The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-09-27
Court Proceedings.

charged with the murder OF James
Attaway, August 9th, last and with
carrying concealed weapons. The
defense was represented by Col. &
I. Graham, and the trial consumed d
the greater part of the day. tie was
acquitted of the murder, but found
guilty on The second count, and the
sentence was $40 or ten days, the
former of which was accepted and
p.id.
Following this came the trial Of
George Bowman, for the murder Of
R B. Thompson, February 25;b,
last, at Major Swygert's place in the
Folk. The Solicitor was assisted by
Col. J. Brooks Wingard. Messrs.
Eird & Dreher and W. H. Sharpe,
Esq, reple; ned the defense. A
verdict of acquittsl was rendered
l,te Thursday afternoon.
The following grand jurors were
drawn to serve next year: J. A
West, Emanuel Rish, Monroe Gun
ter, Stanmore Hite, John G. Davis
and W. A Derrick.
Friday morning at $50 o'clock, the
court called for trial Willis D. Berry
and Clarence Clyd Whittle, charged
with the murder of W. Henry John
son at Batesburg on June ooh, last.
Mr.. Berry was the Chief of Police at
Saluda G. 81 , and Mr.. Whittle was
the Deputy Sheriff of Saluda county.
The Solicitor was assisted by W. H
Sharpe, Esq, and the defense was
represented by Messrs. Blease,
Blease & Hunter, and Messrs. E. L.
Asbill and A. F. Lever.
Out of the regular panel only seven
jurors were selected, as follows:
A. j. Boatw1ight, foreman, @ E.
CAughmap, Gee. O. Derrick, S. Arthur
Metz, ". B. Roberts, Peter S. R-d-
mond, Marshal Price.
An extra venire for ten additional
Jurors was issued, and the following
were drawn.
Job. A. Hammer, James S. Boozer,
Frank A. Derrick Ed E. Cook, NJ. NJ.
Gable, E. E. Gable, G.. G. Arehart,
S. H. Lever, D. J. Caughman, George
". Keisler.
These jurors appeared after recess
and the panel was completed by the
selection of Ed. E. Cook, D. James
Caughman, Samuel H. Lever, James
S. Boozer and Job A. Hammer.
A great number of witnesses we're
examined, which continued until the
noon recess on Saturday, when the
testimony was concluded. At 3:l2
p. m. the arguments were begun and
were as follows: Mr.. Hunter, who
spoke IS minutes; Sharpe, Sc min
utes; Asbill, 38 minutes; Cole L
Blease, so minutes; Solicitor, G2
minutes.
Judge Aldlich delivered a very
able and plain charge and tie case
was given the jury at half past eight
o'clock, Saturday night, at 1920 a
verdict Of "Guilty of Manslaughter,"
was rendered.
Mr.. Cole Blease gave notice of a
motion for new trial, which was with
drawn Tuesday afternoon. The de-
PENDANTS were then sentenced each to
five years and three months in the
penitentiary. Mr.. Cole L. Blease,
who was present, gave notice Of an
appeal to the Supreme Court, where
upon an order was granted allowing
bail in the sum of $4,000 each.
John Rish plead guilty to placing
a "spike on the railroad track near
Fredonia, a few days ago." and was
given six months on the chain gang.
On Monday morning came the trial
of Hood Peele, under the charge OF
assault with intent to kill, and
carrying concealed weapons, and as
sault and battery of a high and
aggravated nature" The Solicitor
and W. H. Sharpe, E,q represented
the State and Col. P. H. Nelson, the
defense. He was acquitted as to the
first two counts and found guilty on
the third, and his sentence was
three years on the chain gang.
Henry Gadson answered to the
charge of 'attempt to ravish." He
was committed to jill one day last
week, but in time for the grand jury.
He was his only witness. All parties
are colored. The jury found him
guilty, and the Court gave him one
year on the chain gang.
The last case for trial was fixed
for yesterday, but owing to the alb.
serce Of one of the attorneys, it was
continued, which brought the crimi,
nal court to an end.