Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1910-11-24
LAST DAY OF THE GRAFT TRIAL
Able Arguments Made by Attorneys
Those for Defense COnfning Them
selves Mostly to Denunciation OF
Prosecutors and Witnesses.

selves Mostly to DenunclatiOn vi
Prosecutors and Witnesses.
Mr.. William Banks, correspondent
of the Columbia Daily State gives an
interesting account of tle manner IN
which the attorneys conducted the
graft trial at Chester, and throws a
few bouquets at Hon. w. F. Stevenson.
One of the chester papers also makes
interesting reference to Mr.. Steven
son as will be seen by the clipping
herein published
Chester, Nov. 1.-THE evidence Is
in; the arguments have been MADE
and the case of the alleged dispensary
grafters is in the hands of the jury OF
Chester county men.
Up to today there has been mucn
dependence placed upon the runors
that the issue would be not guilty OF
miss-trial. But after the powerful
and in fact, convincing argument OF
w F. Stevenson this afternoon, a
great many have been heard to say
that they believed that the jury Will
not dare to acquit. Mr.. Stevenson
left for the North at 6 o'clock this
evening and he declared his firm
belief that at least one of the defend
ants would be convicted.
Never has case been fought or
such lines. Every vile known to the
legal profession, every kind of specia
pleading and specious argument has
been made in behalf of these defnd
ants. There are on all sides evidences
of a regular political campaign dur
ing the months proceeding, and thu
attorney general, the commission tt
wind up the affairs of the dispensaT!
and the witnesses for the state hav'
all have been pilloried, ridiculed ant
abused in advance of this trial.
The settling Of these issues in tn
court room has been an uphill fight
and if the verdict be for the defend
ants there will be no surprise. Tn
most powerful man on the jury i
variously reported to have said onl
q few days ago that he would no
convict any of the defendants, an
the local attorneys for the prosecution
have by some persons been critize
for allowing the attorney genera
to permit certain men to go upon tn
ju y.
But the array of evidence produce
by Mr.. Lyon and Mr.. Stevenson, tn
wonderful argument Of MIR. Abney o
the law of conspiracy and the power
full address before the jury by M,
Stevenson should be sufficient to ere
ate reaction in favor Of the prose
cution. The attorney generals argu
ment before the jury was the bes
effort of that kind he has ever made
no oratory, but convincing preser
tation of facts, but it was not such
rivit-clinching speech as that Of Nj
Stevenson. The local attorney, Jo
G. Mcclure, representing Solicito
Henry, in a quiet and unimpassione
manner, made an argument to tn
jury this morning which carried gref
weight. He did not denounce the a
llessl .grafterS- .Aar-
tdre1s, but ne showed by homely Illus
trations how facts proved the ez
istence and operations of the plundeI
bund.
The attorneys for the defense indu
ged in earnest appeals to the juror
and from their viewpoint, with n
evidence submitted by their side o
which to argue, the lawyers mad
effective speeches. AS samples G
oratory these speeches were compl
mented The speakers OH the respe'
tive sides in the order in which the
appeared were: For the defense,
II. Nelson opened Thursday with brit
and effective statement of the case
five minutes; John NJ. Wise of tt
Chester bar today spoke foTty-fiy
minutes; NJ. r. Howell of Walter
boro, R. H. Welsh of Columbia and
L. CASTOR, of Chester, were othe
speakers. For the prosecution B.
Abney, in an hour and 30 minutes, e'
pounded the law in such all addres
as the court house in Chester has nc
heard in many year. He was foY
lowed by Jos. G. Mcclure, J. Erase
Lion and w. F. Stevenson closed in a
hour and - minute address. Th
defendants attorneys who did nc
speak were: F. II. Weston, w. T. Ay
cock, w. S. Nelson, J. Team Gettys.
Mr.. Abney started in Thursday aft
crnoon to speak about 80 minutes
confning his remarks to the law ell
tirely. He had carefully prepared 1
requests to charge and by the tim
he had concluded he had spoken near
ly two hours. This morning the de
fence opened the reply with John NJ
Wise addressing the Court, Mr.. Wis.,
made clear and earnest address il
which he commented upon the fact tina
this case ought not be brought t
Chester county and put the taxpayers
TO the expense of bearing tria
which belonged to Richland. He grew
exceeding wroth at the idea of Il red.
headed Yankee" like John Early COM
ing down here and testifying against