The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-03-27
Court

court turns out to be the most rapid
moving institution ever known in our
court house before. His Honor r. c.
Watts the presiding Judge opened the
proceedings promptly Monday morning,
and both the grand and petit jurors re-
sponded promptly to their names,
which greatly aided His Honor and
Solicitor Wilson in the organization OF
the court. AS soon as the grand jury
was empanelled Judge Watts appointed
Mr.. r. S. Fleming foreman, but Mr..
Fleming asked to be excused as he
lived q great distance from the court
house and the position might prove an
inconvenience to him. The Judge ap-
preciating Mr.. Fleming's condition,
Stated that he only desired the foreman
should be business man, and as the
members knew the composition OF their
body better than he. the suggestion
was made by him that they retire and
make selection. This was done and
in few moments they returned an
nouncing Mr.. A. /. Barron foreman.
Judge Watts delivered the usual for
NAL charge, calling attention to the
duties devolved upon a grand jury and
defining their powers and privileges.
The first case tried was against John
Lewis and Bill Conyers charged with
grand larceny. Lewis pleaded guilty
and Conyers was put upon trial and
acquitted. Immediately after the &C
ouittal OF Conyers, Lewis was sentenced
to the changing for two years and six
months.
Then came a perfect avalanche of
pleading guilty land ask for mercy
from the court"
George Epperson, resisting an officer,
sentenced to pay fine Of $40 or work
on chaingang for 3 months.
Guy Jackson, grand larceny, to chain
gang for period OF 10 months.
Richmond McDuffe, burglary and
larceny 3 months on chaingang.
Grant Nelson, larceny of live stock y
months on changing and pay fine
of 81.
Micheal Lourie and Lawrence De-
Lame, grand larceny. Lowrie got 10
months and DeLaine IS months on
chaingang.
Goodman Taylor, househreaking and
larceny. He entered a house and stole
Bible: months on chaingang.
True bills were also returned in the
following cases:
Walter Epps, murder:
William Scott, assault and battery,
intent to kill.
Ed Dingle, murder.
When Grant Nelson pleaded guilty
and received his sentence Alex Tindal,
a very respectable colored farmer, ap
preached the Solicitor and asked, "Mr.
Wilson if L buy that niger, by paying
his fine would the State protect me-
The Solicitor asked Tindal if he had
been reading about the Anderson stock
ade cases, and advised him to not ven
| ture into such a scheme. Tindal evi-
dently wanted Jaborer, and he did
not think there would be anything
wrong in paying the fellow off from the
chaingang and get his labor, probably
cheaper than regularly hired man
would cost. But the Solicitors frown
convinced Tindal that to establish a
small size stockade on his place might
not be tolerated by the law.
Tuesday morning the court proceeded
with the trial of Walter Epps, charged
with the murder of William Evans Of
Alcolu.
Some time last November Evans, the
deceased, was found dead in a shanty
near Alderman's mill, with a bullet
hole in his head. Epps had been stay
ing in the shanty and he was arrested
on suspicion. The testimony was en-
tirely circumstantial and parts of it
pointed with suspicion towards the pris-
oner, but the jury very properly gave
him the benefit of the doubt and rem
dered a verdict of not guilty.
NJ. c. Galluchat, Esq, in behalf of
George Epperson, who had been con-
victed and sentenced to three months
on the chaingang or to paya fine of $40,
petitioned the court to permit the said
Epperson to enter into bond for the
payment of the fine. The Judge grant
ed the petition, and upon Epperson CIV
ing bond for 500, he will have until the
next term of the court to pay the fine.
The next case was against Chovine
Jefferson and jeff Keels, charged with
breaking into the depot at Summerton
and stealing therefrom Jug of whisky.
Jefferson pleaded guilty and was SEN
fenced to eight months on the chain
gang. Keels, his partner, was put on
trial, convicted and sentenced to twelve
months on the gang.
James Green, charged with killing
by burning Anderson Rich an infant,
was arraigned, and not having counsel,
His Honor appointed W. c. DuRant
Esq. to defend the prisoner. Trial set
for tomorrow afternoon.
The case against J. ". Heriott,
charged with the killing OF VIM. Will
son was tried, and resulted in an ac-
ouittal. The testimony showed clearly
that the killing was accidental, and the
Jury in few moments returned a YER
dict of Not Guilty.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT.
To the Hon. R. C. Watts, Presiding
Judge March Term, 1901.
We the grand jury drawn for the
year 1901 would beg to hand your
Honor this our first presentment:
First-All of the bills of Indictment
handed US by the Solicitor have had our
careful attention and reports have been
made thereon.
Our time has been occupied BY the
past two days in acting upon bills and
We have not as yet made any examlna-
I