The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-09
GEO. HASTY GUILTY
DECLARED THE JURY:
RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY
SAVES HASTY'S NECK.
Prisoner Broke Down When Sentence
Was Giyen-Trial of Gafney
! Ends in his Conviction and
: Sentence to Life Term in
$ State Prison.
p. H. Fike in the State.

L. II. F1ke III the OtaLe.
Gafney, March Cit was far
different and changed George Hasty
who sat in the court room this morn
ing after receiving sentence Of life
imprisonment, and who, after five
days of ordeal and trial and strain
which come not the way of the ordi-
nary mortal, broke down and wept,
and as the Good Book puts it, "would
not be comforted. -
The jury in the case Of Hasty, on
trial for Staying Milan Bennett, was
given the case at 6:15 p. N. Monday,
after Judge Memminger had delivered
an exceptionally lucid and impartial
charge. After celebrating and fail
ing to agree until about Z O'Clock this
morning, the verdict returned was
guilty with Recommendation to mercy
of the court. While no accurate poll
could be ascertained, it is understood
that the majority Of the j'trors stood
for capital punishment, and aeq,Gttal
was not an issue. Shortly after s
O'Clock the judge went to the court
room and the verdict was announced.
The news of the agreement of the
jury spread Ike wildfre. Since the
men remained out so long, the predic-
tion was expressed that a mistrial
would result.
But the verdict was triumph Of
1aW. and order and deceney. It vindi
Gated the majesty Of the law, and viii
stand as warning to those who think
that by any means they can ride slip
shod over what is decent and orderly.
And in doing so spill human blood and
lightly escape. The sentiment here is
strongly against the convicted man.
The good people Of Cherokee county
do not want to 60 on record as up
holding or eountenaneing crime, and
4heir verdict is the best evidence Of
their opinion.
At 9 80 o'elocA court convened. The
attorneys for the defendant gave no.
tice of motion for a new trial, which
WAS overruled./
After a short time Geo. Hasty,
handcuffed and accompanied by an Of
fieer, walked down the aisle from the
main entrance Of the court room, in
an erect and Indifferent manner. On
reaching the chancel Of the bar, ln-
side Of which he was soon to sit, he
pleasantly exchanged the greetings
of the day with Osborne, Of counsel
for the defense; who was comfortably
seated near stove. Hasty found his
accustomed place inside the bar rail-
ing, and became an apparently unin-
terested and indifferent spectator.
Judge Memminger asked if the de-
fendant was ready for sentence OF
court to be imposed. Mr.. 81. K. Os-
borne of Butler & Osborne Of counsel
for the defense stated that the motion
for new trial would not be argued.
It would be left with the court. But
an effort would be made for the ar
rest; of judgment under the act Of
1905, under which this court is held,
which limits the session for one week,
and that under this rule any verdict
rendered after midnight last Satur-
day was null and void, and would
eliminate the passing Of sentence. The
court replied that he would be govern
ed by section 81, which he had in
view when he carried the case over,
and further state that it would be
left to the supreme court as arbiter.
When the Judge again asked if the
prisoner was ready for sentence, the
reply was, "Subject to our notion"
The court said, ~ am going to over
rule that motion; are you ready for
sentence9" Mr.. Osborne replied,
''We have no further motion, your
honor.' The prisoner was then iirec-
ted to stand up.
Geo. Hasty arose and stood erect
with his face squarely facing that Of
the Judge. There was not the slight
est bat Of an eyelash, the faintest
culver or twitch of the muscle or fea-
ture to indicate that he was in any
way impressed by the solemnity Of
the occasion. But there sat the Judge