The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-06-02
THE COURT.

Judge D. A. Townsend presided
at the term of the Court, which
convened Monday morning. The
grand jury panel was about full and
thirty-four of the thirty-si1 petit jur
ors were present. Solicitor Wilson
gave out a number of indictments
and Judge Townsend delivered a
very brief charge to the grand jury,
in substance as follows:
"Gentlemen of the grand jury-1
will not detSin you with any lengthy
charge. The bills handed you will
show the offence with which each
person is charged, and if you need
any special instruct ons and will let
it be known shall lie pleased to iu-
struct you. The indictments have
been carefully drawn by the Solici-
tor, and give the names of all the
witnesses. Your duty is simply to
decide who should be put on trial.
You are not to weigh evidence or
anything of that kind, but simply to
say whether or not from an e1amina-
ton Of the witnesses, the parties in
dicted should be made to answer for
the crimes with which they are
charged have no doubt you were
fully charged at a former term of
court and therefore need not take
up any further time with lengthy
charge. Retire, Mr.: Foreman, with
your jury"
The grand jury made the following
returns on bills:
Ben Moore, indicted for house
breaking and larceny. True bill.
Willie Mitchell, larceny. True bill.
George Geddy, assault of high
and aggravated nature. True bill.
Abram Holmes, assault and battery
with intent to kill. True bill.
Noel Mcdonald, housebreaking
and larceny. True bill.
Albert Jones, alias George Jones,
breaking and entering box car with
intent to steal True bill.
The first case tried was that Of
Sam Thigpen, for shooting negro by
the name of Eugene Richbourg. This
case was tried at the last term of the
court and resulted in miStrial He
was defended this time by Major a.
Levi, and the jury returned verdict
of not guilty.
Willie Mitchell plead guilty Of the
charge of grand larceny, stealing a
bicycle, and was sent up for nine
months in the penitentiary or the
same time on the chain gang.
George Geddy was tried upon the
charge of assault and battery of a
high and aggravated nature. George
is we'll known in Manning, where he
has been common offender, and he
and the town council have had fire.
ouent transactions of more or less
unpleasant nature. He had an array
of ebony-hued damsels of Manning's
third or fourth caste to testify in his
behalf. George was not altogether
in a new role and conducted his own
defense. He made a speech to the
jury, and while the Solicitor had
nothing to say to the jury, they
found him guilty nevertheless, and
George was given s25 or thirty days
on the chain gang.
Abram Holmes was tried for assault
ana battery with intent to kill and
found guilty. Judge Townsend gave
him fifteen months in the Peniten-
tiary or like period on the County
chain gang.
Albert Jones, alias John Jones, was
also disposed Of. He was charged
with breaking open freight car and
stealing lot of calico, and was found
guilty. He was given three years in
the Penitentiary, or like period on
the public roads of the County. Sup
ervisor Owens ought to get some val
liable services out of him during this
time.
Noel Mcdonald plead guilty to the
indictment for house breaking and
larceny, and he was given six months
at hard labor on the County's chain
gang or the same time in the States S
big Institution on the Congeree.