The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-05
Trials of tho lilaira.
{Winnsboro News aud Herald).

Mr.. EDITOR: 1t was my plonsure to
accept pressing invitation from tho
sheriff Of Newborry to attend tho
court Of General Sessions in that
county last week, tho occasion being
the Investigation of tho charge of
murder preferred by the State,
against Robert r.. and james Blair
Of this county together with five
white and two colOrcd men of New
borry county. Tho standing Of some
OF the parties charged and tho con
nection some of them had with the
recent crime Of arson and burglary
at Pomarin have excited much in
terest in tho counties in the trial of
tho case. Over two hundred wit.
nessos wcro bound over to testify
and Attorneys George Johnstone
aud Welsh assisted tho solicitor in
tho prosecution while tho. defenso
was in charge Of Messrs Il. Is. Rags
dale, Hunt Il Hunt and JAS Cnl-
breath, an array 0: legal talent sell
dom seen in ono case. Tho trial en-
gagod tho attention Of the court,
Judge Klough presiding, ovor throo
days, when, after dcliberntion of
perhaps loss than an hour the jury
returned u verdict of not guilty as to
all tho parties under charge.
1t should be especially gratifying
to the relatives and friends of tho
Blair brothers to know that the
State, assisted hy George Johnstone,
ono of the most ablo and astuto law
yors in tho State with tho services of
Liquor Constable Lafar and John
Ilonry Chnppcll, in securing the
country as detectives for months,
completely failod to make ont caso
against them. While all tho speeches
wore abic those Of Rngstlalo and
Johnstono may be mentioned as
fentures Of tho trial. Rag, dalo's
cxcoriation of John Henry Chappell
was very severe ns WAS nlso his OK
posnre Of tho "hidden hand ut Po-
maria" who wcro using this pros
ecntion to got rid of certain parties
obnoxious to them. Tho ingenuity,
tact and eloqnence Of George John
stone come alarmingly nenr cronting
nooso out OF tho very tlmsy gausy
testimony which tho detectives had
raked up for tho State.
Briefly stated the facts Of tho case
arc that the Blairs pursued and cup
tured nonr Pomarin negro woman
who had robbed Roht. Blnir's house
ut Ridgoway, that in tho pursuit
they wero joined by certain parties at
Peaks and Pomaria. Having cap
tnred tho woman about dark they
tied hor hands behind her back and
to a bonch in the railway waiting
room at Pomaria; locked tho door
and won't to Il private residence for
supper Whom thoy returned the
door to tho waiting room was broken
open and the woman gono. They
looked for hor n short while, failed
to find her, promised reward for
her apprehension and return home.
Tho woman has not boon soon since,
The State tried to prove that she
had boon murdered in Il canebrake
near Pomaria. All of this occurred
in January 1895. The dofondunts
wero arrested about two months ago
aud havo been in inil over since.
They appeared before Justice Pope
for bail and why ho should have de-
nied it is certainly not apparant to
one who listoncd attontivoly to the
development Of the States aitle ut
tho trial.
GAMING TIE SHERIFF.
Approaching tho kind consdora
tion shown the defendants, Blair, by
tho popular and efficient sheriff, Mr..
Bnford. II fund was collected by Mr..
i. W. Ruff from tho Fairfield peo-
plo attending tho trial, gold
headed cano purchased and presented
by Mr.. w. j. johnson to that officer
who was very much touched by the
circumstances Tho writer regrets
not being present at tho Gaming"
Tho whole thing was done 80 quick
~ that ho know nothing about it.
NpWb0rry hna n Cropl rnopv ih;n.