Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-12-01
MESSERVEY GIVEN 20 YEARS,
BcSs Judge to Change Sentence TO
Iianging-NO New Trial.

| WalterbOrO, Nov. 2J..-SObbing
like child, and begging Judge c..
| q. Dan tzler to change his sentence
from 20 years Imprisonment in the
state pcnitentiary to hanging, J. w.
| Messcrvey. the slayer of ConStabes
| Fishburnc and Altman, at Ravenel,
July 9Th, was led from the court
room this morning at $50 o'clock
| The jury in whose hands the fate of
MeSScWey rested announced their
verdict Of manSlaughter, and a few
minutes later Judge Dantzler pro-
nounccd the sentence OF the court:
THAT you, J. w. Messe "vey, be con-
fined in the state Penitentiary at
such labor as YOU are able to perform
for the period Of twenty years.
The jury had deliberated for l6
hours, and when court convened this
morning for the purpose of hearing
their verdict. the foreman announced
that ,hcy had just agreed, but de-
sired some instruction as to the form
OF their verdict. 1t was learned that
two of the jurors were for acQuittal,
and the ten at first were for murder,
but agreed to compromise on ver-
dict of manSlaughter. Judge Dantzler
again instructed them, and in about
ten minutes they returned to their
seats and announced that they had
agreed upon verdict
a large crowd was eagerly await
ing the announcement of the verdict.
Judge Dantzler took the precaution
to warn those present that no demon
stration would be allowed Messer-
rey betrayed no sign Of emotion as
the clerk read the verdict When
asked by the Judge if he had any
thing to say why the sentence Of the
court should not now be pronounced
upon him, he replied: "No, except
that am not guilty"
The Sentence Passed.
The Judge began to write the SEN
t"nce, but paused long enough to ask
the prisoner: ''IIow long have you
been afflicted with your leg?" Six
teen or seventeen years" he an
Sw"red. After 1iniShin" the sentence
Judge Dantzler said to the priS-
oncr, 'lf You had been convicted Of
murder would not have disturbed
the vedrict. You have been repre-
S"nted by able counsel, who have
done all they could for you You
haN" had fair trial. You had no
right 10 kill MIR. FiShburnc. | do
not believe he intended to confiscatc
your horse and wagon. In cOnSidc-
ration OF the condition of your
leg | Will not sentence you to hard
TABOR IN tn" pcnitcntiary. but will
N"n'"nC" YOU to perform such labor
as Ipu may be able to PERFORM The
S"nt"nc" OF the court is that You be
c0niin"d IN the state prnitcntiary at
Such labor as YOU may be able to
perform for the period Of twenty
| years."
lnmovcd Though all the trial and
seemingly not affected by the tcsti-
| monE, when the words FOR the pc-
| rlod OF twenty years" were uttered
IN" prisoner broke down and wcpt
| Ilk" child, and begged the Judge to
change the verdict to hanging saying
! would rather die than have my
| m" wasted in that way. Judge,
| chahg" ii to hanging; let me die.
Judge, chang" it to hanging: it's not
right; I'm not guilty"
IN" Judge then ordered the sher-
lii TO remand the prisoner to Jail. and
Sh"riH Fox told him to come with
MIN, but McSScrvcy, not needing. con.
tinued to cry to the Judge to hang
him instead. The Judge again order
cd him rcmanded to the ian. II vas
| pathetic Spcctacle-~this unfortu-
nate young man, blind in one eve,
and a cripple, with his father on one
side and brother on the other, sob
| bingly pleading with the Judge 10
nave him hanged. A sigh of relief
| broke from the crowd as the sheriff
| led him from the room, still sobbing.
Notice was made for a new trial,
4 out the same was Over-ruled.
| Doan's Regulets cure constipation