The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-04

and Kearse.
DR.. w. B. Rice, of Barnwell, q
member of tho Legislature, was put
up to testify to the character of Kearse
and Jenny, which he stated was good
DR.. D. II. Rice also testified to the
good character of Kearse and Jenny.
Capt. Fl. s. Bachelor, clerk of the
Colleton County Court, was acquaint.
ed with DR.. Alderman, whose reputa.
ton for peace and order was good.
He had contributed nothing to the de-
fence.
R. E. Jones had known Kearse and
Alderman all of their lives and knew
their regulations were good. He had
Clipped in for the defence.
Col. B. R. Lewis, of Barnwell, was
acquainted with Brant, Jenny, Kearse
and Alderman. Their reputation, he
said, were good.
On the cross.examination Col. Lew.
is was asked if Frank Brant's reputa.
ton was as good as the rest of the peo
ple of the county. Then the solicitor
asked Col. Lewis if Brant had moi
been in Several scrapesin court, among
them a shooting scrape- and light a.
a church. "Do you call that f>gooe
reputation2" said the solicitor. Col
Lewis admitted that it was not exactly
in keeping with the law.
Capt. j. Kinara, a member Of the
Legislature fran Colleton, swore thai
the reputation of the defendants were
good. On the cross examination he
stated that he was interested and hao
paid out money for the defence.
Fl. w. Deer swore the same as al
the others
J. w. Bell, a trial justice and ex
county treasurer, was put up to show
that Sandy Campbell had been con
victed of stealing cotton. Solicitor Bel
linger objectedto the testimony and ask
ed that the jury retire while srgumen
was being had. The court ruled thai
the testimony be stricken out, because
trial Justice had no jurisdiction ir
the case of larceny, therefore testimony
was incompetent. Failing in that tht
jury was recalled and the witness was
allowed to swear to Mr.. Ackerman's
reputation.
All swore that the general reputa
ton of the defendants was good.
DR.. j. II. Roberts was put on the
stand to testify as to character and die
so.
DR.. J. B. Whatley testified that tht
reputation of the defendants was good
When asked by the solicitor if he die
not know that Brant was turbulen
man DR.. Whatley said that he did no
know Of Brant doing anything tt
hang or be put put in the penitentiary
for.
l.. G.. Owens was the last witnes!
put up TO testify as to character, ant
Judge Earle remarked that he though
it was about time, for he did not think
it necessary to put up the whole oi
Colleton county to prove character o.
the defendants.
A SURPRISE.
After a few moments consultation
the attorneys for the defence decided
that they would introduce no more
testimony. Their announcement
seemed somewhat sudden, as the de
fence had introduced absolutely NJ
testimony going to prove an alibi o.
anything else. There was not a person
in the court room who believed th'
men innocent, especially since none o
them were put on the stand to make
statement. The prisoners themselve
were utterly indifferent to everything
going on about them, they simply
smiled at one another.
In rebuttal the State placed Cour
Stem ographer Claude f. Sawyer or
the stand to testify as to the statemen
of witness, Solomon Grant. who a
Walterboro swore he recognized foul
men and at Aiken only three.
Tom Haynes, colored, who was il
charge of the States witnesses, was
put up to swear that persons had at
tempted to tamper with the witnesses
w. II. Newbold, the chief detective
Of the State, was put up. Detective
Newbold stated that he knew Solomon
Grant and A. @. Walker. He hat
seen the two together on Folks place
in Colleton county. He heard Gran
make a statement to Walker. HI
heard Solomon Grant say that he re
cognizd Alderman. Mr.. Newbold de
sired to make a statement regarding
Walkers affidavit which he had taker
down. The solicitor then took tn,
stand to testify as to the loss of tic at
fidavit. The solicitor stated there tina
he wished to prove the contents OF th'
paper. The court told him that tn
paper had not been found. The detec
tive was again put on the stand ant
the paper was proven. The solicitor
wished to show by a copy that in tn,
contents of the lost affidavit Grant hae
stated that he had seen Ackerman IL
the crowd.
The defence announced that it Woul(
have three speeches in argument, ant
the court allowed one hour for each
The solicitor had, therefore, thre'
hours if he chose, but did not consume
but half of that.
Judge Earle's charge was judicla
masterpiece and he gave the defend
ants the full benefit of the law, as i
shown in the request for charge
which Judge Earle allowed.
ALI OF the many witnesses will g
home tomorrow.
Believes In Divorces.
SAN Francisco, Oct. 27.-Mrs
Christine Sieber was today granted
divorce from her husband, DIR. Gus
tave Sieber, of New York. A little
less than a year ago Mrs. Sieber wa
the wife of Representative John T