The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-09

| The big" court is now a matter Of
spent in trying the cases made out by
the detectives in the now famous
whiskey cases.
From the start interest has been
great. 1t was nothing unusual for the
court house to be crowded to its ca
pacity. The best citizens men who
rarely attend police court, quit their
business and went out to hear the evil
dence against the violators of the law,
and their presence did much to help
crystaliZe public sentiment. Senti-
ment in Sumter has either undergone
a change, or the dormant sentiment
has been brought out. At first it was
nothing unsual to hear the expression
that none of the defendants would be
convicted. 1t was thought that it was
impossible to get a Sumter jury that
would convict.
| AS the cases developed, however,
there was a marked change in express
sion, and from what could be learned
from mixing with the people, that
| change extended into the country.
There were expressions from every
side that the work being done was the
proper thing, and the expressed ap-
proval of it by the country people who
came to town had a great deal to do
with the defendants pleading guilty
They seem to fear a country jury, and
did not want their cases sent up.
Recorder Hurst, Chief Bradford and
| Officer McKagen made records for
themselves. AS a prosecutor l.. D.
Jennings, ESQ.,, showed himself n mas
ter. Mr.. Ligon deserves a great deal
of credit for the part he took in run
ming the tigers to ground.
Afternoon Proceedings.
The spectator yesterday afternoon
thought that things were moving
slowly, but as a matter of fact they
were moving very fast Most of the
|
neys and in an undertone at that, and
the spectators did not get much of it.
All the remaining cases disposed Of
pleaded guilty.
The first one to come up and Gown
the corn" was Presley Butler, a young
white man. He pleaded guilty
through his attorney, Senator Clifton.
There was one case against him and
he got $50 or 80 days on the chain
gang.
He was soon followed by A. w. Led
ingham, white, who pleaded guilty in
| one case against him and was fined
$50 or 80 days. One other case against
him was held over him during good
behavior.
Claude Hogan, who was arrested
yesterday morning and gave bond
was brought in and pleaded guilty to
| two cases and was fined 500 or 60
days.
H. j. Lawrence, who was hauled be-
fore the court during the night be-
fore and pleaded guilty to one case,
was brought in on three more cases
and pleaded guilty to all. He was
fined $50 or 80 days on the gang on
| these.
Lonne Vogel, through his attorney,
Mr.. Capers Smith, entered a plea of
guilty in six cases and was fined $500
or $50 days. Six other cases against
him We're suspended during good be-
haviOr. He was given to understand
that if he was ever brought up under
the charge of selling whiskey that
the six suspended cases would be
pushed and all twelve cases would be
carried to the higher court and push
ed there
Robert NJ. Jones, Sr., got a contin-
uance Of his case to go to Charleston
to attend the funeral Of his son-in- law
who was killed there this week.
James Chandler was out of town
this morning. His case will come mp
before the mayor on Monday morn
ing.
Leo Miller asked that his case be
continued as his mother was i'll in
Charleston. He will be tried on two
cases when he returns.
The case against Jim Ross was sus-
pended till another party can be ar
rested, against whom jim will tcsti-
| fy. He is in Jail.
The motion for new trial in the
! O'DOnnell case will be argued on
/ Monday morning.
\ Resume of the Week.
The following cases have been dis
posed of during the week. The list is
,,t, a IL. 1