The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-18
JONES GETS TEN YEARS.
JUDGE MEMNIINGER CONGRATIr.
LATES HIM ON LIGHT PEN
Atty.
May Appeal the Case But Jones States
in Court That He Did Not Know
That He Would Take Case Further.

| OFangeburg, Jan. 14.-John J.
Jones was sentenced today at 2:15 d.
m. by Judge Memminger to serve ten
years and one month in the State pen
itentiary at such hard ab,or as he NAV
be able to perform, for the killing of
Abe Pearlstine at Branchville on De-
cember Is. The Court room was
crowded when the sentence was
passed.
This morning counsel were heard in
arguments before Judge NJ Memminger
for new trial in the case Col. d. O.
! Herbert a"d William c. Wolfe argued
In favor Of the motion and tried to
! show why a new trial should be
granted. The main point argued for
the new trial was centred on the in
competency OF juror, A. E. Rutland.
1T was argued that this juror was past
the age limit of jurors in this State
and was not properly registered,
thereby being disqualified as juror.
1t was stated that Mr.. Rutland re-
sided in Liberty township Of this
county and was registered in Willow
township. Judge Memminger, in
reply to this point, offered by the
, counsel for Jones, said that the juror,
II pass the age limit Of jurors, should
have been objected to when presented
and that it had not been proved to
him that the juror was not properly
! registered. This argument was over
uled. The counsel for Jones were
, asked by Judge Memmingor if they
desired to argue any other point in
regard to obtaining a new trial, which
received negative reply Solicitor P.
7. Hildebrand and T. M. Raysor op-
posed the motion for a new trial.
Judge Memminger commanded
John ]. Jones to stand up and receive
the sentence Of the court. The Judge
, said he did not intend lecturing him,
but would make few remarks. He
f, said IL was the first time he ever had
to sentence a member Of the South
Carolina bar, but that he gave Jones
a fair and impartial trial. Jones re-
piled at this stage Of the judges talk,
Il will never forget you, judge, for
the opportunity you gave me to clear
myself before the people Of the State
of South Carolina concerning that
check" The Judge intimated that he
thought that Jones would fight the
law in the matter Of appealing to the
supreme court but Jones replied that
he didn't know that he would do
that.
| Judge Memminger said that the
case was close to the border line Of
murder and manslaugher. He told
Jones that his plea Of self defense
failed on lack Of necessity and that
he made fortunate escape when he
was convicted Of manslaughter. He
said that he would have to deter
others, through Jones punishment
from going around with pistols and
shooting people. He said that Jones
evidently had enemies at Branchville
and the thing he should have done,
as there were two things for him to
do-he should have gone to another
community or have fought the matter
out In law, and not go around armed
to fight it out with physical force and
violence. That was certainly wrong.
"The sentence Of the court" said
Judge Memminger, lis that you, John
j. Jones, be confined in the State pen
itentiary for period Of ten years and
one month at such hard labor as you
may be able to perform" The judge
stated, however, that in latter years
if living, he might recommend to the
governor clemency in this case and
ask that the sentence be comffuntted
to some extent.
| The sentence of the judge made it
| impossible for the counsel for Jones
to obtain bail for their client before
him or any other judge, and they
will have to appear before the four
supreme court justices and obtain
their consent before bail will be
granted. Although it has not been
announced by counsel for the defense,
it is very probable that an appeal
| nil hn fnlE IN hn
| Arrangements will be made to obtain
| bail as soon as possible. Bail will
likely be sought before the supreme
court on Monday. Jones is now in
| jail.
| Many Persons Vaccinatcd
| i'll