The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-03-14
Hasty Found Guilty of Murder
With Plea of Mercy.
A PATHETIC SCENE,
After Receiving Sentence OF Life I'M
prisoEment in the Penltentiasy the
Prisoner Breaks Down and
Weeps With His Friends
In the Court House

After celebrating for something
ever twelve hours the jury charged
with the trial OF George HaSty, at
Gaffney, for the murder OF Milan Ben
nett, brought in verdict On Tuesday
morning OF last week Of guilty with a
recommendation to mercy. While
no accurate poll could be ascertained,
it Is understood that the majority OF
5hek jurors stood for capital punish
menu and acquietal was not an issue.
Shortly after o'clock tie judge re-.
paired to the court room and the 7er-
dict was announced. The news Ct
the agreement Of the jury spread the
city like wilcfi.e. Since the men re-
manned out so log, the prediction
was expressed that mistrial would
result.
Bat the verdict was triumph Of
law and ORDER and decency. It vim
dicated the majesty Of the law, and
will stand as a warning to those who
thiEk that by any meens they can
ice >lip shod over what is decent and
orderly, and in doing so spill human
blood and lightly escape. The senti
nent in G-fney was strorgy against
the COD sicted man. Tne good people
Of Cherokee county do not want to 60
on record as upholding or countenanc-
ing him and their verdict is the best
eviderce Il their opinion.
At 30 o'clock court conV ned. At
uorneys for defendant gave motion OF
a new trial, which was oVerruled.
After a short time George Hasty,
nandcLffed, and acco N panied by a.
officer, walked down the aisle FROM
tne main entrance + the court rcun
in an erect and Indifferent manner
On reaching the chancel OF tie bar,
inside of which he was soon to sit, he
pleasantly exchanged the greetings OF
the day with Col. George Johnstone,
leading 1unsel OF the defense, who
vas comfortably seated near st,ve.
He found bis accustomed place INSIDE
the railing, and became an apparently
uninterested and Indifferent specta-
Tor.
Judge Memninger asked If the de-
tendant was ready for senterce OF
court to be imposed. Mr.. 81. &. o.
borne, Of counsel for the defense,
stated that the motion for a new trial
would not be argued-jt would be lef:
with the court But an effort WCuld
be made for the arrest OF judgment
under the act of 1865, under which
this court is held, which limits the
session for one week, and that under
this rule the verdict rendered after
nidaight last Saturday was null and
void, and world eliminate the passing
CT sentence. The court replied that
he woula be governed by section 27
which be had in view when he carried
the case over, and further stated that
it would be left to the supreme court
to be the albiter.
When the iu6ge again asked If the
prisoner was ready for sentence, the
reply vas, subject to our motion"
rne court said, u am goihg to over
rule tDat mo5ion; are you ready for
sentence %
Mr. Osborne replied, I'VE have no
further motion, your honor.
TIE prisoner was then directed TO
stand up. George Hasty arose and
stood erect with his face sqlarely
facing the judge. There was not the
slightest bat Of an eyelid, the fainteSt
culver or twitch Of the muscles OF
features to indicate that he was in
any way impressed by the solennitY
Of the occasion. But there sat the
Judge In bis ermine there were the
cdcsrs Of the curt about the nriS-
ouer were his Lawyers and in the rear
in tae room some three hundred peo
pie.
The scene was dramatic and JUICE
NJ. mninger, in addressing the prls-
oler, said:
You have been tried here on
charge OF murder and you have suff5r
ed the fearful and horrible ordeal OF
the last five days in which your life
nas been hanging In the balance. l
have endeaVcred to give you an aos'
lutsly fair and impartial trial. You
have been represented by able and
ee,nest counsel. You have had the
benefit OF most complete and able
defense. I may have erred in the
Conduct OF your lease. It is possible,
but do not think so. l have given
you my best judgment and best
thought in this case, The jury has
convicted you and given you the oene'
bit of toe law, which reduces the pun
tshment for murder from hanging to
imprjsoumen5 Tor life. The court has
40 discretion In the matter.
Have you anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced Oh
you?"
The prisoner replied through coun'
sci. Nothing, but what has beer
stated"
TIE court said:
Listen now to the sentence Ct tAe
law. It being inquired OF the defen'
dant, George Hasty, whether be hath
anything to say why sentence SEcuic
not be pronounced against him, aEc
ne saving nothing to the contrary eX