The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-06
foreman did not communicate it to

! foreman did not communicate it to
| me.
| 1T is also on account of the Incl
dent which occurred last night. which
I doubt if it be any more than an in
discretion on the part Of the juror and
on the part of the young man who
had the conversation with him. but
that in combination with the other
matter, your having had access to a
newspaper and reading the newspaper
/ IN your room, and notwithstanding the
strict guard kept over you, these COM
binations would tend to cast suspicion
on any verdict you might render. and
1t would not be satisfactory to any
body to have verdict from the Jury
when this sort of things has happen
eG
Now as to what I shall do to you
this is matter, gentlemen, that I will
have to decide; it is a responsibility
cast upon me. 1 have no hesitancy in
Knowing what to do with respect to
the man who communicated with the
juror and shall hold him and put
punishment upon him for contempt of
this court, and as to the juror who
allowed himself to be communicated
with. who actually did not resent the
communication from the outside, but
actually condoned that communica-
ton by Immediately send;no
out a communication o the bailiff,
which was brought to me, asking that
the man be let out on bond instead of
resent ting that communication, inter-
fereilce or conversation with anybody
from the outside, which undoubtedly
subjects the juror to serious criticism.
"As to that juror / will ask him to
'emain in the custody Of the court, 1
will make up my mind later in the
day the proper course to be pursued
With reference to him. AS to the other
jurors, I am going to discharge you
gentlemen, am going to let you go and
withhold your pay certificates until 1
think about this matter seriously and
earnestly, with strict regard to what
l ought to do in discharging my duty
to the people Of South Carolina in this
matter. You can go, with the excep-
ton of Mr. Perry, who had the COM
munication; you will not get your pay
| certificates at the present. 1 will de-
termine later on what course l will
pursue in respect to what shall be
done about your case in this matter.
1.-The clerk will enter an order of
| mlstrial on the record, and all jurors
| will be discharged from further atten-
oance without pay certificates, except
Juror Perry, who will remain in the
custody Of the sheriff Mr. Dorm must
| also remain here, and 1 will dispose
OF his case. AS to A. T. Keith, / do
not see anything in reference to his
conduct for which 1 can hold him re-
| sponsible. You can let him 60"
There has been some speculation as
to what was the attitude of the jury
toward the case. Several rumors were
afioat last night. One was to the eff
| feet that the jury stood s to on the
bribery charge. One intelligent Juror
told a reporter of The State that the
jury stood to for conviction on
the bribery charge and that it was
even stronger for conviction on the
corruption and rebate count in the in
dictment. This juror said there
would never have been an acquittal.
| When the court took recess Thurs
day evening the prosecution announc-
ed its case closed. The defense. yes
terday morning would have announc-
cd no witnesses and the arguments
would have started