The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-06-16

When the TINES went to press last
week the grand jury presentment was
not obtaina bic, hence we did not secure
it in time, which accounts for its ap-
pearance this week.
Wednesday afternoon William Be-
thune was arraigned, charged with the
murder of Mr.. G. B. Minis, on the 2lst
day of February last. The plea OF not
guilty was entered and the trial fixed
for Saturday. The defendant was rep
resented by A. 3. Manning, Esq, OF
Sumter, and L. D. Jennings. Esq, of
Sumter assisted Solicitor Stoll for the
State.
There having been some considerable
talk Of lynching in this case, the sher-
if, to be on the safe side secured the
consent Of the governor to take Bethune
to the penitentiary for safe keeping.
The court being aware of this supposed
feeling ordered that ten additional
guards be sworn in TO protect the prls-
oner, but it, so far as could be seen was
unnecessary as the Minis family are law
uphol6ing citizens, and wanted only JUS
tice to be done.
One of their loved ones had been
ruthlessly slain, and they only asked
from the law justice. They attended
court in large numbers, this was natur-
al, as they were vitally Interested: but
there was not the slightest Indication
OF any intention on their part to take
the law into their own hands, and the
talk OF lynching did not emanate from
them.
The case against j. P. Butler and
Linton Butler, indicted for burglary
and larceny developed complete exon
GRAFTON of j P. Butler. and establishing
the guilt OF Linton Butler. Solicitor
Stoll asked the court to direct verdict
of mot guilty" as to ]. P. Butler, which
was done, and the jury found Linton
Butler guilty. Sentenced to two years
on the chain gang. Abe Williams was
found guilty of murder with recommen
dation to mercy. Sentenced to life i'm
prisonment. S. Oliver O'Bryan, Esq,
was appointed by the court to defend.
When Judge Gage a. 'Hunced this SEN
tence. Williams thanke, he Judge and
asked him to meet him in heaven.
Henry Edward Belser, alias Governor
Belser, charged with murder. The de-
fen6ant's counsel in this case Capt. W.
|C. Davis. announced that his client
would accept a verdict Of guilty with
recommendation to mercy. Solicitor
Stoll agree to this and the jury was en-
pauelled to render the verdict in ac-
cor6ance with the agreement. Selser
was sentenced to life Imprisonment.
These two cases are regarded miscar-
riages OF justice. The crimes were muir
der with not the slightest mitigating
circumstances to lessen the penalty, but
they both got off with their necks sav-
ed, and for the rest of their lives will
give service to the State. Perhaps it IS
better thus.
There being no jury cases Friday the
jurors were dismissed until Saturday,
while the court was engaged with ap-
peals and orders.
Saturday as soon as court was called
the court room was full to over flowing.
The trial of William Bethune was start
ed. His lawyer made several motions
which were overruled, and the case
proceeded. The testimony adduced
lfrom the witness stand left 90 doubt OF
the prisoners guilt in the minds OF the
Jury. The prisoner himself so conducted
himself as to drive away any sympathy
that might have been for him in his
predicament, for, Notwithstanding his
crime was awfully atrocious, yet, when
a human beings life is in jeopardy, ma
ture provides certain sympathy for
the distressed, but in this case there
was an insolent defiance which may not
have influenced the verdict, but at any
rate it did him no good. It might be the
wretch did not realize the gravity OF
his condition.
The testimony as brought out justif'
ed fully the verdict OF guilty. Mr.. Man
ming made a motion for new trial, but
this was denied. The sentence OF the
court was that William Bethune be re-
manded to the jail, kept in solitary con.
fnement until Friday Both day OF July
1909, at which time at the place and II
the manner provided by law, between
the hours OF a. ~. and 4 p. m, be
hanged by the neck until dead.
This was the last case tried. and clos
es with the death penalty, the work O.
the old court room. The next term O
court will be held in the elegant new
court house, and Let US all hope, it vii
be many years before d judge will be
called upon to impose the death penalty
The term of court just ended was re
markable, in that it had five homicide
cases to try. a very unusual record fol
| clarendon.