The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-09
Court Couvenes.

TO order at 10 o clock Monday morning, Judge
Gary presiding Solicitor John S. Wilson
aod Court Stenographer Parrot we're presen t
and at their posts of duty.
The Grand Jury was organized with Nj.
F. A Folsom as for.uen, and Judge Gary
proceeded to charge juors in respect to their
duties His remarks we're practical and to
the poiot. He ou,lined the province Of the
grand jury and enphasized more plainly and
mora practically tban has been customary the
importance Of painstaking, Intelligent nod
unbiased Investigation Of all matters brought
before the grand jury, aud of The still higher
Importance of the fearless discharge OF the
duty testing upon each member of this body.
Ele we'll s.id that upon the efficiency and 10
tet!igcnce snd fesrlessress of the grand, jury
10 predicated the entire work of Toe court
The docket was souoded and the following
cases we're called
The State Vs. Joseph & Wilson and & M.
Cooper, rule to show cause. Transferred to
the contingent docket.
The State rs D +. keels, rale. to chow
cause. Transferred to the contingent docket.
The State vs. Eugene Hosao, maintaining
q nuisance. MOL pressed.
The grand jury acted upon only one case
before recess was taken uotil O'Clock,
which was The State vs. William w. Tuu-
call, disposing of property under lein. True
bill
The following tree bills were haoded in by
the grand jury immed lately after the recess:
The State vs. Eli Harrison-Assault and
battery with intent TO kill, and carrying con
cealed weapon. Trne bill.
Tho Ctoto I.Lo Prour-A n1t AND
battery OF high and aggravated nature.
True bill.
The State ys. Wash WoodsABurSlsry and
larceny True bill.
The State vs. Josiah Spaun-Larceay OF
live stock. True bill
The Court of qeaeral sessions got down to
work in earnes, Tuesday morning and excellent
progress was made in cieariog the aocket of
the cinor criminal cases.
Ths following csses were disposed Of:
The State Vs. Eli Harrison, assault and bat
terry with intent to Kill. Guilty two years
on chain gang.
The State vs. Jake Brown. assault aud bal
terry of high and aggravated na.u,e Gai'ty /;
eieh, moEtbs on chain gang
The State vs. Wash Woods, burglary and
larceny Guilty; six mon'hs 90 chain gang.
The State va Vaughan Love, housasreak-
ing aod larceny. Guilty penitentiar. one
year.
The State vs. Charles A. Taylor, house
breaking and larceny Plead guilty elk
months on chain gang.
The State vs Mienie Fielder, alias Minerva
Patterson, assault an6 battery with iofent 70
kill and carrying coaceal.d weapons. Not
guilty.
Tue grand jury has also been doiog rapid
work aud the following true bills were band
ed in during the morrick:
a The SITE vs. John Mack. aa,au: and bat
terry Of high aod aggravated nAtnre and
carrying concealed weapons True bill.
The State 70 Joho F. Beard, assault and
b.ttery With inteot to kill. True Bill On
trial
Thu State vs Edward " Trim~al, house
breaking aud larceny. True bill
The State IS Wm Tunsall, disposing of
property uuder lien Two cases. True bill
True bill. Arraigned Trial set for Friday
morning.
The State vs. Willie johnson, larceoy
True bill.
rbe case of The State vs.. John F. Beard,
assaul: aud battery with iAtent TO Kill MAS on
trial when recess was taken for dinner. As
there are but few witnesses TO be examined
for the defence, the cases will be concluded
ta,s afternoon.
TIE case .nat furnished the most interest
and amuse1 ent was that Of the State 7s.
Minoie Fielder, alias Minervs Patterson, as
sanlt and battery. She conducted her own
case, and her examination Of witnesses was as
c.ever and vastly more amusing ,bau if a
lawyer had represented ber All Of the
witnesses except Policeman Weeks and Dr.
Smith are deuizens Of the section Known as
Red sod White, aod the testimony WAS rare
and racy Graos Williams, the expert and
rersisien, chicken thief, was the prosecuting
witness, the warlke Minerva having perforat-
ed his carcass with thirty eight The direct
manner in which Minerva r.ked mp aud ex
pc.ed Wiliisms' chain gang record Was
worthy Of an experienced criminal lrwyer
The jary rendered verdict IN her favor, aud
she will return scot free to the ebon shades Of
Red and White, where she belongs to the
upper crust of society and does no, de,gn 20
exchange calls with many of ber close neigh
bors.