The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-25

Tho Court,

WV" "o NS" oohiJ ScoIefuay Will
Judge d. A. Townsend presiding. So
licitor Sease and Stenographer Camp
bell were promptly on hand.
There were quite a number of new
bills for the grand jury aud several
cases left over from the last court In
fact, it really appears that the criminal
business is on tho increase in our couni-
ty. We are sorry TO see it not for the
additional expense it incurs upon the
taxpayers, but it Is bad to note the in
crease of crime. And unfortunately
In several of our recent courts and in
this one there ; .'e several white men
on thc side Of the defense. IF all the
cases are tried that there are bills of
indictment against unless there are
many pleas Of guilty the criminal court
will last all the week.
Judge Townsend charged the grand
jury very briefly. He said it was not
necessary for him to charge them as to
their general duties for that had a.
ready been done and in fact they should
| have already performed their duties in
| the way of the examination of public
Offices and SO on. AS to the bills of in
dictment Judge Townsend said it was
useless to charge the jury as to the law
in the several cases. When they read
the bills they could soon tell whether
there was anything in the charge or not.
They had only to inquire as to pre-
sumption Of guilt and if that existed
they would return a true bill. II the
jury find Il case brought in malice, spite
or spleen, he suggested that the best
thing to do with such cases was to
throw them out though he did not
charge them to do it. Yoa are the
grand inquest Of the 20 MY and must
in many cases use your own discretion
in matters that come before you.
Solicitor Sease handed out number
of bills. We shall only report them as
they are acted upon by the grand jury.
The first case put on trial was that
against Lafayette Metts, indicted for
disposing Of property under lien, and
the verdict Of guilty was returned.
Metts is out on bopl and was not pre-
sent. He was charged With selling o.
disposing Of a hog On which There was
mortgage.
The next case tried WAS that against
Forrest Counts and Will Gallman
charged with burglary and larceny and
receiving stolen goods. These Q par
ties charged with breaking in the dc
pot at Prosperity. They were defend
ed by 0. l. Schumpcrt and Cole L.
Bleasc. ~ verdict Of guilty as to For
rest Counts and MT guilty as to Will
Gallman was returned.
The State VS. Easter Thomas-high-
way robbery-nol p' osscd.
The State VS. Easter Thomas assault
and battery intent to kill and carrying
concealed weapons. Enters a plea of
guilty Of assault and battery of high
and aggravated nature.
The cases against Jno Buckley and
Dcvill:us Baker, two OF the Pomaria
cases, have been settled and that ends
the pomaria robbery cases. Buckley
and Baker have been discharged mol
pros having been entered.
The State vs. LOnnic Brcnnon- bas-
tardy-not guilty.
The State VS. Ilhoda Chapman-viola-
tion of the dispensary ]aw-guilty. In
this case, the Defendant being an old
woman, Judge Townsend said he would
give her the lowest sentence the law
would allow, but that is Il fine Of 500
or mouths on the chain gang, and she
is to go to the jail. COL SchLmpclt t
| who represents Rhoda secured an order
| sta ) ing the execution of sentence until
| the first day of the next term of the
court
The court got along very well yester-
day. In fact, made 40 excellent record
| in the number of cases disposed Of and
the indications now are that the court
will finish up before the end of the
week.
|