The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-10-27
FOUND GUILTY
Bishzn and AvaRt Convicted Of Man
slaughter and Sent Up for

| THREE YEARS And A HALF
II VIII be Remembered Tha: Avant
and Bisham Shot and Killed
Bscham's VIE on the Evening OF
September :: Last, II hurrcu's
Inlet
Three years and six months In
prisonneui n the State peni'eEtla!y
was ,h. sentence passed by Judge
Watts F.!Gay afternoon at George
town upon w. 3. AVIAN, and G. c.
Righan. for tie killing OF Mrs
Ruth Crisp BisAan. the jury having
rendered a ve.dic, oi guilty OF man
slaughter arie. :"n hours deli5e!-
atior. Thus ends the story OF deed
that has shocked the people OF the
entire State.
The correspondent OF the State
says the majority OF the people are
inclined to think the senten.e ex-
,.eueiy light In spite OF the YER
dict though. the killing Of MIS-. Big
ham hes not been explained. nys-
terry still eoshrouds the affair. The
fgh, for the accused men centered
around the fact :har they considered
the object which proved to be
Mrs. B.gham. e trespaaser and that
there was reason TO. suspicion. This
vas ably conbatted BY the State.
although the prosecution vas at dis
advantage in not having reply 10 Nj
Rassdale-
Considerable surprise was created
when the defense permitted the case
70 20 to the jury without oSerins
any testimony.
The State touched another phase
OF the case when IN tie Testimony o.
u. J. Pearce Of Waterloo. Laurens
county, it was shown that Mrs Big
ham while on q visit 70 her old home
In August had received letter and
telegram from her husband. the con-
tents OF which caused her TO weep.
The matter OF unhappy married re-
letsons was merely hnted at IN ta!s
manner. Mr.. Pea1ce had seen this
letter and the tears OF the deceased
woman.
Mr.. A. c. Leonard. one OF the
States witnesses, was on the boat
to Georgetown. with Mr. and Mrs
Ayan,. after the killing AVIAN. hao
told him ":t was sad occurTsace.
but believe any one else would have
done I, under the excitement anc
fright. Dr.. BiSham doesn't blame
ne: he told : nee TO shoot That
word excitement" played a great.
par. IN the arsumene By counsel.
particularly Ia that Of Ns. Rags
dale. Attorney J. ". Wingate open
ed for the defense. speaking but 20
minutes. dealing largely with the
duty Of jurors.
He was followed by Solicitor
Cooper OF Laurens. Who spoke 10:
80 minutes Mr. Cooper dealt some
.ha, at length With the Law on tres
pass.
Mr. Cooper pointed out that ac-
ording 70 the testimony Mrs. Big
ham was sitting on the beach when
shot, that there was no suspicious
action or movement, thai the men
cid not hail her as sh. passed the
house. He argued the complete so-
sence OF any circumstances caa,
would warrant suspicion: be shove
an intention on the par, OF the de-
PENDANTS 20 shoot and contended that
they were therefore guilty OF mur-
der.
Solicitor Wells argued that since
The defense was based on g specinc
statute. section ?. the burden OF prov
ing the a,ness and applicability OF
this statute rested on the defense
Then be attacked this plea with
Dush vigor. making telling i'm
preston on the jury. He endearored
20 show that because these meu we're
frightened vas nc euticient excuse
for the act. The law doesa't ex-
emp, them because they arc arraas
towards" ssid he.
Mr.. Ragsdale. for the defense. clos
ed the arguments. making pow
erlui appeal 20 the jury in behalf
OF his clients. He eudearoTed 10
show an absence Of any motive for
the killing. a fact which the State
has not attempted to establish. He
r:diculec much Of the States ;es-
:!uony and sought to discred!t some
OF It's witnesses.
While tae appeal was eloquent.
moving the hearts OF many n the
audience. strong and foTceful. a
terms elegant and refsed. still 1t
was scarcely more than an attempt
| ,c play o. the synpathies OF the
trry. He attempted TO show that
by the testimony. II vas dark when
the shooting occurred. that Arant
and B!sham seeing this suspicious
looking person on the premises were
oaly acting in defense OF their homes
and loved ones. Several times dur
Ing NJ. Ragsda;e's speech both the
defendants. Avant and B!sham. were
moved to tears aud sat soob!ns.
their faces buried IN their bands.
Judge Watts charge was SHORT
but TO the point. touching only those
phases OF the Law that might apply
Ia this case. Sn murder and man.
slaughter the jury were thoroughly
instructed and section vas especial
IS hrough. to ,he!. attention. Grim
I ina! carelessness or negligence. a dis
"