The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-03-05
COURT PROCEEDINGS.

COURT PkOSEEDlNuS.
Interesting Cases to be Tried, but
few Disposed of as Yet.
The March term of the court Of
general sessions convened here last Mon
day morning, Judge Geo. E. Prince, of
Anderson, presiding. Solicitor Jas. E
Davis, of Barnwell, and Stenographer Jas.
F. Byrnes, of Aiken, were present. The
presiding Judge made long and able
charge to the>grand jury.
True bills were found by the grand jury
in the following cases:
State VS.. Jacob c. Copeland and Loren
20 Copeland-assault and battery with in
tent to kill and carrying concealed weap-
ons.
State vs.. Joel. England and Peter Ham,
nond- murder.
State VS.. Preston Brown-assault and
battery with intent to kill and carrying
concealed weapons. -
State VS.. Robert Connelly-murder.
State VS.. Clarence l.. Smith of
trust with fraudulent intent.
| State VS.. Annie c. Gleaton-obtaining
goods by false pretenses and obtaining
signatures by false pretenses.
Monday afternoon the grand jury fin
ished their labors and made the following
final presentment:
GRAND JURY PREsENTMENr.
We, the grand jury for Bamberg coun-
ty, beg leave to; make the following pre-
sentiment:
All indictments handed US by the
Solicitor have been passed upon and re-
turned to the court.
The Jail has been visited, and we find
it neatly keptand the prisoners well cared
for. -.
We recommend that the next general
assembly provide for county examiner,
whose duty it shall be\to travel from
county to county and carefully examine
the books and accounts of the various
county <aicers and report to the foreman
of the grand jury Of the various counties.
We further recommend that the coun-
ty supervisor purchase two additional
mules, or as many as may be necessary,
for tte use of the chain gang.
We thank the court and officials for
courtesies shown US. ...
Respectfully submitted,
G. F. RzER, Foreman.
The case tried first was that of J. G..
Gutekunst, Jno. Tobin, Marion Wilson,
and Perry Hicks, charged with traficing
in seed cotton. The case as to Tobin and
Hicks, was mol pressed by the Solicitor.
Gutekpnst is white nan and the others
are negroes. This case was tried at the
last term of court and resulted in mis-
trial. The jury went in the room Tuesday
about noon and remained out until eleven
O'Clock that night without agreeing on
verdict, at which time the judge ordered
mistrial. This makes the second mis-
trial in this case, and it is likely that a
change of venue will now be asked for.
The next case tried was that of Preston
Brown, negro, charged with assault and
battery; with intent to kill and carrying
concealed weapons. 1t will be remember
ed that Brown was detected in the act Of
stealing goods at the depot here some
months ago, and when called on to
halt he shot and seriously wounded Wes-
ley Banks who was watching to catch the
thief. For long time Banks was in dan
ger of dying from his wound; being shot
through the lung, and it was only in the
last few days that he has been able to be
out. He testified against Brown at the
trial, but is still very weak. The jury
found Brown guilty with recommends
ton to mercy, and the judge sentenced
him to serve three years on the chain
gang. Browns attorney pleaded for
verdict of guilty with recommendation
to mercy and the Solicitor said he would
be satisfied with such a verdict.
Court was not in session Tuesday after
noon, as there were no cases ready for
trial, and Wednesday morning the case OF
the State VS.. Charlie Morris was taken up.
This is murder case, Morris having shot
and killed his cousin. The killingoccurred
near Olar, at the home of the dead man,
Elisha Morris. Both parties are white.
The case had not been concluded when
we went to press.