The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-03-08
News and Courier.


Columbia, March 4.--Thc eases
against Daniel Zimmerman and L. j.
Gibson, which were before the court
Of general sessions this last week
have attracted much interest through
out the state. and the condition of
the two defendants. once apparently
allies in crime and HOW al cnmity be-
fore the bar of justice, have elicit
cd wide sympathy. Zimmerman, it
will be recalled. pleaded guilty to the
charge in the Indictment as TO con-
spiracy tn commit forgery and utter
in. forged instrument. while Glib
SON denied the charge "f receiving
stolen goods. KNOWN" them to be
stolcH. In the trial of Gibson Iim-
norman was used aS Il state : Wit
ucSs and detailed on the stand the al
legged conspiracy between Gibson and
himself tn steal from the state and
place on the market the bonds Of the
state that should have been cancelled
BY Zimmerman in his capacity Of
bond clerk.
Saturday ni.ht. before Judge
Prince. before Zimmerman stnnd up to
receive sentence. one of his attorneys,
Srlatnr Francis II. Weston made an
eloquent plea for his CLIENT begging
the court to be mrrriful in imposing
sentence in view of the fact that
In. \ If
for sixty years, that he had served
his state four years in war. that he
had evidenced repentance and con-
TRITON for his sins. Mr.. Weston. who
is himself warden "r st. John : EpiS
cnpal church in the lower part Of
this county. referred to III" fact that
the head Of the church nf which he
and Zimmerman A> we'll AS Mr.. An
drew Crawford. Gih>on'S attorney.
were members. hal advised and c"un-
sellcd Zimmerman to tell the truth,
the reference being to Bishop Cap
erS, whose advice Zimmerman had re-
ccivcd rs Il communicate and a< Il
nciwhb"r of the Bishop.
Senator WrStun's aluSinn to Xim-
mrrman's : church membership renew
ed comment upon Il feature Of tho
trial Of GibSnn, which at the time
elected no little talk Gibson WAS I'M
duubtc,lly convicted on the cStimony
of his confessed accomplicc, Daniel
Zimmerman. and, as stated by Glib
sons attorney in the motion for a
new trial. the law says that the tcsti-
monv of Il cnNrcsSc,l accnmrlicc must
be received with caution by the jury.
though ihc JUDGE neglected. tn charge
this point. However. a> stated, tue
jury evidently believed Zimmerman
and did not believe Gibson.
II is II fact that Zimmerman was
and is Il communicate Of the church
of the Good Shepherd, and had been Il
prominent member OF that cnnyrcga-
tion. Upon the jury which tried Glib
son and convicted him on Zimmcr-
mans testimony were two officers Of
the church to which Zimmerman be-
longs, Mr.. G. q. Brown hrnw Il ward
Ell and Mr.. J. II. Sans being vc<-
tryma". Another juror, Mr.. G. f..
Shan,l. is warden of Trinity clnrch.
The " was an excellent one; the
chararl' { the men on the panel is
far above the average Jury and. 50
far ~ anyone kuuwS. not one of the
Jurors would 1t" anything" unworthy
of his cath, but il is easy to zee that
there may have been bias in favor
Of the acceptance Of Zimmerman :
statements rs thr truth, and il is said
that had these facts been known to
the attorney ror Gibson he might have
objected tn certain of ihr jurors.
The foreman Of the jury WAS Mr.. r.
s. Bryan, who is IN elder in the First
Presbyterian church, and man of
the very highest character. and the
other members Of the jury were the
following: C. T.. Shand, S. T.. Hogan
c. O. Brown. j. II. Sans. w. T.. Pow.
crs. Henry Wallace, b. s. RawlS, j. O
Earglc. T.. \. Hawkins. John Altct
and II. d. Boukn"h.