The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-20
COURT PROCEEDINGS.

The following additional bills were
reported on Wednesday:
The State VS.. John r. Keels,
Charlie Grooms and William Grooms,
assault with intent to kill. True bill.
The State VS.. Sam Burrows, house
breaking and larceny. No bill, and no
pay for witnesses.
The State VS.. Wallace McDufie and
Peter McDuffe, obtaining money IN
der false pretenses No bill and no
pay for witnesses.
The State VS.. Peter Anderson, high
way robbery and larceny and assault
and battery of high and aggravated
nature. True bill.
The following cases were tried
and sentences imposed upon those who
were convicted:
The State VS.. James Dukes, at
tempt to commit a breach of trust.
Plead guilty. He is boy IA years
old and he was sentenced to the State
Reformatory for 18 months.
The State VS.. John Dargan, assault
with intent to kill; guilty. Sentenced
to pay a fine of $50, or 3 months On
chain gang. Notice Of appeal given
and prisoner released on bond.
The State VS.. Amos Singleton, assault
and battery with intent to kill; guilty.
Sentenced to years On chain gang; SEN
tence to begin at expiration of term on
Florence chain gang, which he was
serving when he escaped.
The State vs.. Mary Anderson,
violation Of dispensary law. Not
guilty.
The State VS.. James Washington
Green, violation of dispensary law;
gnilty. Sentence 5000 or months.
The State vs. John Alden and
Cornelia Alden, violation dispensary
law. On trial.
The cases of the State VS.. John
Alden and Cornelia Alden, violation
of the dispensary law, was on trial
when THURSDAYS report was closed.
They were adjudged guilty and SEN
tence imposed as follows John Alden
800 fine or 5 months on the chain
gang; Cornelia Alden 800 fine or 3
months in the penitentiary.
The cases tried Friday morning we're:
The State VS.. Moses Boyce, disposing
of property under lien. Jury in the
room.
The State VS.. John r. Keeels,
Charlie Groonls, and William Grooms,
assault with intent to kill. On trial
Friday.
F. {. Stuart, the colored merchant
of this city came into court Friday
morning and paid $500, the fine imposed
Thursday on James Washington Green,
the negro barber who was convicted Of
selling liquor.
The greater part OF both the morn
ing and afternoon sessions Friday
was taken up in the trial Of John r.
Keels,, Charlie Grooms and William
Grooms, who were charged with as
sault with intent to kill. They are
said to have attacked the house Of
Tom Connel in the night time, shoot
ing into it with shot guns, more than
fifty shots being fred. When the case
was called Friday morning John Z.
Keels was not present, and after he
had failed to answer when called from
tbe Court House door, the trial was
proceeded with in his absence. A seal
ed verdict was returned Friday night.
Next morning when Court convened
Keels appeared and the verdict was
announced.
The State VS. John R. Keels, Charlie
Grooms and William Grooms, assault
with intent to kill. Not guilty as to
Charlie Grooms. Guilty as to John
R. Keels and William Grooms, Of as
sault of high and aggravated nature,
with a recommendation to mercy. At
the request of Marion Noise, who de-
Tended the two Groonas, sentence was
suspended. John R. Keels will be
given an opportunity to explain his
failure to appear for trial when the
case was called.
The State VS. Moses Boyee, disposing
of crop under lien. Not guilty.
The State VS. Sam Howard, larceny
Of live stock. On trial.
The State VS. Peter Anderson, high
way robbery, larceny and assault and
battery of high and aggravated na-
ture. Continued.
All members of the jury, except
those engaged in the trial of Sam
Howard, were excused Saturday morn
ing.
It was stated by Judge Gage that no
criminal cases would be tried this
week, as the entire time of the court
will be taken up by civil business.
The Court of General Sessions ad-
iourned on Saturday night, after con-
cluding the case of Sam Howard.
Verdict guilty; sentence one year on
the chain gang.
Cornelia Olden, of Wedgefeld, one
of those tried and convicted for viola