The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-03-19
Few Cases Are Now Left
Untried.
Faa'N4AAN PRESENTMENT
OF GRAND JURY
Grand jury Recommends that the
Bridge over Reedy River at Tum-
bling Shoals be Remedled; VIII In
vesdgate Unfavorable Reports as to
Rural Policemen.

AFTER a short session lasting from
wednesday morning until Friday night
the court Of general sessions adjourn
ed Friday night leaving very few cas-
es to be carried over to the next
term The only case OF general in
terest, that against Luther Boozer for
shooting up" the town of Goldyille
In January, was postponed until the
next term Of court because Of the ILL
ness OF Boozer. His bond, however
was increased from $1,000 to $4,000.
Another case of serious ASPECT was
that of the State vs. John Wright, col
ored, charged with rape, the victim
being the negro's step-daughter. This
was the last case tried Friday and
the jury did not return from heir
room until about 10 o'clock at ngiht.
Judge Prince and the attorneys were
Immediately called, whereupon the
verdict Of the jury was read. He was
found guilty and recommended to the
mercy Of the court. Judge Prince
sentenced him to 20 years in the state
penitentiary or on the public works of
the county His attorneys, Messrs. II.
s. Blackwell and j. II. Sullivan, have
filed motion of an appeal to the SUI
preme court for new trial, one of
the grounds geing that the sentence
was more than that allowed by law
in such cases.
Dave Johnson, a negro from the vi
cinity of Clinton, was convicted Of in
voluntary manslaughter and given a
two year sentence. This killing took
place at a turkey shooting during
Christmas Of 1911. Dave Johnson was
fiourshing loaded gun with the ham
mer cooked when it accidentally
exploded killing another negro nearby,
according to his story and evidently
according to the belief Of the jury.
This case was also appealed to the
supreme court.
The political campaign of last sum.
mer was echoed in the case Of the
State VS. Wess Hunter, Ted Garrett
and Foster Barksdale. Foster Barks-
dale and the prosecuting witness,
Wade Finley, according to the testi-
mony, got into an argument after the
county election as to who was the
victor in the clerk OF court race. AS
the argument proceeded the atmos-
phere got thicker, resulting in mix
up n which Wade Finley was severe
1y cut in the abdomen. In the mean
time the other two negroes interfered
to stop the fight, SO they claimed
Wade Finley thought otherwise, how
ever, charging that instead OF taking
Foster Barksdale off Of him they
were getting into the scrap them-
selves and helping to wage war
against him. Wade was so certain OF
the combination OF forces against him
that he was not sure, at first, who il
was that cut him. The solicitor and
the jury Strengthened the whole mat
ter out satisfactorily, the case against
Ted Garrett and Wess Hunter being
mol pressed and Foster Barksdale be-
ing found guilty of assault and bat
terry OF a high and aggravated nature
He was given six months or fine $100
Other cases tried were:
Will Williams, buying seed cotton
in night time, not guilty.
Blwood Smith, assault and battery
with intent to kill and carrying con-
cealed weapons, guilty OF carrying
concealed weapons, thirty days or
$780,
r. A, Curry, disposing of property
under lien, not guilty.
Will Sweet and Emery Peden, as
sauIt and battery with intent to kill
and carrying concealed weapons. Will
Sweet guilty of both counts, fifteen
months sentence Emery Peden found
not guilty
LII Lantern, assault and battery
with intent to kill and carrying con-
cealed weapons, not guilty
Jim Fuller, forgery not guilty.
The presentment of the grand jury
was handed in Thursday morning,