The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1908-11-11
Criminal Court Proceedings.

The criminal court was reconVened
Wednesday after taking a recess on
Monday in order to allow the jurors
and witnesses to go home and vote IN
the general election on Tuesday.
The first case taken up was that OF
Maxcey and Percy Sternberg, two
small white boys, the eldest not over
fifteen and the youngest less than
twelve, for ASSAULT and battery OF a
high and aggravated nature upon the
person of Miss Alma Livingston,
prepossessing and attractive young
Iadv school teacher Of North, Orange
burg county, who had charge Of a
school in the lower part Of this coun-
ty last winter. 1t seems that Miss
Livingston had occasion to whip one
of the boys for misbehavior and the
next morning the boys returned to
school, armed with wooden knucks
and other weapons Of warfare, and 1t
is said that one OF the boys proceeded
to use the knucks while the other laid
on the switch. Miss Livingston stat
ed that she was bruised about the face
and otherwise injured. The boys put
up the plea of not guilty. The state
made out very strong case ana 80,
licitor Zimmerman made a masterful
and eloquent plea for conviction, put
the age of the defendants eVldentiy
had it's weight with the jury and q
verdict of not guilty was returned.
Messrs. Graham & Sturkie represent
ed the defendants.
The case of Toland Jones, a negro,
charged with murder, was next taken
up. It will be recalled that Jones
killed Funny" Blue, another negro,
on the turpentine farm of Mr.: George
Clark several weeks ago. This was
one of the most brutal murders ever
committed in the annals of the coun-
ty. Jones, after shooting Blue's
heart out with shotgun, pulled his
knife and cut the dying mans throat
from ear to ear. Jones was convicted
of manslaughter and was sentenced
to serve twelve years in the state
penitentiary. Col. E. L. Asblll, OF
Leesville, represented Jones.
Truesdale Carr, the young negro
who shot and killed Robert Stevens,
another negro, in the pressing room
of Joe Davis in this town about two
weeks ago, was convicted of man
slaughter and was sentenced by Judge
Shipp to serve three years on the
chain gang. Carr was ably defended
by Messrs. Efrd & Dreher.
John Efird, a negro, was tr1ed on
Saturday for rape, his alleged victim
being 15-year-old negro girl OF New
Brookland. Efrd was acquitted IN
short order. He was represented by
Messrs. Efrd & Dreher and T. Z.
Sturkie.
The grand jury failed to find true
bill against Z. J. Thornhiil, M: l..
Fox, S. D. Shealy, William Mitchell,
Pink Minis, James Addy, Eugene
Boyer, J. n. Matthias, Rufus Addy
and Jake Brennemer, for gambling; ,
Henry Moore, a negro, PLEADED
guilty to the charge of gambling and
was sentenced to serve three months
on the gang.
John Startling, negro, pleaded
guilty to assault and battery and got
one year.
Arthur Banks, young negro boy
confessed to housebreaking and was
sent to the gang for one year. Banks
is the same boy who few years ago
entered the postoffice at Swansea;
He was.eonvicted of the charge and
served two years in the United States
reformatory in Baltimore.
Judge Shipp and Solicitor Thinner
man are to be congratulated upon the
work accomplished last week. All OF
the Jail cases were disposed of, and
only the bail cases remain on the
docket.