The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-16

NN~S III \OuTt.
Thursday afternoon the Jury re-
turned verdict of acquittal in ia
vor of JChn Davis and Thomas Will
son. colOred, freeing them from the
charge OF murder, which was placed
against them when the two men shot
Joe Randolph in difficulty entered
upon during a hot supper at Wilson'S
house.
Thursday morning at the conclu-
sion of the States evidence MIR. l.. ID.
Jennings, for the defendants, made
Il motor for the judge to direct a
verdict CT not guilty in favor of the
two men, on the ground that they
had shot Randolph in self defense
and on the additional ground on the
part of Wilson that he was protect
ing his home. Solicitor Stoll wanted
to mol pross the case, but Judge Spain
iNi"SSu ~ dioW MN 10 90 SO at tnat
stage Of the proceedings. Judge
Spain did direct a verdict of not
guilty in favor of Thomas Wilson on
the grounds of defense Of his own
home.
The arguments were completed be-
fore court adjourned for dinner and
the Judge charged the jury when
court was convened at 8 O'Clock. The
jury remained out only a snort while
before returning with a verdict Of not
guilty in favor Of both of the men.
The next case commenced upon was
that of the State vs. NIingo Smith,
Captain Ludd. Henry Smoot and
Bunyon Smith, charged with assault
and battery and highway robbery.
The prosecrting witnesses are Messrs.
f. l.. Osteen and f. p. Osteen. In
this case all of the alleged eye-wit-
nesses Of the difficulty between the
men were excluded from the court
room during the hearing Of other
witnesses.
The difficulty between the four de-
PENDANTS. colOred men, and the two
prosecuting witnesses, white men,
commenced when the negroes took
a car away from the white men. La
ter there was some trouble between
two or the men as to the ownership
of pistol and, 1t was alleged by the
States witnesses, that after the two
white man had started to leave the
siding where the difficulty had start
ed. that the negroes followed and
took the pistol and twenty dollars
away from f. l.. Osteen.
The State closed its case at about
noon and the defense started out by
putting up witnesses to testify to the
good reputation of the defendants.
Messrs. Jennings and Epps repre-
sented the defense and the State was
represented by Mr.. j. II. Clifton and
Solicitor p. II. Stoll.
The following bills which were re-
ferred to the grand jury. completing
all ready at this term Of court, have
been returned with indictments, as
follows:
Primus Hopkins, alias Wade Hop
kins. violation of prohibition law,
true bill.
Anthony Fielder. larceny Of live
stock continued. no witnesses.
Silas Davis and Eunice Kirby. for
nication, continued, no witnesses.
Blain Smith, violation Of prohibition
law. continued. no witnesses.
Garfield Wiley, breach OF trust
with fraudulent intent, continued, no
witnesses.
John w. Coffey, Jr., breach of trust
with fraudulent intent, continued, no
witnesses.
Lewis Little, murder, continued. no
witnesses.
~ - III uilSoIi, Dledcn OF trust with
fraudulent intent, continued, no wit
nesses
Dave McClary, burglary and lar
ceny, continued. no witnesses.
Henry Davis, burglary and larceny,
continued. no witnesses.
Abram Richardson, assault ard
battery with intent to kill, continued,
no witnesses.
Thomas Haynsworth. violation of
prohibition law, continued. no wit
nesses.
Frank Taylor. assault and battery
with intent to kill. continued. no wit
nesses.
I,.l