The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-03-31
NO SPECIAL TERM.
In Sam Bo0zer CaSe-Nr. j. r. Gil
liam Writes Solicitor Sensible
Letter.

Solicitor Cooper was in NeWberry
on Tuesday afternoon to confer with
some of the citizens and to look over
the situation as to the advisability OF
requesting the governor to order an
extra term Of the court of general ses-
sions for the trial Of Sam Boozer. COL
ored, and Mr.. j. C. Hipp, charged with
the killing of Mr.. J. S. Gillian on
the 3rd of March ON Mr.. Hips Old
Town plantation.
/ It will be recalled that the case was
not tried last week on account of the
illness of Mr.. G.. G. Sale, VINO had
been appointed by the court to defend
Boozer, as he was not able to employ
counsel. The governor received and
gave out for publication an anony-
NOUS letter from NeWberry asking
that a special term be ordered to try
! this case and intimating that Judge
! Watts continued the case because OF
! fear of some of the attorneys engag-
| ed. Of course there is no foundation
for any such statement and there
seems to be no demand for an extra
court to dispose Of the case. The
Herald and News has talked to some
of the citizens of the community in
which the crime, was committed and
the sentiment seemed to be against
special term.
Solicitor Cooper received a letter
from Mr.. J. r. Gillian, a brother of
! the dead man, which is printed in this
connection, which is fair and just
exposition of the situation. Solicitor
Cooper mailed a copy of this letter to
Gov. Blease and stated that in the
circumstances he did not deem i ad-
visable to ask for an etxra term ct
the court.
The following is Mr.. J. f. Gilliam's
letter to Solicitor Cooper:
March %, 1911.
Hon. R. A. Cooper,
| Solicitor 9Th Judicial Circuit,
Laurens, S. c.
Dear Sir: Referring to the matter
of having special term of the court
of general sessions ordered for this
county fs,r the purpose of having tried
the case of the State VS.. Sam Boozer
and J. C. Hipp, charged with the muir
der of my brother, Mr.. j., S. Gillian,
I desire to say that, after thinking
well over the subject, and after hay
ing consulted with several Of our
! leading citizens, I have determined to
write to request you not to request
the governor to order the court.
Speaking for myself and the other
brothers and sisters Of the late James
S. Gillian, want to say that all we
want in this case is tJr the defend
ants to be tried in accordance with
the law of the State, and in the usual
manner of having such cases disposed
of. We do not ask any special favor
from any of the authorities. We feel
that at the proper time a. court and
jury will do what is right, and if the
guilt cf these men is established by
the evidence, that righteous verdict
and just sentence will be had.
We regret that some one has seen
| fit to send an anonymous letter to the
governor. Doubtless the sender of
the same was friend of ours and of
our dead brother, but we think that
! he erred in writing as he did. We
are sure that Judge Watts is afraid
of no living man, and We know he did
what he considered right and just
when the case was before him last
week. While We were disappointed
that the case was not called for trial.
we can not attach any blame to either
the judge or yourself.
AS there will be a court in June,
and as a special court could not be
had until May, We do not see the nee
essity of a term before the regular
term. Then, too, special term in
May would come at a busy time with
our farmers, who usually are jurors,
and the county would be put to large
extra costs.
I wish to thank you for your state
ment that you will call the extra court
if we desire it, and I wish also to
thank Governor Blease for his; state |
ment that he is willing to order the
court.
Very truly yours,
J: R. Gillian,
Services at SilYerStreet.