Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-18


Duncan, T.. B. Brakefield, w. p. Kim
brell, Samuel Devinney, J. T. Nc
Knight, 8. A. Hutchison. NJ 3. Massey,
]. l.. Black. 8. H. Epps, Jr., r. G.
Ratchford, ]. A. Ratteree, ]. A. Shan
non, ]. d. Gwin, j. N. Huey, e. B.
Lowry, ]. z. Edwards. George Beach,
J. E. Good, F. E. Smith, w. D. Glenn.
w. w. Miller. ]. ]. Keller, ]. A. Nc
Gill, A. L. Campbell, J. G. Hudson
w. H. Ferguson, william Ferguson. F..
D. Williams. GsS
The first case taken up was that OF
the state against Napoleon Lanier,
charged with abduction, his alleged
victim being young girl under nix
teen years Of age. He had enticed her
away from home. Upon preliminary
hearing, the defendant was bound over
to court in bond of $500. He was on
hand when the trial commenced sand
testified in his own defence. The case
was concluded just as the dinner hour
arrived and the jury was instructed to
bring in a sealed verdict. When the
time for the publication Of the verdict
arrived, the prisoner was not to be
found. He had disappeared. The YER
dict was guilty, and 1t is believed that
the defendant had gotten information
of the fact during the recess. Thos.
F. McDow. Esq. represented the de-
fence. and John r. Hart assisted In
the prosecution.
The next case was that Of the state
against Alexander Patton, charged
with arson. Patton Is the negro boy
who set a number of fires on the
premises of Mr.. w. ]. Miller Of New
port, some months ago, while he was
ostensibly assisting in search for
the incendiary. A full account OF the
affair was published in The ENQUIRER
IT the time, and the evidence adduced
corroborated the story In detail
Messrs. M. B. Jennings and F. r.
Mccain represented the defendant by
assignment, and made a very credit
able Defence: but the facts were too
strongly against the prisoner to admit
of a reasonable doubt, and the jury
returned a verdict OF guilty with a
recommendation to the mercy Of the
court. The recommendation was evi-
IDENTIFY made in consideration Of the
extreme youth Of the prisoner. he not
being more than twelve or fourteen
years Of age.
John Belk. white. was arraigned on
the charge of bigamy, and on advice
of his counsel plead guilty.
J. C. Jeter, arraigned for bigamy, at
first plead not guilty. but afterwari on
the advice of his counsel, Mr.. f., p.
Mccain, withdrew his plea Of not f1iil-
ty and entered plea Of guilty.
Judge Purdy announced that 1t was
his custom to inquire into caseH OF
this kind before passing sentence, and
he accordingly postponed further ac-
ton until he could get more informa-
ton. -
John Ross, colored, plead guilty to
the charge of stealing bicycle.
When court re-convened this morn
ing with the grand jury in the box,
Judge Purdy took occasion to again
refer to the Jail question. He said
that his remarks OF yesterday on the
subject were general; that he haG no
idea that they were Of special applica-
tion: but since then he has gotten ad-
ditional information on which he felt
warranted In saying that the sanitary
condition of the jail here must be sim
ply horrible. There Is probably only
one other jail In the state that is In a
worse condition. This is an enlighten-
ed age and q humane age; but guch
conditions as evidently prevail In this
fall are not creditable either to our
humanity or our enlightenment Or
dinarily people are not confined In
iail for punishment; but merely to
await trial and these are always enti-
tied to kind and humane treatment.
To confine a man In such place as
this Jail Is but little less than baroar-
GUS. It is the especial duty OF Jour
supervisor and commissioners to look
after this matter. Probably they may
not be disposed to pay attention to the
complaint of single citizen; but O
recommendation from your BODY
amounts to demand from the whole
people and II officers fail to respect
your demands the people will male 1t
their business to replace such officers
with others who will do better. The
matter of expense does not enter into
this proposition at all. There Is not a
county In the state that Is not able to
properly take care of Its prisoners and
you are more than able. This thing,
Of course, you are not to consider
from q standpoint Of dollars and cents.
We don't spend 5000 to convict ne
gro of stealing 25 cents chicken as
matter of dollars and cents; but as
matter Of principle, and the principle
involved here is certainly no less.
The first case taken up this morn
ing was that Of VIII Cook, charged
with criminal assault. The jury took
the papers at about IL o'clock, and re-
turned In a short time with verdict
of guilty, with q recommendation to
the mercy of the court p. d. Barron,
Esq, represented the defense.
Thomas Robinson, charged with as
sault and battery with intent to Kill,
was tried In his absence and convicted.
When the court adjourned for the
noon hour II was engaged on the case
Of Henry McElwee, charged with
housebreaking and larceny. E .r
In the case Of willard o. Bales.
charged with assault and battery with
intent to kill, the grand jury returned
a true bill. The case was continued
until the next term Of the court.
It is quite probable that the business
of the sessions court will be concluded
by Thursday afternoon.