The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-07-28
AT Hard Labor in the Peniten-
tiary for Attempted Assault
ON A LITTLE GIRL
At New Sumter About Ten Days Ago. 4;
Took the Jury Nine Minutes to De.
eide the Pate Of the Flend
Who Deserves to be Hung
fOr fhe Crime
for the Crime.

bpeClal ulSpaGch from Sumter to
The State says the jury declared Jesse
Nelson guilty Of assault with intent
to ravlsh after nine minutes deliber-
alton, on Thursday afternoon.
judge r 0. Purdy sentenced Nelson
TO 30 years at hard labor in the South
Carolina penitentiary. The sentence
TO begin at the expiration of his sem
tence to the Clarendon county chain
gang, which will be July 6, 1910.
The case WAS called Thursday morn.
Ing. The court appointed Mr.. L. D.
jennings to defend the prisoner. Mai.
Marion Noise assisted Soliclter VIII.
son. The State had only few wit
nesses. Very little time was consum-
ed In examining them. The young
lady and her little sister were very
positive in their Identification Of the
prisoner. They told the story of the
crime In clear, convincing manner.
There was no hesitation. These were
The only eye witnesses. The young
lady is not yet 16 years Of age and her
sister but 10.
The ground rail of the testimony
was the search for negro Of Nelson's
general appearance-th clothing
worn, cap, ETC., when captured, the
exact description given by the young
lady Immediately after the assault.
Supervisor Owens told Of his escape
from the Clarendon county chaingang
asst Thursday.
Nelson was the first witness for the
defense. He retold the story that he
dever left the railroad between there
and Mayesville; except TO get water ct
che Belts mill. He denied the attack
IN the young lady and said he had
never seen her until carried before her
IN Monday.
Jim Taylor was sent for 80 that the
jury might see the difference between
The two.
Mr.. jennings certainly did his duty.
He reviewed the testimony carefully.
He wanted the right man punished TO
uhe limit Of the law, but ask the jlry
o be sure and convict the right one.
He spoke earnestly and foroefully. The
negro received high class service
yratis.
Solicitor Wilson laid bare the facts.
He spoke Of the proud record of old
Sumter county. The citizsns are law
abiding, He mentioned two or three
lorrible crimes, aggravating In the
extreme, but the majesty Of the law
vas upheld and the outlaws punished.
Maj Marion Noises speecn was very
eloquent. The court house was pack
I'd when he began to speak and close
attention was paid to his argument.
Judge Purdys charge to the Jury
was short and explicit.
The jury retired at 3 and at 6.22
reached a verdict Of guilty.
Before passing sentence the Judge
said he knew the b)y's father and
mother, and they were good old dark
ies.. The beginning Of Nelson's trouble,
like ali other boys, was when he won
dered away from home, getting from
under parental influence. He had no
doubt Of the prisoners guilt. II he had
he would set aside the vel dict as would
be his duty, though many people at
New Sumter were his warm personal
friends. AS judge he must rise above
che opinions and feelings OF his fellow
man. He held up the terrible punish
ment the boy must receive and said
Ghis should serve as a warning to white
and black that to do right was the
only safe course in life. He had SEN
tenced to life imprisonment the other
DAY black man for the same crime
against one Of his own race in the up
country. He then sentenced the boy
20 80 years In the peniteptiary.
Nelson Is about 10. He was sentenc-
ed at on July 6, 1904, by Judge Aid
rich to six years on the chaingang for
assault and battery on an old colored
woman.