The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-06-05
SENSATIONAL CHARGES FILED
Columbia Lawyer Says There Is Lea
que Against Him-Denounce MIR.
Zimmerman.
News and Courier.

tanning sensational statements and
charges were presented to the SUI
prcmc court today in the argument
Of the ease of Jesse Hunter, a negro,
represented by Mr.. John II. Duncan,
Of Columbia. After hearing the case
the court dismissed the motion for
a new trial on aftcr-disc0vcred evil
dence
Mr.. Duncan, who has put up hard
night Tor his clients Jesse Hunter and
his wife, Frances Hunter, convicted
OF assault and battery, presented Il
lengthy affidavit from himself in
which he set forth the progress of
the ease and charged that certain at
torhcys OF Columbia and others are
IN conspiracy to injurc him profess
s'"nally, and that certain records in
tins and other cases in which he was
attorney have been lost or stolen from
the office Of the clerk Of the circuit
court and the clerk Of the supreme
court. One Of the principal a(lidavits
IN the ease WAS that Of II negro, Jeff
Taylor, VIII" stated that il was him
self and not Jesse Hunter who did
III" Nn""I:n" for which Hunter was
convicted. and that he had feared to
testify T." Tive trfth Of this matter ON
1hr trial by reason OF intimidation
This affidavit was probatcd by Mr..
aShln"t"n Clark, an attorney Of this
rlIy. Solicitor Bcnn presented an
affidavit from Mr.. Clark. stating that
he had one day been called into thc
ollie" OF Mr. Duncan and asked to
probate II paper signed by Il negro,
and that the negro who afterwards
owned the name Of jeff Taylor was
not the negro he saw in the office of
lnnran. but was Of entirely different
appearance. Solicitor Zimmerman also
denied that he had received the papers
Sald [" have been served on him bv
Mr. Duncan. but on the other hand
Mr.. l'nnran presented aIldavits to
show that he had been at the Drafts
Hotel, in Lexington, and seen Mr..
zimmerman ON Il certain date. Tn his
own affidavit Mr.. Duncan dcnounccs
Mr. Zimmerman as Il coward as we'll
as liar, and filed with the court a
not" addressed to Mr.. Zimmerman
containing these cpithcts. Mr.. Duncan
also clnrgcS the new solicitor, Mr..
Christie I'rnct. with being in the con-
Npiracy against him and dcnounccs
him. He names Mr.. d. W. Robinson,
an attorney Of this bar and Mr.. Rob-
ms"n 5 fathcr-ih-law. Mr.. w. G.
fhlldS. president Of the Bank Of CO.
lnmhla, as among the chief conspira-
tors, and declares he might name
many others to the court.
Mr.. Duncan made the race for the
United States senate in 1896. and on
The stump made grave charges against
then Governor Gary Evans, and in his
lengthy affidavit he refers tn this Fact
and to Governor Evans.
lie presents IN affidavit from his
Former Slrn""raphcr. now married.
which c"nlradirtS that Of Mr.. Clark
IN regard /" the description OF the
nc"r" VIII" cave the affidavit, signed
hAN Jeff Taylor
The lw" negroes whose escapes
brought about this sensational state of
affairs. Jesse and Frances Hunter,
were convicted Of assault and bat
terry with intent T." kill in June. 1906,
and Jess" waS given five years and
Frances was given T. months. The
sh""tin" for which they were tried
occurred in January. 1906. They
lived in the lower portion Of Rich
land county and it was asserted that
Jesse Hunter had put his aged mo-
thrr ont Of the house where she had
t" be her own property. Her other
children demonstrated and the officers
of the law were called in. Magistrate
l.ykcs. with Il posse, went TO the house
and they were fired on by some one.
Jesse Hunter and his wife were ar
rested. indicted. tried and convicted
Tor shooting the officers, and at the
trial jeff Taylor was witness for
the prosecution. but since that time
It has been stated that Taylor was
the man who fired the shots and it
was on this cr-discovcrcd evidence
that Mr. Duncan asked for a new
trial for his clients. which motion
was today refused
Order Against Duncan.
rol,nhin J,nc >