The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-14

The caso Of the State VS. John O. Corbi,t
for rape, was taken up when the court con.
veaed at $50 o 10. Monday, and was con.
cuded soon after 8 o'clock The verdic,
was rot guilty. The jnry was out not more
nan live minutes in this case and there was
no apparent difficulty in arriving at the
verdict acquiting Cotbitt Of the grave charge
against him
The case tor the defense WAS well managed
by John Clifton, Esq assisted by b. Frank
Kelley, Etq. The witnesses were examine q
by Mr.. Clittcn and he made the most of every
point that could be Used in behalf of his
client. Dir. Kelley opened the argument for
the defense in speech Of twenty miuutes,
and was followed cy Mr Clifton, who made
strong. logicIl and effective argument based
on the evidence ard collateral circumstances.
and 'lo3ed with appeal TO The inry chat
carried considerable weight Mr.. Clifton g
management of the case, and his argument
oetore the jury have been generally compli.
mented, aud it has been generally conceded
thst C0rbitt w6s we'll and ably defended and
that he gained rather than lost by relying
upon the court to appoint counsel to defend
him
Solicitor Wilson conducted tie prosecution
with his usual force and earuestness and
made strong argument before The jury
For the prosecu tion Jane Kelly, the mo ther
Of the child eaid to have been raped by Cor.
oitt, Charlotte Kelly. the eight ye,r.old vic.
tim OF 'be assault, ADuie Pettiford, a negro
woman who examined the child the morning
a'ter the assault was committed, and Dr.. @.
p Osteen who made an examination and
prescribed for the child about three weel 9
after the crime, testified.
Charlotte Kel. the victim, appeared to be
OF average Intelligence for q negro child of
eight years. and she told a straight story
under the examination Of the solicitor and
the crcss examination by Mr. Clifton. She
could not relate a connected narrative Of the
circumstances, but gave direct and positive
answers to questions asked. She stated posi-
lively that she knew Corbit. and that he had
assaulted her and gave sufficient details to
convince anyone that she knew what The was
talking about 1t was impossible to make
her contradict herself, for sbe did not appear
to be able TO state anything but actual facts
OF which she had a vivid and personal know |.
edge, and her testimony sfforded no grounds
for belief that che had been tutored. 1t is
not 10 be believed that ch,id of her age and
intelligence could have been trained TO
answer the questions OF the lawyers as she
did, without contradictiug herself.
Saoo hei'y teetiueO as 10 W0Gre she fOund
the child the day chs was assaulted and her
condition when she carried her home
and made an examination. She exhib.
tied her blood.stained garments Annie
Peddiford testified as to the child q condition
when she examined her the next day. DR..
OsteeD stated the child's cor dition when he
examined her between two and three weeks
after the assault WAS said to have been com
mitled
For the defense Mrs Co.bitt, wife of the
defendant, CorOitt himself, SIR. Jim DAVIS,
Rev. 8. Yates and Mr.. Tom GrIer testified
Mrs Corbitt testified that Corbitt was a,
home at tbs time (the crime was said to have
been committed on his place) add as to his
whereabouts subst quent 10 the cline unt, bis
arrest 10 December, and as to the character ol
Jane Kelly.
Corbitt denied oil knowledge of The alleged