The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-09-20
Court Proceedings.

eral Sessions was convened Monday
morning, promptly, with Hon. james
AIdrich, presiding.
Solicitor Thurmond and Stenog-
rapher Macfeat were at their posts.
The first trial was the case against
Azariah Taylor, charged with perjury,
The Solicitor was assisted by Mr.. }.
A. Muller, and the defendant was
represented by A1essrs. Edrd x
Dreher and ". Fl. Sharpe. The
verdict was, not guilty.
George Harris plead guilty to
house breaking and larceny. He
told the Court that he helped steal
nine bales of cotton from the ware
house of the Lexington Manufacture
ing Co, in this town, the last OF
which was taken August 9th last.
He implicated Boston Battle, also
colored and a day picker room hand,
in the mill. Battle Was tried and
found guilty. Harris was given is
and Battle &c months on the chain
gang.
Henry Norris plead guilty Of as
sauIt and battery Of high and ag-
gra7ated nature, and was given y
months, or 500. He told the Court
that he had shortly finished a like
term on the chaingang. He shot
Sam Caughman in the big toe on
July S:h last, because he ''was crazy
drunk" as he told it.
Joel I. Harsey, under the charge
Of violating the dispensary law, was
ably represented by Hon. W. Fl.
Sharpe. The trial was lengthy and
resulted in an acquittal.
William Davenport, colored, an
swered to the charge of obstructing
a railroad. He was represented by
Hon. E. L. Asbill, and the jury
found him not guilty.
John Wade Seay plead guilty to
adultry and was fined $lCO, which
he Immediately paid.
The first murder case called was
against Major Davis alias Jim Davis,
charged with killing Fletcher Chap
man, on April End last, at the Lorick
rock query in the Fork. There was
only one eye witness, which the
State put up. The defense had no
witnesses. The Court appointed Mr..
E. L. Asbili to represent him on the
trial, which was a short one. The
Jury found him guilty of manslaugh-
ter. His sentence was five years.
John F. Bayly, charged with
breech of trust with fraudulent in
tent, was remanded to magistrate for
trial.
The cases against John Boyd fer
assault and batter with intent to kill,
and against Izler Jefcoat and Bill
Jefcoat for violation Of the dispensary
law, were mol pressed.
Jim Johnson plead guilty to
breaking in the dwelling Of Mr.. Am
brose WiDgard, August 9th last,
and stealing therefrom pair OF
shoes, razor, pair of pants and proba
bly, other articles, and was given one
year on the chain gang.
Only one case was thrown out by
the grand jury, towit: Noah Hall,
charged with abduction.
True bills were returned against
George Bowman for murder; Hood
Peele, for assault and battery with
intent to kill; Willis D. Berry and
Clarence Clyde Whittle, for murder
and carrying concealed weapons;
George Sawyer, for forgery and false
Melton Corley and
others, disturbing religious worship;
against John Rish, for obstructing
railroad.
Today the trial of John McCioud
for murder is in progress.
Tomorrow the Berry and Whittle
case will come up, and on Friday the
court will probably reach the foot of
the criminal docket.
The case against G. S. Matthews,
ct. al, charged with the murder of
Pat Bowers, was carried over, as the
Solicitor gave out no bill. Matthews
was allowed bail for $4,000.