The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-18
FRAZIER AND BIGHAM FREED.
CHESTER MEN DISMISSED on
CHARGE OF ROBBERY AT
PARR SHOALS.
Magistrate Mann Holds Court I'm Fair
field County i'm Important Case -.
Two illnesses Testify as to Rob-
berry, One Of Whom Swcars to
Identity OF Men Charged.

WinnsbOrO, Oct. 15.-In a short
opinion, just 81 words, Magistrate
Frank K. Mann late this afternoon
ended what was probably the most
notable and interesting preliminary
hearing ever held in Fairfield county
Afer day Of action, the scene of the
hearing being shifted to a new base
ten miles from the starting point, at
$50 o'clock the magistrate dismissed
two warrants charging John Frazier,
Jr., and Bissell Bigham, Chester lads,
with highway robbery and assault and
battery in connection with the robbery
at Parr Shoals September when
thieves made way with $16,OO8.11, the
property Of the j. G. White Con-
struction company.
The deciding opinion was rendered
at Ashfords Cross Roads after the
hearing at this point had occupied two
and one-half hours. Converting at II
O'Clock in the Fairfield county court
house at WinnsborO Magistrate Mann
sustained a point raised by the State
that he had no jurisdiction to sit out
side his own judicial district and the
hearing reopened at o'clock within
stones throw of the magistrate S
house and few hundred yards be-
foC
bOro.
The afternoon session at Ashford's
Cross Roads was featured by the ap-
pearance of two witnesses, participa-
ton or attendance by perhaps a ma
jority Of the lawyers Of Fairfield and
Chester counties and three arguments
by counsel Magistrate Mann ended
the hearing with his decision:
7 'The decision Of the court is that
the court is satisfied that the State
has failed to make out probable
case and it is the order of the court.
that is as to the identity of the de-
fendants-and it is the order of the
court that they be discharged,
At the opening of the court Will
liam H. Lyles fired the opening gun
Of the day when he inquired what
judicial circuit Magistrate Mann rep
resented. He was informed that the
magistrate serves the Eleventh dis
trict. He then asked him in what dis
trict WinnsbOrO is situated and was
advised that it was in the Seventh dis
trict. Mr.. Lyles promptly advanced
the contention that the magistrate
was out of his jurisdiction and could
not proceed without the confines Of
his prescribed territory.
Magistrate Mann ruled that the pO-
stion Of the State was we'll taken
and that the hearing must be con-
tinued in his jurisdiction. 1t was then
be adjourned to Ashford's Cross
agreed that the proceedings would
Roads, ten miles distant, the home
of the official. 1t was announced that
the recess would extend to o'clock.
a scurrying for lunch and means of
| transportation to the distant court
| followed.
The court recOnvened at O'Clock
in a grove adjoining Mr.. Manns resi-
dence.
The warrants charged highway rob-
berry and assault and battery alleged
to have been committed September s..
The case was transferred from the
court of Magistrate G. =. Douglas Jr.,
to the court of Magistrate Mann. The
former is an employee of the j. G..
White Company.
II. w. MahSr, cashier and paymas-
ter Of the j. G.. White company at
Parr Shoals, was the first witness. Mr..
Mahar was on the stand about 25
-ainutcs and recitcd the details of the
hOldup, practically as previously re-
ported in The Item. He told of arriv-
ing at Parr Shoals about 2.2O o'clock
from Columbia, signing for and re-
ceiving the money from the express
agent and proceeding down the rail-
way track where three armed
men with blackencd faces held up him
and his companions and made way
with the money. The exact sum was
6,00S.11. 1t was in three packages,
bank notes, gold coin and miscellan-
eous coin. Mr.. Lyles asked several
questions at the outset of Mr.. MaharS $
testimony and then allowed the wit
ness 10 pursue his testimony in mar
ratiVC fashion.
Ills statements were illustrated i'm
part ~ blue print detail OF the sta
ton and vcinitY. This was put i'm eVi-
dencc by the state. The croSs-eXami-
nation of the witness by Mr.. Mo
al hnr