The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-19
(8peoial to News and Courier. }

Ri especial to News and Courier
Columbia, November 18.-Gov-
SAfnor Ellerbe has Issued full and
Nfgee pardon to J, H. Buice and j.. A.
day, who were convicted of the kill
EEing Of John T. Sims. May and
@Buice were State oonstables, who
ysntufed into the Ozark Corner" of
Bpsrtanburg County. The story Of
Tho killing is very we'll known. There
|8as general skirmish. Sims used
lssarms and tho coGstables got the
bester Of the tlgh&f. Sims was SHOT
very much, r. The jury convicted
ssaice s1d May. They made an ap-
ss.sSi to the Supreme Court for new
trial. The motion for a new trial
was abandoned, and today Governor
Ellerbe granted a full pardon for
the State constables who had gotten
into the trouble.
The oase was not similar to that Of
Constables Elliott and Bladon, in
which the other side used no firearms,
but the fact remains that the consta-
bles were convicted and sentenced to
two years in the Penitentiary, and
those who want to find fault with
tho Governors action will do 30,
whether Sims was desperate as
charged or not.
Strange to gay, seven Of the jury
men who brought in the verdict of
granddaughter now petition for the
pardon. The other five have not
been heard from.
30 far the records show that there
were humorous and generally signed
petitions asking for the pardon.
These petitions came from the horAes
OF the oonstables involved as we'll as
from Spartanburg.
The records do not show that the
papers were referred to the prose-
cutting: Solicitor or the presiding
Judge, ss is usually the case.
What aeemed to decide Governor
Bllerbe more than any feature Of the
papers presented to him in connec-
sion with the case was the voluntary
atatt. ont Of Mr.. Thomaaon, Of coun-
sel for, the prosecution. Mr.. Thoma-
con; Is will be recognized, is now
figuring ia the Newbold case, and
has wilton several cards relative to
his connection with the matter.
hr. Thong aEa, asaRa il ia dis is; letter to o,ccy,
a>ssnor Ellsfbe, which is appended to
the petition of county officials and
others Of spartanburg County, aays:
II assisted the solicitor in the
prosecution Of the defendants, May
aud Buiee, and, in my opinion, they
would not have been convicted IL
they had not been State constables,
and will state further that replied
to the argument made on the part of
the defendants for a new trial, and I
believed, after hearing the argument
Of the attorneys for the defendants,
that the presiding Judge would grant
their motion for a new trial.
thought then, that he ought to have
granted il, and I still think that he
ought to have granted it,"
Messrs. Hydriek'. g. Wilson write
that the accompanying petition con.
saipa the names Of all tho county Of
Aeials except the supervisor and coun-
sy treasurer, and that the treasurer
was absent and the supervisor was
not to be seen after two or three
visits terhis Office.
s.s.4A.1 OF the other county officers
have signed.
Mappears that general petition
vas circulated in Aiken County, at
0raniteville, and in Greenwood
County for the pardon Of Buice and
May. ... ..... ..
The form used in Aiken County
reads af follows:
To his Exeellenoy, Governor VIM.
u. Ellorbe: We, the undersigned,
eitiaens OF Aiken County, hereby Pc.
titioa you TO pardon Mr.. John A.
May, who was convicted Of man
slaughter at the. June term Of the
Soasiona Court for spartanburg
County and sentenoed to serve q
+-,Ifa,, % 4 noa vaara Ia tba 9tata Pant.