The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-06
THE HASTY CASE IS
NOW WITH The JURY
ARGUMENTS CONCLUDED YES
TERDAY AFTERNOON.
Col. Johnstone Made Closing Argu-
ment for Defence, Solicitor Sease
for the State
Special to The Herald and News.

! Special to The Herald and News.
Gafney, March 5.-The arguments
: were concluded this afternoon in the
case of George Hasty, charged with
murder in killing Of two members of
the "Nothing But Money" theatrical
company, during it's recent visit to
Gafney. AS soon as the arguments
were concluded Judge R. ". Mem
minger charged the jury and the case
| was given into their hands.
The closing argument for the de-
fence was made by Col. George John
| stone, of Newberry, and Solicitor
Thos. S. Sease made the closing ar
gument for the State. The argu-
ments Of these two gentlemen and the
arguments Of the attorneys in the
case who had. preceded them, were
able efforts, and both sides Of the
case were clearly and forcibly pre-
sented to the jury.
The case has attracted great atten-
ton throughout South Carolina and
in fact all over the country, and the
verdict of the jury is awaited with in
terest.
The Testimony in the Case.
At thserhour appointed for court 80
convene in Gafney on Thursday
morning the court room was crowded
and overdowing; standing room being
at premium. A large number Of
ladies were present. The first case
called was that Of George Hasty, for
the murder of Milan Bennett and Alb
bott Davidson, at the Piedmont Inn
in Gafney on December IS last.
|. The calling Of the case was the
signal for a technical legal battle.
The first tack or. the part Of the de-
fence was a motion to quash the in
dictment of George Hasty on the
ground of irregularity in the indict-
ment, in that there was no indictment
for carrying concealed weapons. This
was argued by Mr.. ;Johnstone and Mr..
Osborne and opposed by Solicitor
Sease. Judge Memminger, after de-
liberating for some minutes, refused
the motion. .....
The next move for time on the part
of the defence was for a continuance
on the ground of the absence of mate
rial witnesses, one Of whom is Her
Wy, alias Scott, the itinerant telegraph
operator and journalist; who is said
to be sick in Augusta Next the i'll:
ness of Mr.. Johnstone was argued,
but the Judge ruled that the case must
60 to trial, promising to give any rea-
sonable time for the securing of wit
nesses.
In bringing the case to trial at this
time Judge Memminger met the ap-
proval of the people. The court then
ordered the empanelling Of the jury.
Both sides exhausted their chal-
lenges before the jury was complete.
This is considered an able jury and
every precaution is being taken to
prevent anyone communicating with
them. After the jury was empanelled
a recess was taken until afternoon.
At the afternoon session the testi-
mony was begun. The first witness
was Prof. R. 0. Sans, who testified to
making a diagram of the hotel where
the shooting occurred and identified
the chart.
DR.. B. L. Allen was next called. He
testified to holding a post-mortem
examination and described the course
Of the bullet.
Miss Verne Sheridan Of the "Noth-
ing But Money" company, one of the
eye witnesses of the tragedy and the
innocent cause Of the shooting, was
next called. She was a member Of the
theatrical company playing in Gaf-
nev when the tragedy occurred. In