The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-09-28

been paid and eleven Of us were con
ylncd that it was merely given as {
rebate in the regular course of bus
1ness, and there was no evidence, a:
We understood it, that would tend K
make one believe that the money was
gwen for corrupt purposes. Wher
the one juror, who was for conviction
had heard several Of the jurors ex.
PLAN their views on the testimony
offered, he came around to our side
4 vote was then taken, and all OF
Us voted for the acquittal Of Mr.
Farnum. We didn't believe that the
testimony Of the alleged accompEces
OF Mr.. Farnum had been corroborated
by the testimony Of Others
Testimony Of Wylie and Samuels
Harmful?
The general opinion appears to
have been here that the testimony of
Messrs. Wylie and Samuels hurt the
States case because of the admis-
sions on the stand, especially those Of
Mr. Wylie.
The Verdict Announced.
There came a rap on the door Of
the little back room, and it was an
nonnced that the jury had, agreed.
Silently one by one they fled into the
Court room, A small crowd greeted
them. They all wore serious look,
and those in attendance waited with
bated breath for the words about to
be spoken. The Court called for the
defendant, James S. Farnum. He had
just entered the room. He was seat
ed by his attorney. It was a mo-
ment Of suspense for him. A few
words might have been read which
would have meant imprisonment for
him. He was cool and not perturb-
ed. He faced the men who held his
fate in their hands, and without a
sign of emotion heard the words,
E'Not guilty. He grasped the
hands of the jurymen and then left
the Court room a free man, in COM
pany with his attorneys.
A Great Legal Battle.
The trial just ended was one Of the
greatest legal battles eevr fought in
this State. Upon the State s side Col.
3. L. Abney put up an admirable
fight from the very opening moment
of the case until his eloquence pic
4ured to the jury the fall of the old
State dispensary and the influences
Of the day. Attorney General Lyon,
who worked so hard in securing evi-
dense for this and other cases, took
very little active part in the trial
itself. Attorney W. F. Stevenson,
who is attorney for the dispensary
winding-up commission, was import
ant for the State, especially in the
documentary side Of the evidence.
Chairman W. J. Murray, Of the
commission said: ''It's hard for u.s."
in commenting upon the situation.
Blacks Trial Next.
With the Courts stand that the
defendant just acquitted shall not be-
separately tried any more at this
term, the next trial on the list is that
of John Black, charged with accept
ing bribe. This case, it is stated,
will be taken up Wednesday.
Charge Fair and Clear.
The case went to the jury this
morning at 1915 o'clock. The charge
of Judge Memminger consumed twen-
sy-fve minutes. Although the case
is very complicated and peculiar
points are involved, Judge Memin-
ger explained all points of law very
clearly and the fairness Of the charge
was generally commented upon. He
has made fine impression. His re-
marks upon the various points of
law were short but to the point.
At the outset, IN making his charge
he stated that he wished to call the
attention of the jury to what was en-
tirely material in the testimony pro
duced at the trial. He asked the at
tention of the jury strictly to mat
tiers that he was about to lay before
them. He stated that they must first
take into consideration whether OF
not the Safe had proved the case be-
yond a reasonable doubt. he ex.
planned very clearly and succinctly
the different counts IN the 3ndlct'
nents and the possible verdicts.
WYLIE ADMITS THAT