The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-06-21
CIRCUIT COURT
Convictions In Cases Of illegal Sale
OF Liquor.

OF involuntary manslaughter for the
killing Of Rufe Dodson, colored, at
Century phosphate mines, and SEN
fenced to four years in the peniten-
tiary, was granted a new trial Satur-
day. Judge Holding being of the opin-
ion that the punishment was too Sc
we're. The negro was admitted to
bond in the sum of $500.
Thomas Whitley, a white man. was
convicted OF bigamy and sentenced to
three years in the penitentiary. Whit
ley married young woman of the
Dark's Mill, country few weeks
since, though he has a wife in Nash
Vile from whom he has never secured
divorce.
The Grand Jury went out today to
| inspect the Poor House. 1t was the
opinion about the court house that
If there are any bed bugs and body
lice at the institution, Foreman Felix
Woods and his jury will round them
up and demand a reason for their
presence.
The cases of the State VS.. John
Wesley Witherspoon, colored, and
George Reagan, charged with the IL
Illegal sale of liquor, which were taken
Iup Friday, were concluded Wednes-
day in the Circuit Court, the jury
bringing in a verdict of guilty in both
cases. These cases grew out of the
sale of liquor at the Century Phos-
plate Cos. mines. John Wesley
Witherspoon and Wesley John With
erspoon, twin negroes and very much
alike in appearance, were connected
with the sale. John Wesley ran
small store at the mines. It is al
legged that Wesley John, acting as
agent for Reagan, would take orders
| for liquor and would come to town
and have the orders filled at the sa-
loon send the liquor back to Century
and then when the man who gave the
order appeared and paid John Wesley
the money, he would get his goods.
| All three of the men were indicted
at the present term of the court, but
Wesley John left for Chicago before
the officers could arrest him. The
Law and Order League of Columbia
employed Messrs. G. P. Hatcher,
James A. Smiser and w. G. Whit
thorne to assist Attorney General Job
Garner in the prosecution. Mr.. H. P.
Figuers represented the defense.
Judge Holding charged the jury
specifically that if they found from
the proof that Reagan sent Wesley
John with blank orders to Century,
where they were filled out and re-
turned to the saloon, and that then
the liquor was put up in packages with
the name of the party giving the or
der written on it and sent to Century,
and then it was delivered to the prop
er party upon payment of the money,
and in case it was not called for was
returned to the saloon, that the sale
was made at Who'd a Thought it
and not at Columbia, and all three of
the parties were equally guilty.
Who'd a thought it, was the name of
the little store conducted by John
Wesley, and contained. according to
the testimony about bushel basket
full of sardines and crackers besides
the packages of liquor.
The jury returned after brief de-
liberation and rendered a verdict of
guilty against both defendants.
Judge Holding announced that he
would sentence the defendants that
afternoon, but when court convened
that afternoon, motion was made for a
new trial In the cases, and this mo-
ton will be argued Monday. The low
est possible sentence is six months in
the work house and fine of $50 and
costs.
The suit OF Mrs Annie Williams
VS.. the L. & N. Railroad, for damage
for the killing OF her husband on the
railroad, was compromised by the rail:
road paying the complainant $1,000
and paying the costs in the case. j
Bid 'McEwen, alias Bright, charged
with the Illegal sale of liquors, was
found not guilty in the Circuit Court.
Frank Mayes, colored. was found
guilty of arson at Fridays session or
the Circuit Court and was sentenced
to five years in the penitentiary.
Frank became jealous of the atten-
lions paid his girl by another negro
and tried to burn her and his rival
out. The woman lived in East Columr
bia. Frank learned one night that
his rival was visiting the house and
a1 n