Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-06
HAsTY GUILTY OF MURDER.
The Jury, However Recommends the
Convicted Man to Mercy.

GAFFNEY, S. S. March 6.-J. B. Bel
Esq. for the prosecution, opened the
argument in the Hasty case last Sat-
urday afternoon, devoting himself
principally to the law as applicable to
the facts and circumstances developed.
He forcefully reminded the jury that
although there had been a number Of
murders in Cherokee, there had never
been a hanging, and suggested that
IL there is to be any assurance Of the
safety of human life in the county, it
f. time to establish a good PRECEDENT.
In reply to the intimations that the
testimony of Miss Sheridan was mere
ly good acting, Mr.. Bell referred to the
manner in which she had fallen on her
knees by the body Of her murdered
lover and offered up prayer to Al
mighty God IF there were more such
actresses in the world" he declared i'm
pressively, there would be fewer
George Hastys." Mr.. Henry K. Os-
borne followed Mr.. Bell. He also dis
cussed at length the law in the case,
and took pains to argue the extent to
which Hasty had undoubtedly, in his
opinion, suffered from a prejudiced
public sentiment. He claimed that 1t
was unreasonable to think that
George Hasty would have come into
the presence of Miss Sheridan at the
breakfast table next morning II he
had been guilty of the things he Is
accused of having done the night be-
fore. Mr.. j. C. Jeffries spoke for the
prosecution yesterday morning, the
principal feature Of his speech being
very graphic picture Of the con-
duct Of Miss Sheridan on the occa-
sion of the tragedy. Senator T. b,
Butler followed Mr.. Jeffries with an able
speech for the defense, and Mr.. Otis
for the prosecution denounced the
manner in which Col Johnstone had
tried to attack Miss Sheridan as
cowardly and dastardly. Col. john
stone took care of himself in his re-
ply, and Solicitor Sease closed the
argument with a most able speech
After giving close attention to clear
and able instructions from Judge
Memminger, the jury took the papers
at about seven o'clock last night, and
this morning brought In verdict OF
murder with a recommendation OF the
mercy of the court. The defendants
counsel asked for an arrest Of judg-
ment and gave notice Of motion for
new trial.
The report of the trial in the first
edition of the last issue Of THE EN-
oURER brought the proceedings ur
to Thursday night, and the dispatch
Of Mr.. j. Brian Bell, received at three
o'clock, Friday afternoon summariz-
ed developments up to a few minutes
before that hour. Counsel for the
defense made a determined and per-
sistent effort to show that the moral
character of the two women witnesses
was not what 1t ought to be and tried
to make it appear that II Hasty was
giving what seemed to be close satten-
tion to the room of one Of the women,
1t was for the purpose Of getting
information that would warrant him
in ejecting her from the hotel. The
idea was a rather bold one, and peo-
pie acquainted with the atmosphere
surrounding the place thought II
somewhat absurd. In fact they were
astonished at the audacity of the
counsel. While a great deal Of this
kind of stuff was brought out, much
of it after the jury had been sent out
Of the room, and 1t had more or less
effect along the line desired, Judge
Memminger gave 1t to be understood
that the character Of the women had
nothing to do with the case.
The following report Of Saturdays
proceedings was made by John
Charles McNiell for The Greenville
News:
The defendant resumed his case in
State VS.. Hasty with Smith Williams,
present proprietor Of the hotel where
the killing occurred. He testified,
contradicting Miss Sheridan, that the
dining room doors, though made to
swing, had a stop. But, on cross-ex-
animation, he said the door would
bound back some fifteen inches when
let slam shut His measurements OF
the transom showed twelve and one
half inches in height, as against an
other defendants witness eleven ana
-fourths inches.
Mr.. C. C. Gibson saw Davidson run
ming from the hotel, crying for a
doctor and carrying an open knife In
his left hand.
]. D. De Staffino, a barber, saw
scuffie in the hall. He ran down.
stairs, scared, and pretty soon saw
Davidson running out crying for a
doctor. Raines asked witness, Did
that fellow get bad hurt?" meaning
George Hasty.
Miles Burlington, who boarded at
the Piedmont hotel, said that the
spring door opened inwards to the
dining :0om. He slept with George
Hasty tnat night. Wouldn't swear
when George went to bed, but he got
I'D about six. He heard no cry OF
distress or fear in the night.
Will Hasty, recalled, said there was
no sign of disturbance Of the dust on
the transom sill, which he examined
a day or two after the tragedy.
George Hasty took the stand at
1920. His direct examination was
by Mr.. Osborne. He is twenty-five
years old, and a native of Union
county, n. c. He is an orphan. Has
been in Gaffney about a year.
"On December Is I took Mr.. Estes
up to breakfast. When l came into
the dining room Mr.. Bennett told me