The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-13
|QUICK ACQUITTAL T. !.
| FOR E. S. BLEASE
THE SENATOR FROM sALUDA
4 : EXONERATED BY JURY. y
The Trial Tok But One Day-The
| Defendant Swooned as He Left
the Stand After Telling His
Dramatic Story.

Dramatic Story.
THE State. : ,,..a...... ....
3 Saluda, April 10.-When court was
called this morning a rush was made
to the court room, and soon every
kavailable seat was occupied, and the
aisles were filed. .-....... =
d It was known that the case against
Eugene S. Blease, charged with the
murder Of Joe Ben Coleman on the
Sstreets of Saluda, in September last,
Sswould be called for trial. The defend
ant, accompanied by his attorneys, by
his aged mother, by his sister, Mrs.
Eison and by his brothers, Cannon
and Cole, and by his little seven-year-
8old, daughter, an only child, Saluda
EBells,: reached the courtroom in few
IniIutes. - g. ~ s. ..s..> ..., Stages
q Inside the bar sat Mr.. g, w. Cole
man, ST., the aged father Of Joe Ben
j coleman, while nearby was his
Sbrother, William Coleman, and his
kinsmen, NJ. A. Coleman, w. L. Cole
tnan, r. w. Coleman and others.
81 At the request Of Solicitor Cooper
Judge Prince granted half-hour in
(which to allow Mr.. T. S. Sease, coun-
sci for thep rosecution, to arrive. He
reached Saluda promptly at 10
20 'clock, and after few minutes Of
seconsultation with Solicitor Cooper,
SSthe State announced ready. Mr..
SsBlease was Immediately arraigned, d
Xdeathly stiffness pervading the court
zroom during the arraignment. With
Memphasis and with steady voice the
sSprisoner answered, II am not gull
gsty.''| "How Will you be. triedq" ask
|sd the clerk By Godtaad my, coun-
ttiry, !" was the answer, in q firm and
4 aistinct voice. The following jury
'Swas then placed in charge of the case !:
sH. P. Shealy, A. H. Stephens, George
CIV. Long, R. B. Boulnight, B. D..
a8Iieopard, B. j. Waits, w. D. Holston,
NV. r.. Quarles, j. A. Bledsoe, }. L.:
SGrigsby, A. B. Hallman, j. p. Bodie.
The State exhausted its challenges.
sSDefendant made four objections. The
{ sESsselection Of jury consumed just ~
l51ninutes.
|gN All of the Jurors are married men.
sB. D. Leopard is the oldest member
2sof the panel, and the only one above
80. Mr.. j. p. Bodie was appointed
lRoreman. The following are the
ss,ounsel in the case For the prosecu-
Zion, Solicitor Cooper and Mr.. T. S.
Sense, of Spartanburg; for the de-
fense: Messrs.. ]. William Thurmond,
IN. G. Evans, G. j. Ramage, r. w.
Able, Daniel & Dapiel and B. W.
Crouch. " +. ..= -.
E DR.. j. J. Kirksey, who held the
|3spost mortem examination was the
ssarst witness sworn. He testified as
Ito the entry and direction Of the
wounds. One would in the right side,
and another in the shoulder. Bullets
sZslspenetrated Zls the lungs. Wounds caus-
ed death. On cross-examinatlon
SI that the wife Of Joe Ben Coleman
had long Hines at Blease's home and
siied there, .,Blease and Coleman mar
Fled sisters. & The relation Of Coleman
and Blease was the closest ever
knew not to be brothers, Soon after
Shooting, witness reached the. deceas-
ed, and deceased said, "Doctor, he
has killed me-has shot me through
bowels.' Deceased was con.
Bcious up to a short time before death
The State objected to the inquiry as
to whether the deceased at any time
made any. statement about the cause
of the shooting. The objection was
bverruled, and witness said deceased
never alluded to the cause of the
shooting. He only said, "Doc, go out
Midget him and let him come and fin
me. 4 I wish ne had killed me on
he spot and Kept me out Of this suf-
sring.O Coleman knew Mrs. Blcase
Rsed morphine, and Coleman knew
fr. Blease objected, and treated Mrs
Blease for a number Of years. I OBJ.
||Sected to giving Mrs. Blease NOR
hine.@ B Witness stated that the use
morphine would cause one TO, lose
heir will power.,,'' E>$S5@I
De direct--Wi Witness testified that hi
formed Blease that his wifi was