Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-01-07
FARNUM PLEADS GUILTY.
Conspiracy, Cases Are Compromised
for 5000,

James s. Farnum, agent in this state
for the Anheuser- Busch Brewing COM
pany and other liquor houses which
pensary, today pleaded guilty to a
charge Of conspiracy to defraud the
state and paid a fine Of $4,000.
The end Of this case was a great
surprise and came without previous
intimation This morning Attorney
General Lyon appeared in the Rich
land county court Of general sessions
with Solicitor Cobb, and presented a
new indictment against Farnum,
charging him with conspiracy with
Joseph B. Wylie, formerly member Of
the state dispensary board, to defraud
the state.
The grand jury at once retired and
Wylie was examined as a witness. In
a short while the grand fury returned
with true bill. Farnum and his at
torneys then came into court and 9TH
er proceedings were interrupted while
the attorney general announced that
Farnum desired to plead guilty and he
would accept the plea. Farnum stood
up and Judge Prince asked for the
Judge Prince at once imposed sentence,
saying that In view of the plea he
would be lenient but not as lenient as
Farnum might wish. The judge said
he knew Farnum's humiliation was
punishment, but that he deserved fur
ther punishment, though his moral
guilt was not as great as that Of the
officers of the state who had partici-
pated in the conspiracy and accepted
bribes. He would therefore impose a
sentence of $4,000 fine or one years
imprisonment on the chaingang or in
the penitentiary. Farnum's attorney
produced a certificate of deposit for
$4,000, which was accepted as pay
ment, and then the judge amended
the sentence, so as to eliminate the al
tentative of imprisonment.
Other Cases Dropped.
Attorney General Lyon will, in view
of Farnum's plea, mol pros the other
cases against Farnum, five in all, two
for bribery of state dispensary off,
cials and three for conspiracy, all bas-
ed on similar testimony. At the last
term of court Farnum was acquitted
on a charge Of conspiracy based on
practically the same set of facts.
A Complete Surprise.
The sensational compromise of the
cases against Farnum was entirely un-
expected until the very moment when
ne and his attorneys, B. A. Hagood and
T. NJ. Mordecai Of Charleston, and
District Attorney Ernest F. Cochran
Of Anderson, appeared in court with
him, and took seats within the bar,
while Attorney General Lyon sat near
the solicitor, awaiting an opportunity to
break in upon the trial Of the Medlin
murder case. Mr.. Farnum was look
ing the picture Of health. If the trial
through which he passed last summer
mutely, not going on the stand, and the
cases still left against him, worried MIN
at all they have not caused him to lose
an ounce of flesh, apparently.
Feels Humiliation.
When congratulated by a friend to-
day on having an end Of the prosecu-
ton against him, he said:
We'll, don't know whether the sit
uation calls for congratulations or not. |
don't like to plead guilty, even with |
the privilege Of paying a fine. fell |
low does not like to have thing like |
that chalked up against him.
Signing the Plea.
When the Medlin trial was suspend
ed for the purpose of receiving FAR
NUNS plea, Farnum walked quietly |
over to the railing behind which Clerk
Walker stood, and at the direction OF
Attorney Hagood signed a statement,
attached to the indictment, to the ef-
feet that James S. Farnum appears In
person and pleads guilty to the within
indictment, this 5th day of January,
1910"
Passing Sentence. J
Addressing Farnum, Judge Prince
said that while he knew the humilia-
ton he had undergone was punish
ment for him, he still should be. pun
ished and punished severely, but he
would take into consideration his plea
in this case
Judge Prince referred to Farnum's
failure to testify at the former trial,
saying that his silence indicated his
determination not to commit perjury.
I'm this instance" said the judge,
you nave come up like man and
admitted your guilt. These matters
appeal to the court and besides you
are not a state officer; you are pri-
vate citizen and did not have the re-
sponsibility that rested on these gen.
tlemen who had to discharge duties
devoving upon them by law in the
conduct of the state dispensary.
These things all appeal to me to be
lenient and l am going to be reason
ably lenient, but not so lenient as
your counsel would like me to be;
can not see 1t lust as they would see
1t, possibly. but l am going to take In
consideration your plea. The sentence
Is that you be fined $4,000 or be con-
fined at hard labor on the public works
of Richland county or in the state
for period of one year.
Sentence Amended.
When the judge had finished. Mr..