The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-12
FOUND HIM GUILTY.
Chestnut Is Sent Up For Fifteen
Year Term.

Chestnut Is Sent Up For a Fifteen
Year Term.
Robert Chestnut, who shot and
killed WE'LL R. Sabin on the 25th OF
last April, was sentenced on Satur-
day by Judge DeVore to fifteen years
in the penitentiary or the same
length of time on the public works OF
Orangeburg County, the jury which
tried his case having brought in a
verdict of guilty of manslaughter,
after celebrating over the case
one whole night. The case was
given the jury about four o'clock on
Friday afternoon and the verdict was
returned few minutes after seven
| O'Clock Saturday morning.
Chestnut shows plainly the effects
of his Imprisonment and, the terrible
ordeal through which he had passed.
When asked if he had anything to
say, his counsel, who had striven to
satisfy the jury of his innocence,
pleaded earnestly and eloquently for
leniency from the court in passing
sentence. With voices at times ef-
fected by the emotion, which was EVIL
dent, .Messrs. Adam H. Moss, William
lC.. Wolfe and Thomas M. Raysor
drew attention to the many of the
phases Of the case favorable to Tue
defendant and laid much stress upon
his good character as testified to by
number of witnesses, begging that
the Court would take these into con-
sideration in making the sentence as
light as possible. -
The counsel for defence also took
occasion to thank Judge DeVore for
his uniform impartiality throughout
the trial and the learned manner in
| which he expounded the law from
the Bench, stating that he had been
lust to the State and fair to the de-
fendant. They asked for sentence
that would vindicate the law, calling
attention to the fact that anything
like long term might mean a life
sentence to the convicted man, who
! is now 3S years Of age. After CIV
! ing careful attention to the remarks
OF counsel for the prisoner, Judge
DeVore stated, addressing the defen-
dant, that since the verdict was rem
dered he had been greatly concerned
over the amount of punishment that
should be meted out in this case.
The Judge went on to say to the
prisoner that an intelligent jury, af-
ter considering the law ana the evi-
dence for about ten hours had failed
to recommend him to the mercy of
the Court, as they were told in the
charge they might do. The Court fur
ther declared that in it's opinion the
verdict was just one; in fact Judge
DeYore stated that he felt satisfied
that a verdict of murder, under the
testimony would have stood the test
of the Courts. Without attempting
to lecture the prisoner or make his
burden any heavier, Judge DeVore
reviewed some of the testimony, par
ticularly that of the defendant, which
the Court declared, In its opoinion,
was sufficient to convict of either
murder or manslaughter, with the
elimination of the evidence given by
every other witness in the case.
Continuing Judge DeVore said
the testimony of the defendant show
ed that he deliberately got his gun,
went to his victims place of business
and without sufficient provocation, so
far as the testimony shows, took the
life of William R. Sabin. Judge De-
Wore reiterated his opinion that,
taking out all the testimony in the
case except that Of the defendant,
the jury was bound to convict Of eth
er nlanslaughter or murder. In IL
nally passing the sentence of fifteen
years Judge DeVore did not leave
the prisoner hopeless, for he stated,
that, after portion of the sentence
has been served, how much he did
not say, however, he would, If still
alive and circumstances prompted
him, join in a petition for a pardon.
Both the verdict and the sentence
meets with general approval. Mr..
L. H. Wannamaker, Jr., who report
ed the trial for his paper, The News
and Courier says, "that the length OF
the sentence surprised the prisoner,
his counsel and many spectators was
evident, although none was heard 10
say that he Court had not In this
case tempered justice with mercy.
The verdict seems to have given gen.
eral satisfaction, the popular opinion
being that the prisoner had Jared ex-
ceedingly we'll. This would seem to
he the case when it is considered that
or the first ballot nj least seven OF
the jurors voted for verdict OF
murder with recommendation to
mercy, finally compromising on one
of straight manslaughter."
Chestnut's sole defence was that
the man he slew had invaded his
home, wronged his wife and Destroy
ed his peace, and happiness for all
time. Commenting on this Mr.. Wan
numaker says: "These things are
charged by the defendant against his