The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-06-06
Court.

The spring term OF court opened last
Monday with his Honor Judge u. W.
Gage, presiding. At the hour fCr the
court to open His Honor was engaged
in the hearing OF a motion TO, tempo
rarv injunction against parties who are
engaged in fishing and dredging for
oysters in waters in Georgetown. He
! had the argument suspended and then
proceeded to open court. As soon as
the usual organizing proceedings were
completed. His Honor charged the
grand jury on the bills of Indictment
| handed him by the Solicitor. after
which the grand jury retired. Later
they returned with the following true
bills.
State vs. Wm Martin Burglary and
Larceny: State VS. Jake Plowden Viola
ton DiSpensary law in two cases.
William Martin was charged with the
entering and robbing the house of Mr..
Thos. Nimmer in this town. He was
found guilty and sentenced TO five wears
on the chain gang.
Jake Plowden pleaded guilty to the
charge of violating the diSpensary law
and he was sentenced to 9 months on
tI4S SiAsilI- w 4IiN VI ~
There remains another case against
him which may not be pressed if the
prisoner behaves.
The case attracting the most interest
being that against Joe Evans. charged
with obtaining property by false pre-
lenses. 1t seems that Evans Is horse
trader by occupation. and he traded a
mare 10 Stanley Mcknight. colored.
making representations which proved
to be false. He represented the mare
as being sound. and without blemish.
and according to Mcknight she turned
out TO be Stife jointed and had other
intirmitieS. That her ailment was OF
ancient origin which was known to
Evans and all those who had an init
mate knowledge of her. Evans made
a general denial of the charges alleged
in the indictment, but admitted the
mares baking proclivitieS. He in
sisted that when he traded with Nc
knight the mare was not lame. and
among the witnesses who testified in
his behalf on this point. was Mr.. +. L.
Wilkins. who ct one time before the
trade owned the animal. The jury
after being in the room a good while
came out and announced their Inability
TO agree on verdict. The Judge re-
minded them that mistrialS were eN-
pensive, and he expressed the hope
they would. when they went back into
the room, come to an agreement. They
retired for a second time and finally re-
turned without an agreement. Where
upon miStrial was ordered. Inquiry
ilicited the information that nine jurors
favored conviction while three remain
ed steadfast for acQuiItal. His Honor
signed the general orders. and then
opened up the court Of common pleas
where he heard arguments in appeal
eases from Magistrates. The case OF
Barwick VS. Barwark. the decision OF
Magistrates court was confirmed. He
also signed orders in other civil mat
terS.
Judge Gage made q very favorable
impression by his quick and easy man
ner in dispoSing of matters before him.
This is his first visit here, and the
members of the Bar and those attend
ing court express words of commenda-
tion.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Clarendon County.
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS-JUNE
TERN, 1900.
To His Honor Judge G. ". Gage, Pre-
siding:
We, the Grand Jury, have acted on
all bills handed US BY the Solicitor, and
not wishing to unnecessarily prolons
our stay at expense of the county would
say that we have appointed time of
meeting ct the court house OF said coun-
" to examine into the books and ac-
counts of the several offices and will
report same at next term OF court.
We have heard no complaint as re-
CARDS roads. bridges. etc. from any sec
ton of the county. but regret to bring
TO the attention of the court the matter
OF some telephone lines being put on
public roads. rendering the travel on
same during an electric storm abSo-
lutelv dangerous. We would recon-
mend that parties owning said lines be
required to keep the wires up and not
to allow saying of same 70 the damage
of public travel.
II has been brought TO our attention
that the present coroner has of late held
an inquest of irregular form and we
recommend that the Board OF County
Commissioners examine into the mat
ter and if any irregularity, that the
amount for holding said inquest be paid
back by the coroner to the county.
Respectfully submitted.
J. NJ. RICHARDSON,
Foreman.