The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-25

Columbia, Sept. 23-Joe B. Wylie
of Chester went on the witness stand
yesterday afternoon in the case of the
State against ]. S. Farnum. charged
with giving bribe. There was moth
ing sensational in wylie's testimony.
as he was used during the entire af-
ternoon to identify records and books
OF original entry at the State dispen-
sary, where he was a member Of the
last board Of directors Mr.. Wylie's
testimony as it applies to this particu-
lar indictment will be taken today.
| and sensational developments are ex-
pected.
There was nothing especially excit-
ing in the entire day yesterday. but
the prosecution made great headway.
livery foot Of ground was stubbornly
contested, and even at times when
Judge Memminger seemed disposed to
rule in favor of the defense, he would
be dissuaded by the logic of the argu-
ments OF the attorneys for the State
of South Carolina.
In this particular the argument of
Mr.. w, F. Stevenson, on particular
matter was the feature yesterday, al
though the sustained effort of Mr.. B.
l.. Abney was very strong throughout.
He continued the examination of the
witnesses and the refuting of motions
from the defense, except in one or
two instances when Mr.. Stevenson
TOOK the witnesses. Mr.. Abney is
very much indisposed, as is Attorney
/ General Lyon, who is beginning to
show the wear and tear OF the long
fight to secure such evidence as would
run the gauntlet of the courts where
everything appears to be in favor of
the accused.
Mr. Cochran of counsel for Farnum
has been making a strong fight, and
has conducted that part Of the de.
fense with great skill, but Judge
Memminger has found the weight OF
authorities cited to be in favor of the
prosecution. Mr.. Cochran is the Uni
ted States district attorney for South
Carolina and is more familiar with
the rules and practice of the federal
courts, but has been making a cleye,
and determined fight for his client. II
may be that the defense has been
weakened by offering such resistance
but the opposition has been cleverly
handled.
Up to yesterday morning but two
witnesses had been sworn-J. L.
Thorpe, the head bookkeeper at the
State dispensary, and Robert ]. Gage
cashier of the Commercial bank of
Chester. Mr.. Thorpe testified as to
no facts. but merely identified books
of record. Mr.. Gage testified that he
had cashed for Henry Samuels .
draft for SLIPS and that the day fol-
lowing Joe B. Wylie had deposited
some of the same money in his bank.
to the amount of $1,000. BY whom
this draft was drawn was not brought
cut at the time, but after a fight of
several hours Mr.. Abney was able to
get it in evidence yesterday that the
draft was drawn by j. S. Farnum on
his own concern, the Consumers Beer
Bottling establishment of Charleston.
and that Henry Samuels was to re-
ceive the money.
| The witnesses examined yesterday
were Robert ]. Gage and Butler T.
woods OF Chester, who We're on the
stand more than once. Herman Will
ken and A. S. Kulinski of Farnum's
| office in Charleston, c. NJ. Berry.
| cashier, and J. E. Matthews and H.
ID. Muller, bookkeepers of the Ma
tiOnal Loan and Exchange bank of
| Columbia, and Joe B. Wylie, who was
in the midst Of his examination when
court took a recess last night.
Hard Task OF Prosecution.
To the average layman, it might ap-
pear that all that is necessary i'm a
bribery case is to prove that one man
offered some money and that another
took it, but this case is so involved
that it was necessary to prove about
1000 other things before this could
be touched upon. Moreover, the