The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-23
0WHELOF0R MURDER
His Lawyer Declined to Call Wit
nesses in His Defense.
COURTS DECISION APPLAUDEb


He Lied-J ustice Foster Said That All
tho Evidence Pointed In One Direetion
-.stssemsnt q Disbrou's Counsel.
Good Ground. L. I.-Louis Disbrow
went back to the Riverhead Jail a pris.
oner, committed for the action OF the
next Grand Jury on the charge Of mur.
der In the case Of Clarence Foster and
Sarah r. Lawrence The hearing came
10 sudden ending. Mr. Niles. coun.
sci for the young man. put In no de.
tense. saying that he would wait until
the trial OF the case to do so. rs he
felt sure that no matter what evidence
he adduced. his client would be held.
1t Is exactly q month ago since Dis.
brow. Foster and "Dimple" La .vrence
started on the drive from Corwin's
house that ended In two Of the party
meeting death In the waters Of Tiana
Bay.
DIsbrow took his commitment coolly.
Only once did he show any emotion or
excitement. That was when District
Attorney Smith closed his summing up
by shouting at Disbrow: You lied.
you know you led"' Disbrow gripped
the arms of his chair and began to rise.
startled more than anything else. Sher-
Iff Wells and Mr.. Miles placed their
hands on Disbrow and he sat back In
his chair
Justice Foster reviewed the case very
fully before announcing the commit.
ment. When the decision was ar
nounced the crowd in the hall burst
into cheers. and there was much hand
clapping. Deputy Sheriffs tried to stop
the demonstration. but 1t was con.
tinued for several minutes.
After the hail was cleared. Mr.. Miles
said:
What I expected would happen has
happened. Disbrow has been held. 1t
would have been very foolish for me
to lay bare my case ut this time when
1t was practically certain that my eli.
ent would have to face q trial jury.
At that time We shall not only ovcrturn
all the evidence to be brought In by the
people. but will make the case against
the young man look even more foolish
than IL does now. We shall show that
Disbrow was wholly guiltless Of any
crime whatsoever am not at liberty
to tell what further action I shall take
I cannot say yet whether I shall seek
Disbrow's release through q writ Of
habeas corpus. That Is q matter to
be decided later"
The attendance was larger than on
any day since the first. Mr.. Smith
rested his case when several witnesses
for the prosecution had been examined.
After a controversy about the admis-
sion Of the record Of the proceedings
before the Coroner, which had been
filed with Justice Foster. Attorney
Miles moved for the dismissal of the
prisoner from custody. on the ground
that no evidence had been brought in
to connect him with the crime. II any
crime had been committed.
Mr.. Smith declared that he had
traced the three to the waters edge.
He wanted to know why Disbrow did
not 90 on the stand and tell his story.
The District Attorney dared him to do
so. Taking up the statements made by
Disbrow to different persons on the day
Of the tragedy. Mr. Smith. shaking his
fist close to Disbrow. shouted that Dis
brow lied and lie knew he lied.
The Justice said that the evidence
pointed in oIfe direction. While. per.
haps. he said. the evidence was not OF
the strongest character. there was no
doubt that there had been some
crooked work somewhere. and there re.
mained much to be explained that
should DE explained and should be
submitted to the Grand Jury. There.
fore he committed the prisoner.
After the formal papers had been
drawn Sheriff Wells took Disbrow
back to the Jail in Riverhead. to re.
main until the fall term Of court.