconduct Of the jury
was taken up. 1t was held tina
there is not ground sufficient for {
new trial because of conversation
held by the jury and communica
taons received by them if no evi
dence had been introduced to show
that such misconduct was harmful
to defendant, and as to the tril
across the Mississippi River by tn
jury and temporary landing on tn
Arkansas bank, it was shown tina
the juryw under their proper of
fcers, were together and were mere
ly on a trip of recreation and no in
tention of wrong-doing. If it b
admitted that the jury was temper
,arily beyond the courts authority
still it does not follow that tn
verdict is materially vitiated.
is not shown that any prejudicia
observations were ever made to tn
jury, and all communications wer
seen by the officer, though the COZ
tents Of all were not proven or ask
ed for. 1T is misconduct of the iur
resulting in opportunity for exel
else Of improper influence of reoeI
ton of prejudicial communication
which justifes inference of harm
full results. 1t is not shown the
any juror was in any degree rel
dered incompetent in dischargin
Lii -, l-s-,1- 1,.,,;,,o. l.