The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-02-26
BISHOP GETS FIVE YEARS.
Slayer Of Thomas Wilson Sentenced
to the Penitentiary.

to the Penitentiary.
! Charlotte, N. c.. Special-Judgc Neal
! Monday morning sentenced Arthur L..
Bishop to the penitcntiary at hard la
bor for five years for killing Thomas
Wilson at the lattcrS home in this city
last October.
Court convened at s Il. m., in order
to allow Judge Neal to leave on the 8
O'Clock train for Wentworth to open
Rockingham court.
Bishop came into the room in charge
Oh Sheriff Wallace and accompanied
ny his wife. He took Il scat at his
usual place, surrounded by his at
torneys. Col. II. c. Jones. Mr.. II. G..
Guthrie and Mr.. c. w. Tilictt. The
prisoner appeared nervous and was
not talkatlve, saying only a few words
TO his wife during the ten or fifteen
minutes before the proceedings be-
gan He passed tho time eating u lem
on or biting his finger. Across from the
prisoner aud his counsel were Solicitor
). L. Webb aud the attorneys for the
prosecution, M~sSrS. T.. II. Canslrr and
Il. l.. Kirkpatrick.
When court had been declared 0Drn
Clerk Russell! read the verdict OF the
lurT. and Mr.. Can$l"r PRAYED iu,!g-
mCnt. Mr.. Till"tt then wont through
the FORM OF asking FOR q now t;ial. and
;nnd" y strong ana eloquent plea for
mercy for the prisoner "'rhCre is moth
lnE left for us said he. but a plea
for mercy. I beg your honor to re-
member that from tho time he was >
years old Bishop has been an indus
trlouS and hard working man, and he
mas proved good character. do not
thnk | cXaggrra.c when | say ihaU
the city Of Petersburg. his home. ap-
pcals to your EOuor in his tavor | beg
your honor to remember his father and
mother and his wife and child. We
have here paper signed by ten NOM
bei3 OF the jury, recommending mercy
Another juryman has Signiiied his
Willingness to have his name attach ed
to this request, making eleven in all.
/, They do not sign this recommendation
as 4 jury. but rs individuals who have
heard all the proceedings of the trial.
They Join US in asking that your
homer nN m"lciIul TO Che prisoner. We
ask YOU 10 rv!HrmhCr that a year IN
tho n"nitrntiorN Is almca, an ago. ~"
bCg tho m"rc% OF the cUrrt."
Col. icn2$ said he could moi trust
himself TO adi anything 10 Mr.. Tillctt's
beautiful appeal. lat he wished to call
his honOr'S attention to the !Atitu ir
allowed tn" jUlm" in sentencing Il man
convicted OF aGGht"r--ilnpris0
mcnt from tOur months 10 twenty
years. COL Jones paid tribute 10 Che
jury for the close attention huT.rG
their trial and their patience in con-
sidrring tho issues involved. -
thought the appeal mad" hy eleven
members Of thH Jury should miIit@t"
strongly in Bishops favor. and he
begged the Judge to rem mNNr th"
rrisoner'S family.
Solicitor Webb said he had nothing
to say. "lour honor is wise Judge"
he continued. "and whatever you DO
will be satisfactory to tn State Of
North Carolina"
NJ. Guthrie called attcnti0N to the
surrender Of the prisoner ~ order 10
show that he did not thinL himself
guilty Of any hcinous crime.
Judge Neal then read thc petition
from eleven members of the jury. ask
ing the court to be merciful to Bish-
op. and said: II think the verdict Of
the jury in TINS case is correct and
never in my life have | seen a jury
work harder to reach Just verdict.
They raid close attention To all the
proceedings, and ! was "Spcciail:
struck with the attention paid to III"
argument. Even the last speaker WAS
closely listened to. in passing sem
tcncu in this case ! snail b" guided by
my best judgment. regardless OF any
thing else" Then turning TO Clerk
Russell Judge Neal said:
"Nr. Clerk make THIS entry: 1T is
tho Judgment Of tn" court ihat Arthur
l.. Bishop be imprisoned at hard l%"of
for five years
Gel. Jones gave notice of appeal.
ana tho Judge was requested 20 mann"
the amount OF bail in cas-" IL was de-
cinrd to carry the matte: To In" @it-
rrc:no C3nrt. The judge said that ho
did not care to name any &mnunl at
fhi, time but would do 80 later II
necessary. Court then adjourned.
The prisoner received the sentence
without showing any emotion. MIS-.
Bishop. however, sncd tears when the
decision of the court was announced.