The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-03-27
NESM|TH NOT GUILTY.
SUCH THE EveRDIcT RENDERED
BY HIS coUNTRYMEN.
A Case that has Excited Unprece-
dented Interest Throughout
Williamsburg County.

Williamsburg Sountf.
Seldom or never in the history
Of Williamsburg county has trial
in court excited such widespread
interest or attracted so large a
GRO xd as the case of the State
against Mason Davis Nesnith for
the killing of Eli Sauls at Cades,
s. g., on the afternoon of Feb
ruary Z, 1902. which was begun
on Wednesda morning of last
week and concluded Friday after
noon. Many circumstances COM
bineG 10 make this an unusually
interesting case. Both Nesmith
aud Sauls represented prominent
families in the county, The de-
fsndaat is a yeutg nan on the
threshold of his career, aud as
Wa. conclusively proven from the
evidence abducted in court. it
would be difficult task to find q
man of his aye with better rep
uiaiiou or who enjoys the esteem
and friendship of a greater num-
Der of people. Then, loo, the
powertul counsel on both sides
increased The interest in the case.
With such men as Joha s. Will
.on, j. Monroe johnson and Le-
Roy Lee to conduct The prosecu-
ton aud ex-Judge Joshua Fl. Hud-
.on aad John A. Kelley represent
Ing the defense, a hard-foush'
intellectual battle was anticipated,
and a contest involving the clash
of brilliant minds areuses an in
terest second only 10 the actual
din of a physical combat. Those
who expected battle royal be-
tween the distinguished advocates
were not disappointed, for the ar
suments presented TO the jury
by them on Thursday and Fri
day were among the finest ever
heard in our historic cid "Ten.ple
of Justice" Each side fought
stubbernly for every point, and
each speaker in turn was listened
to with the most profound atten-
lion.
The jury, which was selected at
10 o'clock Wednesday morning,
was as follows: j L z Moore, fore
man; J ID Cox, Lennie Howle, 5 b
w Courtney, w H McGhee, l Z
Mouzon, j A Cockfeld,J A Scott,
Il 4 Blakeley, w q Tutle. j Ee
ecker and r b Smith, and it
Is generally conceded that as a
whole it was an exceptionally in
telligent body Of men.
The evidence was concluded
Thursday morning and Leroy
Lee, Esq, led off for the prosecu-
tion. In a speech of 30 minutes
Mr.. Lee presented his side of the
case ably and well. He reviewed
the testimony and claimed that
the course of the bullet itself con-
tradicted the position Sauls is
said to have taken when shot
with one hand reaching toward
his hip pocket. Although at least
a score Of years younger than the
other attorneys Mr.. Lees speech
according to its length. compared
favorably with any of them.
Following Mr.. Lee came Capt.
Kelley for the defense. Of late
years Capt Kelley's services have
been pretty we'll taksp up with
civil business so that it has been
some time since he addressed a
iary in a criminal case. On this
occasion he showed that he has
lost none of his old time rigor
and eloquence and those who
know him best say that this
speech was one of the finest
efforts Of his lille. Certainly it
made most profound impression
on both the jury and the crowded
court room. He held up in con-
,rast the character Of Nesmith
and Sauls; a veritable host Of