The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-09-29

Jr!ai CT ,;ulias Ch&vis, a white man.
70: the larceny OF 1--we stock, it being
alleged that be shot and Killed hog
in the pasture OF Mr.. John SOWles. III
the lower part Of tie county, during
January, this year. After he hati
killed the hog it is said that lie car
ried it to the home Of his brother
where it was skinned and put away III
the tarn beneath some fodder and
hay. He was found guilty and was
sentenced by Judge Wilson to pay a
fine of ST and serve twelve months On
the chaingang.
Mack Hill, a negro, pleaded guilty
to the charge of assault ard battery
with intent to kill, he having shot
Policeman Bouknight of Irmo, some
months ago. He was sentenced to
serve twelve months OH the gang, or
pay fine Of $100. He paid the fine.
Jesse Robinson, ST., and Jesse Rob-
inson, .Ir., negroes, were found guilty
upon the charge of violating the liq-
uor law, and was each sentenced to
serve three months on the chaingang
or pay fine of $500. The younger
Robinson is as blind as bat. and it
is likely that he will be sent to the
penitentiary, as he would be burden
to the county on the gang.
Jesse Coleman was found guilty
upon the charge of attempted criminal
assault upon white married woman
of the Dutch Fork, and was given
Is years in the State penitentiary.
Coleman is small negro boy and had
been living in the same house with
the family of the alleged victim for
two years. He had no counsel and
Judge Wilson appointed CCl j. Brooks
Wingard and T. G. Sturkie, Esq, to
defend him. These gentlemen made
a most brilliant and telling fight for
the boy, but the circumstances were
against him. It is understood that
the jury, in writing verdict of guilty
with recommendation to mercy,
thought that the boy would not get
over FIVE years, and it is very likely
that an effort will be made to have
the sentence commuted, as it is not
generally believed that the nature Of
the case warranted the heavy sep-
tence.
The last trial of the week was that
of Dock White, a negro, charged with
placing an obstruction upon the Sea-
boards track below Swansea a few
months ago. The evidence against
the negro was worked up by Special
Agent Gaujot, of the Seaboard, and,
it is said, that the chain was complete.
White was not present during his
trial, and when the jury returned a
verdict of guilty, bench warrant
was issued and placed in the hands OF
Sheriff CorleY. Within one hour Sher-
iff brought in his man, having found
him on the street. The sentence Of
the court was that White serve five
years on the chaingang or be impris-
oned in the county jailt for a period
of one year and pay fine Of $500.
This Week.
The first case called on Monday was
that of Eldridge Hutto, white man.
for the killing Of Joe.Jones, negro,
in the lower part Of the county on
the 7th of July, 1909. There were
only few witnesses:..for the State,
the prosecution using the defense's
witnesses on the cross -exsmin alton to
make out it's case. There were a
number of witnesses for tie defense,
Hutto being the chief witness. He
sWore, in substance, that he had been
missing food from his barn, which is
located about three-quarters of mile
from his home, and on the night Of
the killing he and man by the name
of Hoover went to the barn for the
purpose of catching the parties who
had been stealing his food; that at
,out 9 o'clock they saw two men
walking toward the barn and when
they came to within a few feet of the
door he hailed to them four times,
their only answer being: 1--WE mean
no harm.'' The defendant and Hoover
then walked up to where the men
were standing and defendant recog-
nized one of them as being his cousin,
Luther Hutto. He said to Luther:
II know you," and to Jones, 81 don't
know you," whereupon Jones snapped
a pistol in his breast several times.
He reached for his gun, which was in
the hands of Hoover, and shot Jones,
believing that he was about to be
killed. The prosecution sought to
prove that Jones was shot directly
from behind and that he fell on his
1aCS III dl OppOSlle ulIecclOll 1Iou
where the defendant was standing.
The trial was hard fought, every
inch of the ground being hotly con-
tested. Hutto was represented hv
ex-senator Sharpe, who handled the
case with much skill. His speech 70
the jury was delivered in a happy
manner and evidently had it's weight
with the jury. Solicitor Thinner
mans presentation of the case was a
masterfui one, and at the conclusion
Of his address it was the opinion Of
many that the jury would convict or
make mistriaJ.
Judge Wilson's charge was brief,
clear and to the point. The jury re-
turned verdict of mot guilty." after
deliberating for nearly two hours.
The court was engaged all day yes
terday in the trial OF Ralph Clarke, d
young white mali charged with house
breaking and larceny, it being alleged
that he entered the store of Mr.. NJ
E. Rutland III Batesburg, on the mig t
of February 20, this year, and took
therefrom several small items. It is
claimed that wrench, which was ia
ken from the store, was found in the
young mans room few days after
the robbery. dude" Aldrich and
Tom McCartV two other Young white