The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-10-07
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.

Lexington, Oct. LIN the history of
the courts of South Carolina, today at
Lexington will be unique. For the
whole time, save about half an hour,
that the court was in session it was en-
gagged in hearing the editorials of The
state read by Mr.. Elliott of counsel for
the prosecution. 1t was a task for Mr..
CURED him to stand on his feet from 10
O'Clock until 1.30 and from 3 until 6. All
Elliott of no light character. 1t re-
this time, except for the Interruptions
of counsel for the defense-which for
~tunately at least for Mr.. Elliott were
not infrequent-it was his task to read
so that the jury, the judge, the law
yers and the spectators could hear.
| Moreover. he had to read with care,
( pointing out in the editorials where
quotations were used or not used and
explaining the divisions of the various
editorials, as between original COM
ment and extracts. Without the inter-
ruptions and explanations more ground
would have been covered, but that
| would not have kightened Mr.. ElIiott's
work. The voice of the reader was
clear II distinct throughout the court
room and his temper was always I'M
rufied, in spite of what would have
annoyed many another man of less
| poiSe.
When the court yesterday
morning the spectators were again not
numerous. MIR. August Kohn. chief OF
The News and Courier's Columbia
bureau, took the stand to conclude his
testimony, but at the suggestion of Mr..
Nelson, the cross examination being
then on, readily assented to by the so
%licitor. he was excused until tomorrow
on account of Yom Kippur, Mr.. Kohn
being of the Jewish faith.
Mr.. Wash King, a representative In
the lower house of the legislature from
seen a pistol in the prisoners pocket at
Wright's hotel on the day preceding
the shooting. Mr.. King is the second
legislator to swear that his eyes were
Lancaster of ~Spartanburg having
sworn that he saw a pistol In the
pocket of South Cardinals then lieu
tenant governor as he was standing in
the state house yard, not n great dist
ance from the scene of the fatal meet
Ing. He Is the fourth member of the
Legislature to appear as q witness for
the state and there are others Inc
from other counties.
When Mr.. Elliott had read from the
files for q little while. Mr.. tombstone of
the prisoners counsel interposed to re-
mark that the st~enographer. MIR. Mac
feat, was not taking down the edito-
rails as they were read. Judge Gary
suggested that the same thing had oc-
Cured to him. MI. Macfeat suggested
to Mr.. tombstone that he believed he
was acquainted with his duty, that he
was noting the dates of each editorial,
and the captions and handling them as
he had always HANDLED documentary
evidence. Mr.. TOMBSTONE disclaimed
any intention to reflect upon the stem
ographer and SO did MI. Nelson.
Counsel for the defense called Mr..
Elliott's attention to certain editorials
that he did not read. "They do not
bear on the defendant" Mr.. Elliott re-
piled. Judge Gary ruled that the State
could be compelled to read no more
than 1t desired. All the editorials I'm
the files are In evidence and can be
read by the defense IL desired.
On numerous occasions Mr.. Elliott
read parts OF editorials which concerned
Tillman and said that the other parts