The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-07-29
CIRCUIT COURT.
The Second Week More Iatere.tisx Thsu
the First.

N~Ssh SOOW
, The Second Week More Iatere.tisg Tia,
the First.
>. The Joe Stein al attracted NOR
general interest, perhaps, than any 9th
er cas- that came within the cognizanc,
Of this term Of the circuit. In form i
was an action Of the state revenu,
agent for the state, county, and towr
against Joe Stein for selling the decoc
ton known as hop tea without license.
Mr.. Stems attorneys contested every
inch Of the ground and stubbornly
fought the case from Its inception until
its final disposition by the circuit court.
They have not surrendered yet, howev.
er, but will carry the matter to the su-
preme court. District Attorney Hum.
phreys was as Jealous on behalf of the
state and conducted the case with con
sumate skill. Under the rulings of the
circuit court, Mr.. Stein will have to put
up a total Of $500, 90 unless the supreme
court over.rules the lower court. This
case will attract attention throughout
the state on account of the legal points
involved. Prot. r. W. Jones, of Ok.
ford, an experienced chemist, made a
thorough analysis of the hop tea and de-
cided that it contains 2.3s per cent. al
cohol. This will doubtless become the
leading case of the state on this subject
and Its final decision will be authority
and precedence for the future guidance
of the courts.
We claim for this term of court the
quickest disposal Of a murder case on
record. Andy Black, colored, was on
Monday, arraigned, found guilty and
sentenced to a life term in the p%eniten-
tiary, all within FIVE minutes. It had
been agreed, however, between the dis
trict attorney and the attorneys repre-
senting Black, that a verdict of guilty
should be returned by the jury, and the
An interesting murder case was tried
on Wednesday. King Taylor, colored,
was arraigned for the murder of John
Mclean, colored, at Phillipston, near
in May. Several witnesses were
introduced by both the state and the de.
Tense. The prosecution by District At
Humphreys, and the defense by
A. McC. Kimbrough and L. M.
Southworth, were conducted in a mas
terly manner The jury retired at about
II o'clock Wednesday night and in ff-
teen minutes returned into court with a
verdict of manslaughter. The prisoner
vas given five years in the pen. ,
punishment be fixed at life imprison $
nent. .
A large number of cases, both civil q
md criminal, were continued until next a
erm. t
The firm of Rush 4 Gardner being
lnrepresented at this term, caused the t
of many cases. Il
The full report is given below: /
Town of Greenwood VS. George Wash >
lgton, judgment for plaintiff for $500. =
annon Il Byers VS. Albert Aron, judg- Vi
tent for plaintiff for $6O3. 1870. 10 in y
crest. Paul Harding VS. Switzerland, =
mis- Co, Ltd, mistrial, continued. =
rane, Human Hardware Co, VS. Bod q
g. Manldin, Judgment heretofore p
'ndered, set aside and new trial order "
l. Writ Adams, revenue agent, w
Stein. A. H. Longino, guardian, vs. ID
f. E. Duggan, Delta Bank claimant, y
tecution quashed and case dismissed
plaintiffs cost. G. E. Gillespie, ad- l
i%nistratix, VS. Planters Oil Mill and W
'fg., Co., continued. Dan A. James al
~. X. N%ardaman, ct al, judgment by Vi
nsent. Town of Greenwood vs. John te
rannigan, dismissed at plaintiffs cost, VI
ate VS. Henry Kimbrough, mol pros. az
ate vs. J. B. G. Lanier, indictment
State vs. Sam Carpenter, YER
ct not guilty. State vs. Pearly Brisco,
of guilty, fine so, and 30 days in
II. State vs. Andy Black, jury verdict =.
guilty, sentenced for life. State vs. "
IN. Powell, plea of guilty, sentenced
o years in pen. State vs. Ed Smith, w,
"a Of guilty, fined 80 and costs. o. X.
ouch & Co., vs. c. E. Wright, judg. 'p'
mt for defendant. State Va Ben Can. :,
n, jury verdict guilty, seven yeas in -"
n. State vs. g. c. Washington, three ~.
'nths in Jail, four other cases mol =
'sid. State VS. Scott Lemons, mol pros.
tie VS. John Criswell and Lottie Muir. WI
mol pros as to Lottie Murphy. Wv,
The grand jury made their final re. s'
It Wednesday morning. Fifty true ,"t
Is were found during the session. WI
chaeaa thu mnat 1o1;,;o,. 'Oo