The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-09-17
Court Convened Monday.


of general sessions for Lexington
county convened on Monday morning
at 10 o'clock with the Hon. John s.
Wilson, of Manning, Judge Presiding.
Frank W. Shealy, Lexington's popular
and very efficient clerk Of court, had
everything in readiness, as his custom;
the other officials of the court were at
their respective posts and the court
got down to business without hitch.
When the clerk of court polled the
grand jury every member was present
but on account of the serious illness of
the child of Grand Juror Ed W.
Weaver, he was excused from fur
ther attendance upon the court. Judge
Wilson charged the grand jury very
briefly, stating at the outset that he
took it for granted that his predeces-
sor at the beginning of the year had
thoroughly charged the body as to
their general duties. Judge Wilson
called the jury's attention, however,
to the i'm portance of making careful
examination of all of the county
officials affairs and urged them if they
had not already done so, to do so be-
fore adjourning at this term. A each
bill was handed out the court explained
in a clear and concise manner the law
governing the case, leaving but little
for the jury to do save considering
the evidence as it was presented by
the various witnesses.
The first case called for trial was
that of the State against "Dick"
Keisler, negro charged with violat-
ing the dispensary law. A number of
witnesses we're sworn for the prosecu-
ton and the defense, and it was late
in the afternoon before the case was
given to the jury. A verdict of guilty
was rendered as to five counts in the
Indictment, but Judge Wilson deferred
passing sentence until later in the
week. Solicitor Zimmerman appeared
for the State, while A. D. Martin,
Esq, represented Keisler.
The next case called was that Of
Will Suber, negro from Peak, charg-
ed with selling liquor. The case was
concluded Tuesday morning when the
jury, of which L. H. Shealy, of Lees
vile, was foreman, returned verdict
Of mot guilty." F. U. Shealy, Esq,
Of Ballentine, represented Suber,
Solicitor Zimmerman for the prosecu-
ton.
At the conclusion of the Suber case
Solicitor Zimmerman announced that
the State was ready in the case of the
State against Elliott Pound, charged
with obtaining goods under false pre-
tense. Attorney Asbill stated that
the defendant was ready and jury
was quickly empaneled. Young Pound,
it was alleged, schemed and devised
with intent to defraud Mrs. Minnie
Saunders, his first cousin and widow
lady, into trading to him good mule
for mare which turned out to be
worthless; Pound guaranteeing the
animal to be as sound as a dollar. -
After trial lasting all day the case
was given to the jury at O'Clock
yesterday evening. After remaining
in their room all night, a verdict of
guilty was rendered.
The court today is engaged in the
tr. al of the case of the State against
Lew Gunter, of Steedman, upon the
charge of murder. It is alleged that
the defendant killed Lester Gunter,
his first cousin, during the month OF
October, last year. There are many
witnesses on both sides and the trial
will consume all Of today and possibly
run into, if not through, tomorrow
The State is represented by Solicitor
George Bell Zimmerman and E. L.
Asbill, Esq, while Messrs. Efird &
Dreher and Senator w. H. Sharpe
appeared for the defense. Every inch
of ground is being hotly contested by
the opposing counsel.
CASES DISPOSED OF.
Troy Phillips, a white man entered
plea of guilty upon arraignment on
Monday to the charge of housebreak,
ing and larceny, and was sentenced
by Judge Wilson to serve 10 months al
hard labor upon the public works Of
Lexington county or like period in
the State penitentiary. Phillips, in
answer to query by the court, stated
that his home was in Houston, Texas
that he had been travelling for the
past four years "making it easy:'
that his parents were dead, and that
he had but few, if any, relatives liv.
ing. Judge Wilson took occasion to