The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-11-26

WILL HANG NEXT MONTH
After Hearing Testimony Of Victim
and Several Other Witnesses Jury
Returns Verdict Of "Guilty" in
Case of Brute, Charged With Raw.
ishing Young Columbia Married
Woman.
For the heinous crime of assault,
Minus Hightower,f young negro
6end, will pay the death penalty in
|Columbia On December %.
The hand of the law moved swift
ly and with unerring decision Mon
day, in the trial Of the young fiend,
who, on October Is, iravished mar
ried woman of Columbia. Placed OF
trial Monday morning, at special
term of Court ordered by the Gov
ernor, the evidence in his case COM
pleted at $3.50 o'clock, Hightower
knew his fate within three minutes
after the jury retired. The sentence
of the Court was Immediately an
nounced, following the verdict Of
guilty"
There was no special demUnstra-
ton against the negro, although the
crowd appeared eager for the law
to be carried out, It is only within
the range. of surmise that might
have been done If the verdict had
been othtrwise. Likewise is the
question as to how many of the men
had pistols. The. Governors Guards
and the Richmond Volunteers were
on guard during the trial. These
are two Of the Oldest military COM
panies in the State.
The husband Of the prosecutrix,
during the morning hours, had a pis-
tol in his. pocket. When this was
found out by the sheriff, the pistol
was taken away. The talk around
| the Court room was that the hus-
! band intended to start something
if his wife had to testify before the
crowded Court room. That after
noon, the husband was closely watch
ed in Court. He is painter by
trade, and there were many Of his
friends, both inside and outside the
Court room. The police co-operated
with the militia ana officials Of the
county and Court in handling the
case Systematically.
In addition to that Of the prosecu-
trix, there was testimony by negro,
John Franklin, who stated that
Hightower did not go with him on
hunt, as the accused had stated in
Jail. Policeman Hite, who made the
arrest and one or two othtr witness
es also testified.
The Court appointed Alfred Wal
lace, Jr., and Richarl E Carwile
to defend the negro. When Minus
Highower was arrested, within half
an hour after the assault, with which
he is charged, was committed ne
gave the name of ED Byrd" Dur
ing his arrest he had other alias IS,
but Minus Hightower is his right
| name.
Under the law, the newspapers
may not print the name of wo-
man upon whom an assault or at
tempted assault has been committed.
The proseCutrix in this case is pref
ty young woman. She lives In The
northeastern section OF the city. The
State did not take advantage Of the
law Of 1909 as to the prosecutrix
testimony, but she was in Court aud
testified.
On the converting of the Court the
grand jury, Gen. John D. Frost being
foreman, was polled and the indic'-
ment, drawn In usual form, was
handed out by Solicitor Cobb. On
the bench was the Hon. T. Yancey
Williams, of Lancaster, presiding by
appointment of Governor Ansel. The
grand jury retired, briefly examined
a f.w of the witnesses for the StaLe
and soon returned with true bill.
Shortly afterward the prisoner was
brought in for arraignment. Sheriff
Coleman headed the little group. IN
the midst of which walked the negro.
Rural Policemen Hipp and Huffman
and Court Bailffs Grimsley and
Duming we're the officers Immediate
'ly in charge of the accused They
seated the negro in the dock AMI
took chairs around it. Other depr'
ties and rural policemen had pre-
viously been disposed about the
room and among the spectators bail
ifs moved with their slaves, enjoin-
inr silence on all. One rural police
man, standing. took post in the gate
way leading to the bar from the main
portion Of the room.
The tension was less than miglt
have been expected. An lntercs'
keen, but inpersonal, composed in
the main of lively curiosity, was
the prevailing emotion manifested
There was no display Of arms. The
ONLY soldiers within the Court room
Eitselr-thoush, of course, it was