The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-03-16
GETS LIFE TERM.
Hasty Found Guilty of Murder
With Plea of Mercy.
A PATHETIC SCENE,
After Receiving Sentence Of Lie I'm.
prlsonment In the Penltentiary the
Prisoner B,eaks Down and
Weeps With His Friends
In the Court House
A PATHETIC SCENE.
After Receiving Sentence OF Lie I'm.
In the Court House

WeeDs With His FRIENDS
In the Court House
After celebrating for something
over 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 o
recommendation to mercy. While
no accurate poll could be ascertained,
it IL understood that the majority OF
thes Jurors stood for capital punish
ment and acquibtal was not an issue.
Shortly after o'clock tie judge re.
paired to the court room and the ver-
dict was announced. The news Of
the agreement Of the jury spread the
city like wildfife Since the men re-
NAMED out so lolg, the prediction
was expressed that mistrial would
result.
But the verdict was triumph OF
law and order and decency. It vim
dicated the majesty Of the law, and
will stand as warning to those who
think that by any meens they can
ride slip shod over what Is decent and
| bhSllyy CIV on oplll
blood and lightly escape. The senti
ment In Gatfney was strongly against
the convicted man. The good people
Of Cherokee county do not want to 90
on record as upholding or countenauc-
ing him and their verdict is the best
evidence cf their opinion.
| AT 80 o'clODk court conv, ned. AT,
torneys for defendant gave motion OF
a new trial, which was overrulcd
After 8 short time George Hasty,
nandcuffed, and accompanied by ao
officer, walked down the aisle from
inc main entrance # the court room
in an erect and Indifferent manner
On reaching the chancel Of the bar,
inside OF which he was soon to SIT lie
pleasantly exchanged the greetings OF
the day with Col. George tombstone,
leading counsel Of the defense, who
was comfortably seated near a stove
He found his accustomed place inside
the railing, and became an apparently
uninterested and indifferent specta.
tor.
\ Nom mnntnger asked II the de-
lfendant was ready Tor sentence Of
court to be imposed. Mr.. H. X. Os.
borne, of connsel for the defen8e,
stated that the motion for new trial
would not be argued-.it would be lef6
with the court. But an effort would
be made for the arrest OF judg ment
under the act of 1906, under which
this court Is held, which limits the
session for one week, and that under
this rule the verdict rendered after
midnight last Saturday was null and
| yni6 onA Un,11 oil mi
Ct sentence. The court replied that
| ne would be governed by section 81
which he had In view when he carried
the case over, and further stated that
t would be left to the supreme court
to be the albter.
When the iuHge again asked IL the
prisoner was ready for sentence, the
reply was, subject to our notion"
rEe court said, III am going to over
rule tOat motion; are you ready for
Sentenccp"
Mr.. OSBORNE replied, "We have no
further motion, your honor"
TIE prisoner was then directed to
tand up. George Hasty arose and
stood erect with his face squarely
facing the judge. There was not the
slightest bat OF an eyelid, the faintest
quiYer 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 his ermine-thcre were the
Cllicers OF the curt about the ,,ris-
oner were his LAWYERS and In the rear
in the room some three hundred peo
ple
The scene was dramatic and Judge
M mminger, In addressing the pris-
Oner, said:
You have bean tried here on
charge Of murder and you have suff 5r.
ed the fearful and horrible ordeal Of
the last five days in which your life
has been hanging In the balance. ]
have endeavorcd TO give you an abs)
lutely fair and impartial trial. You
have boen represented by able and
earnest counsel. You have had the
benefit Of a most complete and able
detense. | may have erred In the
conduct OF your lease. 1t is possible,
but do not think So i have given
you my best judgment and best
thought in this case, The jury has
convicted you and given you the bene-
TIT OF the law, which reduces the pun
lshment for murder from hanging to
i'm prisopment for life. The court has
no discretion In tho matter.
Have you anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced on
yCu?"
The prisoner replied through coun.
sci. Nothing, but what has been
stated"
The court said:
Listen now to the sentence of thc
aw. 1T being iLqutred Of the defer
dent, George Haaty, whether he hath
anything to say why sentence should
not be pronounced against him, and
he Say Ing nothing to the contrary ex
copt what has already been said, 1t Is
hereby ordained and 1t IL the sentence
of tue law that he, George Hasty,
from henceforth and hereafter, be
confined at hard labor In the State
penitentiary for the remainder Of his
natural lifc."
, After concluding thcsentcncc Hasty
resumed his seat.
After receiving the sentence OF
doom, so solemnly and impressivcly
uttered by the Judge, as he stood
, strong, youthful and full or life In the
sunlight that bedmed through the
windows Of the court room, and re-
seating himself, IL appeared that Has
. fu moo o man ne irnp Mr. ~, l,...a