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. 1t
Took the Jury Nine Minutes to De-
eide the Pate Of the Fiend
Who Deserves to be Hung
for the Crime.

a. oPSSicA NApPIuOh JlOuh puUuu6I W
The State says the jury declared Jesse
Nelson guilty Of assault with intent
to ravish after nine minutes deliber-
alton, on Thursday afternoon.
Judge r 0. Purdy sentenced Nelson
to 80 years at hard labor In the South
Carolina ~penitentiary. The sentence
to begin at the expiration of his SEN
tence to the Clarendon county chain
gang, which will be July 9, 1910.
The case was called Thursday morn
Ing. The court appointed Mr.. l.. D.
Jennings to defend the prisoner. Mai.
Marion Noise assisted Solicitor Will
son. The State had only a few wit
nesses. Very little time was onsum
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 a 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 a negro of Nelson's
general appearance-the clothing
worn, cap, ETC., when captured, the
exact description given by the young
lady Immediately after the assault.
Supervisor Ovens 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 at
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 so that the
Jury might see the difference between
the two.
MIR. Jennings certainly did his duty.
He reviewed the testimony carefully.
He wanted the right man punished to
Vhe limit of the law, but ask the Jury
o be sure and convict the right one.
he spoke earnestly and foroefully. The
negro received a high class service
gratis.
Solicitor Wilson laid bare the facts.
He spoke Of the proud record of old
Sumter county. The citiz n 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 speech was very
eloquent. The court house was pack
I'd when he began to speak and close
attention was paid to his argument.
Judge Purdy's charge to the Jury
was short and explicit.
The jury retired at 6 10 and at 6.22
reached a verdict Of guilty.
Before passing sentence the judge
said he knew the boys father and
mother, and they were good old dark
ies. The beginning OF Nelson's trouble,
like all other boys, was when he won.
dered away from home, getting from
under parental influence. He had no
doubt Of the prison or's guilt. IL he had
he would set aside che verdict as would
be his duty, though many people at
New Sumter were his warm personal
friends. AS a 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
this should serve as a warning to white
and black that to do right was the
only safe course In life. He had sen
fenced to life imprisonment the othei
DAY q 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 c%haingang fol
assault and battery on an old colorec
woman.