The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-03-15
CRIMINAL COURT
CONVENED MONDAY
Spring Term Presided Over
by Judge r. G. Watts.
NOTES DECREASE IN
CHARGES OF MURDER
Court Disposed of II Number Of Cases
First Day-Negr0 Woman Acquitted
Of Murder Charge Grand
Jury Still In Session.

The Spring Term of the Court of
General Sessions convened at the
court house Monday morning, Judge
r. c. Watts on the bench. Solicitor
Cooper, Stenographer John X. Aull
and Clerk of Court John F. Bolt were
in their accustomed places. T. c. Bolt
acted as deputy clerk.
After the organization of the grand
jury, with j. Warren Bolt as foreman,
Judge Watts charged them as to their
duties. No special recommendations
having been made to him, he confined
his attention in large part to the eX-
pounding of the law as to the cases
placed before him. He complement
ed the county at length on the few
ness OF homicide cases, saying that
the last time he held court here he
was handed thirteen indictments for
murder, whereas, at this time only
one was placed before him. Judge
Watts said that this absence of homi-
eide cases was very unusual and that
he felt very proud Of the record.
The following cases have been dis
posed of:
Hardy Abercrombie: Assault and
Battery with Intent to kill; guilty,
fined SIS.
Tom Mack, Burk Williams and Dick
Harris; House Breaking and Larceny;
not guilty as to first two, guilty as to
Dick Harris, sentence of 3 years
Robt. Hill: Violation Of the Dis
pensary Law; guilty, fined 500,
John Lyman: Violation of the Dis
pensary Law; guilty, fined $4,000,
appealed.
Coleman Hunter: Larceny from the
Field; plead guilty, 500.
King Tucker; House Breaking and
Larceny; guilty, II months.
Pearl Young: Violation of Dspcn-
sary Law; guilty, 500.
George Martin Assault and Bat
terry with Intent to kill; guilty of
assault and battery of high and ag-
gravated nature, 3 months or $75.
Tuesday morning Marvin Crane
colored, pleaded guilty to the charge
of assault and battery with intent TO
kill and was given sentence of six
months on the county chaingang or
pay fine of $50.
The greater part of Tuesday morn
ing's session was occupied with the
case of the State VS.. Willie Jacks. a
negress. charged with murder. In
self defense, she claimed, the jacks
woman shot and killed Albert Rice
last fall at her house near Renno
Fhe jury. after remaining out for sew
eral hours, returned verdict of not
guilty.
In the afternoon Joe Baldwin, col
ored, was tried on charge of assault
and battery with intent to kill, it be-
ing alleged that he shot one Al Sulli-
van also colored, during the progress
OF a negro row in the county some
months ago. The defendant is one
aSmed He was acquitted, the jury de-
liberating only q few minutes.
The court, as whole, mas mace me
progress, and the docket is going to
be cleared up by Saturday if it be
possible. The grand jury will prob
ably finish its work today for this
term.
Will ReScntencc Davis.
At this term Of court Jim Davis will
be resentenced to hang for the muir
der of Ida Nelson of which crime he
was convicted at a special term of
court last fall. The case was appeal
ed to the supreme court, but the judg-
ment of the lower court was affirmed
and the case remanded for disposition
by the circuit court. The remittitur
having been received, the court will
fix a new date for Davis execution.