The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-04-10
SUBSTITUTE FOR LYNCHING
y Speedy Conviction of Rapist
in Special Court at Florcncc.

\ Speedy Conviction of Rapist
in Special Court at Florcncc.
a stair correspondent of the New.
and Courier gives the following ac
count of the special term of court al
Florence for the trial Of Julius Gibbcs
Il negro man, who was arrested the 5ll
of March on n charge Of rape, trlct
and convicted on the 3lst of March
and sentenced to be hung on the 25tl
Of April. lie is about twenty years
old, and his victim was Mrs. Daisy Lee
Haynes, wife of a woll-known and re-
spectacle farmer, residing about twenty
miles from Florence. A lynching was
narrowly averted, the details of which
are we'll known.
The special term of court ordered
for the trial, Judge Purdy presiding,
met promptly at 10 o'clock this morning.
Solicitor Wilson was at his post of duty
also and all technical preliminarics re-
cc'vcd careful consideration in organ
izing the court.
Florence court house has never held
such a crowd as was within it's walls
to-day. Old, young, white and black
all calllngs, including several ministers,
were present, and the crowd was so
large that court officials had much diff
ficulty in moving around III the dis,
charge Of their duties. The bchavio
of the crowd was such as usually marks
our important occasions, the interest
shown being almost intense. This
was the first legal trial for such &
crime i'll Florence County, county
where the first execution will take
place on April %, when julius Gibbcs
will cxplatc on the gallows for the ter
rible crime of rape.
Absolute silence attended all the
prcliminarics, silence that became
dramatic when Solicitor Wilson asked
Sheriff Burch to "bring in the ladies'"
They came as soon as passage way
could be made, Mrs. Haynes accom-
panied by her mother-in-law, a quiet
faced, aged lady in black. Az this
uncturc their presence was necessary
only few moments, when they re,
tired, to appear again when they had
to testify.
Judge Purdy then charged the grand
jury, and his charge, while very brei
and specific, covered all points and
left nothing to be misunderstood. The
indictment was handed to the Jury
which retired and returned with true
bill in twenty minutes.
Then julius Gibbes, handcufrcd ant
with his hat on, was put in the dock
He is an ordinary looking, black negro
and tho stern faces by which he wa
surrounded pitilcssIy reflected tn
hopelcssncss depicted upon his owl
countenance. He looked like drows
man and seemed to be almost in
| semi-conscious condition. When h,
had to say something his trembling lips
continued TO move after his words
ceased to be audible. Nothing aroused
him and he moved to his doom like ,
sleepy animal.
Mcssrs. Wilcox & Wilcox were re-
qucstcd by Judge Purdy to defend the
prisoner, who had no counsel. Mr.. Il.
a. Wilcox, IN accepting the Disagree
able duty, remarked that request
from his Honor was equivalent to a
command. Later he asked for assls.
tance and MIR. Shipp was requested tt
assist in the defence, and for an houl
these attorneys consulted with The
prisoner. Then jury was cmpanclcd
being sworn on their vOr dire, after
which recess was ordered until ;
O'Clock to allow further consultation
with The prisoner.
| At this hour the trial was resumed
Solicitor Wilson, counsel for the dc
fence concurrlng, asked that the hous'
DC vacated by all but :hc witncsse
and officers Of the court. Judge Purd,
answered that he knew only Il rcques
would be necessary and in a few
minutes only vacant seats were seen
The evidence against the poor wretcl
was simply overwhelming, including
free confession to the prisoners father
made in the sherIif'a presence. Th
defence had no witnesses, so counst
stated. Solicitor Wilson made q brie
but spirited address to the jury an
was followed by fearless remarks frol
Mr.. Wilcox, who with his colleagues
ably discharged their duty. Judq
Purdy's charge to the jury was q mod
Of absolute fairness and mpartialit,
There could be no doubt of the prisol
cr's guilt and the jury returned We
dict OF guilty in few minutes.
, The prisoner was sentenced to
hanged on Friday, April 25, and wht
, his doom was spoken he eank to u
, floor gasping and tcrror.strickcn. III
, jury was composed wholly of intel
gent white men and the entire condu
/ of the case was admirable. Jud
, Purdy requested that the audicn
8 maintain its good behavior and ma
l no demonstration when the verdi
u was announced, but had to suppress
a rising demonstration just prior TO a
8 journmcnt. He also firmly commcn
G cd the men of the county for their fl
Is tribute to the power of the law. MAJ
d exp. cssions of opinion were heard d,