The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-09-28
FARNUM ACQUITTED
OF BRIBERY CHARGE
STATE LOSES THE FIRST OF
THE DISPENSARY CASES.
Jurors Didn't Believe the Money
Was Given for Corrupt Pur-
poses.
News and Courier.


Farnum has been acquitted OF the
charge Of bribing Joseph B. Wyhe'
when the latter was State dispen-
sary director. ILL.,.
Unor the back of the typewriter
sheets of indictment No. So Of the
now famous "graft cases. are the
following words: "Not guilty. W. L..
Caughman, Foreman. TO the de-
fendant these few words spell tree
dom-relief from that suspense winch
the trial upon 50 serious a charge
necessarily brought with it. TO the
world at large these words also mean
that the State has failed in the hrst
Of the trials that have set the coun-
trv wild with expectation.
Six hours it took the Rlchland
County jury TO decide that Farnum
was hot guilty. Wlth the clear cut
words Of Judge Memmlnger ringing
in their ears the jurors fled one by
one from the Court room shortly at
ter ten o'clock this morning and a
7irt}e after 4 o'clock their declslon
was announced. 1t was dramatlc
moment in the Court room. The de-
fendan1 grasped the hands OF the IN
dividua! jurors and expressed MS
appreciation of their verdict.
The general impression had oeen
that 4 ,uistnal would result.
NJ. Cochran stated tonight that
1ha verdict was expected under the
testimony aud that the attorneys Tor
the defence did not think that any
other verdict could have been rem
dered under the circumstances.
COL Nelson, Immediately after the
iprvS decision was announced, MADE
The laeoaic reply TO question as to
what re thought about It: Al!
right and his expression showed
his pleasure.
The defendant had brilliant az
rav of counsel, Mr.. Erenst +. Coen-
ran conducted the war against the IN
d;ctmert and other technical features
Of the case with much skill. Mr. +.
r, Nelson, Of this city, was strong
on the cross-examination Of witness
e. Mr.. Ben Hagood s argument Tor
the defence before the jury was a
feature. Attorney T. Moultne Aor-
de,ai. Of Charleston, while not ae-
tualy raking part in the trial: was
=, Continuous consultation with his
associates. He sat next to the oe-
ferdany during the trial and gave
advice at various times.
Attorney Generals Opinion.
Attorney General Lyon. when asked
coacerc;ng the trial shortly after 'he
veri;c: had been rendered by the
i,~v. said: II have nothing to say
the testimony in the case speaks 1or
itself" Not talking officially. the
A1tor.,y General. however. intimated
THAT tx frs, defeat would not affect
tho cc,;,>a Of The State i'll reference
70 t.s- other indictments in the al
7eos4, .;iSoensary "eraft" cases
When pressed for an official state
ne,t re Attorney General said: ~
have ;:4ard !; rumored that the jury
declined to bring III verdict against
a|re defendant because they would
NOT ccavict on the testimony OF an
aceonpl;ce. II this rule IS to be TO-
lowed. !: will always be practicable
inposS;oilitY to ever convict one Oh
br;berr, for testimony in such eases
m,st -. e<sarii.v cone from an ac-
.comp::7"-
Jurors Interviewed.
O,e II the ju:ymen. in speaking OF
+;,, daj;1eration. said: ''We went 10
~, ~.>;,ro a; 1918 'clock this morn
;no All Of us were deeply Interested
~ +!,a rial and the testimony. and II
was nv observation that every man
IN the room was a serious thinking
man, xao knew his responsibility ana
;n+en7ed TO do his duty as he saw 1t.
Whe., We were all in the room and
had time TO learn the opinion OF each
- 70 SHAT verdict should be render
od :. developed that eleven were tor
a.o,;!-,l md one for conviction. For
fve 2ory hours we argued with tEns
man. We believed that money hao
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