The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-04-04
Especial to News and Courier.

Florence, March 3f.-On March
5, Julius Gibbes, negro man,
about 20 years old, was arrested in
this county. CHI rged with rape. His
victim was Mrs. Daisy Lee Haynes,
wife of we'll known and respectable
farmer, residing about twenty miles
from this town. 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 prompt
ly at 10 o'clock this morning. Solic-
itor Wilson was at his post of duty
also and all technical preliminaries
received careful consideration in or
ganizing the Court.
Florence Court House has never
held such a crowd as was within it's
walls today. Old, young, white, and
black, all callings, including several
ministers, were present, and the
crowd WAS 80 large that Court off
cials had much difficulty in moving
around in the discharge of their
duties. The behavior of the crowd
WAS such as usually marks our i'm
portant occasions, the interest shown
being almost intense. This was the
first legal trial for such crime in
Florence County, county where the
first execution will take place on
April 25, when Julius Glbbes will ex
plate on the gallows the terrible
crime of rape.
Absolute silence attended all the
preliminaries, silence that became
dramatic when Solicitor Wilson asked
Sheriff Burch to bring in the
ladies'" They came as soon as pass
age way could be made, Mrs.
Haynes acco' >pained by her mother.
in.la" faced, aged lady in
b. juncture their pres
enc' Wa ssary only few mo.
ments, VIII they retired, to appear
again when thoy had to testify.
Judge Purdy then charged the
grand jury, and his charge, while
very brief and specific, covered all
points aud left nothing to be misun-
derstood. The Indictment was handed
to the jury which retired and re-
turned with a true bill in twenty
minutes.
Then Julius Gihbes, handcuffed
and with his hat on, was put in the
dock. He is all ordinary looking,
black negro, and the stern faces by
which he was surrounded pitilessly
reflected the hopelessness depicted
upon his own countenance He looked
like drowsy man and seemed to be
almost in semi conscious condition.
When he 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.
Mossrs. Wilcox & Wilcox were re-
quested by Judge Purdy to defend
the prisoner, who had no counsel.
Mr.. p. A. Wilcox, in accepting the
disagreeable duty, remarked that a
request from his Honor was euuiva
lent to a command. Later he asked
for assistance and Mr.. Ship was re-
quested to assist in the defence, and
for an hour thess attorneys con-
suited with the prisoner. Then a
jury was empanelled, being sworn on
their voir dire, after which recess
was ordered until 3 o'clock to allow
further consultation with the pris-
oner.
At this hour the trial was re-.
sumed. Solicitor Wilson, counsel for
the defence concurring, asked that
the house be vacated by all but wit.
nesses and officers of the Court.
Judge Purdy answered that he knew
only request would be necessary,
and in a few minutes only vacant
seats we're seen. The evidence
against the poor wretch was simply
overwhelming, including free con-
fession to the prisoners father, made
in the sheriff's presence. The de-