The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-06
COURT PROCEEDINGS
JUDGE ORDERS "NoT GUILTY
FOR MRS. sHULER.
Synopsis Of the Gases Tried-Much
Interest is Manifested, and the
Court Room Crowded Every Day.

The court on Tuesday morning got
down to business proper. Things
did not exactly go with rush, for
our able solicitor. P. T. Hildebrand,
Esq, took ample time to see that all
concerned would get the justice that
was due them, and our efficient and
impartial Judge. Watts meated it
out properly.
The first case tried was that Of
the State VS.. Sam Richardson for
arson. Richardson plead guilty and
was sentenced to twelve months.
Joe Argoe, colored, was charged
with car breaking and larceny at
Springfield on December "A, 1908.
Argoe was employed at the depot at
Springfield rs a porter or man OF
all work, and the testimony showed
that he had been taking various
things from the railroad company
whenever he left like it and could
get the chance. But in this in
stance it was sack of bacon for
which he had been arrested. The
case against Argoe was worked up
by railroad detective by the name
of C. D. White, who testified that
Argoe had confessed to him of break
ing into the car and stealing the
meat, and even showing him (White)
where he threw the meat off just
as the car had left Springfield about
$50 yards, and that Argoe wanted
to pay for the meat when arrested,
but, of course, his proposition was
refused. Several witnesses testified
that they had bought bacon from him
at phenominally low price, which
was, in itself, suspicious. Every
witness said Argoe had very bad
reputation, except one.
When Argoe testified he simply
gave himself dead away, but swore
ne did not break into the car at all;
that he got the meat from the depot
and carried it up the railroad track
q short distance, where he hid it un-
til after dark, then he went back and
got it and gave it away to some
friends. He said he was never ac-
cused of stealing anything at all, but
that he just tuck" the meat.
After argument by Mr.. W. c..
Wolfe, who admitted the justness of
the charge in the second count, but
who wanted the jury to find him not
guilty as to breaking into the car, the
solicitor made an able argument to
the jury in behalf Of the State, and
they retired. They found him gull
ty, and he was sentenced to two years
at hard labor.
The Sts against Willie Ricken-
baker and Jinks Scott, both colored,
was the next tried. Some few weeks
ago the store of Mr.. Joseph McNama-
ia had been entered by thieves and
quantity of clothing, etc., taken
therefrom amounting to about one
hundred dollars. There was practi-
cally no clue to the burglars, but our
interchangeable Mayor and Chief of
Police finally located the goods and
the thieves, and they were brought
back for trial. Rickenbaker plead
guilty as to taking some of the goods,
but not as to breaking in the store,
which had been entered through the
~transom over the back door. Scott
plead not guilty, but his own and
other testimony developed the fact
that both Of them had a hand in
it. The ury found them both gull
ty, but in passing sentence His Honor
gave Rickenbaker only two years,
while he gave Scott four years.
Eunice Dantzler and Pink Moorer,
two negro boys aged, respectively,
16 and 13 years, plead guilty to the
charge of housebreaking and larceny.
The younger, Pink Moorer, was sem
fenced to the reformatory in Colum-
bia for II months, and Dantzler was
given IL months on the public works
or in the penitentiary.
Willie Shuler, colored, was found
guilty Of stealing from DR.. A. C.
Dukes, but on account of his age he
was only given months.
Coleman Dantzler plead guilty to
stealing bicycle and was sentenced
to ~ months and to pay a fine of
S100.
Lawrence Corley, colored, plead
guilty to the charge of stealing a
mule, and was sentenced to years
and to pay fine of s1.0O.
Jake Dupont, colored, plead not
guilty of attempting to steal from
one W. NJ. Mays. This little fellow
did not know what he was doing,
for later he admitted his guilt and
was sentenced 10 months.
A sealed sentence left from the
January term for Moses Pearsall was
read. which fined him three months
or $3.50.
The witnesses in the case of Joseph
Argoe for violation of the dispensary
law was discharged until further
notice.
In the case of the State VS.. w
G. Antley for violation of the dis
pensary law, the grand jury found
no bill.
Upon motion by the defense in
the case of George Amaker. convicted
Of the larceny of a bicycle, new