Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-18
THE CIRCUIT COURT.

The work of the court OF general
sessions has progressed during the
week in a business like manner. Judge
Watts seeing to 1t that no time was
frittered away unnecessarily.
On Tuesday afternoon Anderson
Duncan, colored, was convicted OF
housebreaking and larceny, and SEN
fenced to eighteen months on the pub
lie works Of the county. Duncan was
charged with stealing some chickens
from Mrs. c.. J. Leslie Of Leslie.
Upon arraignment he plead guilty"
but a few moments later he changed
his mind and repudiated the plea
There was no trouble in proving the
theft, because he sold the chickens to
Mr.. c. ]. Plyler peddler, and Mr..
Plyler was there to testify to the cir
cumstances. II the negro had allowed
his plea of guilty to stand he would
have probably gotten credit for 1t; but
the testimony made it pretty clear that
1t was against public policy for such
a man to be allowed to run at large
and the court acted upon that theory.
Sidney Belk, a young white man of
Fort Mill, was tried on the charge OF
assault and battery of a high and ag-
gravated nature and convicted. The
prosecutor was Francis White, negro
girl. Young Belk and others were
playing base in Fort Mill one day re-
Gently. The woman came along, and
something was said or done by one OF
the players to attract her attention.
There developed a quarrel, which re-
suited in a fight. Young Belk attack
ed the woman with a knife and she
defended herself with stone. After
hearing a lot Of conflicting testimony
the jury decided that Belk was the ag-
gressor and found accordingly. The
court sentenced the defendant to $40 or
four months. The fine was paid forth
with,
Charles Pratt, charged with assault
and battery with intent to kill was
acquitted.
The trial Of Policeman ]. A. Eu-
banks of Rock Hill, for the murder Of
Spencer Doster, colored, in that place
on the 9th day Of last April took
place on Wednesday. The testimony
showed that the negro was resisting
arrest and that In the shooting the
policeman used only 80 much force as
he deemed necessary to protect his
own life. The jury returned verdict
Of not guilty.
Frank Carter, white, was convicted
Of assault and battery with intent to
kill; but was recommended to the
mercy of the court. The case was one
that was we'll calculated to excite in
dignation. According to the testimo-
ny, Carter had been married for some
months and while living as Is charged
with his father in law, assumed to run
the establishment as II 1t were his
own. He attacked his father-in-la
in a most outrageous and unjustihable
manner. Solicitor Henry was very
much incensed at the young Fellows
conduct, and became so wrought up In
his speech that he "cussed" He said
that Carter was not worth some kind
of a damn. Judge Watts, in pronounc-
ing sentence gave the young man a
most scathing lecture, but In respect
to the recommendation Of the jury,
made the sentence light-four months
or $50. The fine was paid.
John Mills, who has been In jail
since the last term Of the court, being
held as a witness In the case OF John
Grier charged with murder, but not
arrested, was released on his own re-
cognizance.
Michael Mcclure was tried on the
charge Of resisting an officer and ac-
quilted.
The grand jury returned true bill
In the case Of Truman and Reginald
CHdTBeu Will doodoil oAio De~
terry with intent to kill. Their ohense
Is the alleged unprovoked attack on
Messrs. Brown and Shillinglaw be-
tween Yorkville and Tirzah, on the
night Of the county campaign meeting.
The prosecuting witnesses were on
hand, but Solicitor Henry had to go
home Wednesday night, and as he de-
sired to prosecute the case In person,
he had 1t continued until the next term
Of the court.
Frazer Simpson, colored, was tried
on the charge Of murder and was con-
victed Of manslaughter, and sentenced
to serve four years at hard labor on
the public works Of the county.
Baxter Whitesides was tried on the
charge Of assault and battery with
intent to kill. The jury returned
verdict of not guilty.
Emanuel Williams, convicted Of re-
sisting an officer, was sentenced to pay
a fine of SIS or serve on the public
works Of the county for a period OF
nine months.
Bud Davis, convicted Of assault and
battery with intent to kill was SEN
fenced to three years at hard labor on
the public works of the county.
Paul Welsh, who on Monday plead
guilty of attempted criminal assault,
was sentenced to four years on the
public works Of the county, or a like
term in the state penitentiary.
Thursday morning was taken up In
the trial of the case Of the State vs..
Boozer Martin, charged with assault
with intent to kill, and the testimony
developed a plot that Is not usually
found out side the cOyarS Of the yellow