The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-11-25

" AA1AA0 VOG40A VVO4V4O
Lidie, and on the night Of the assault,
was made, there was little snow at
Chappells, S. c., and Tom Boston
and Lidie Spearman attended the show
and Mr.. W. R. Smiths little girl and
some other children we're also a! the
show. Lidie and Tom renewed their
quarrel at the show, and when the
show closed, Tom went ahead and as
Lidie and these white children came
by him, ne attacked Lidie and threw
rock which struck her and glancedN
and slightly grazed Blanche, the ht7&
Etle white girl, which is my gran
daughter. This happened on the publ
lie highway. You will see Mr.. Smith
Sr., was the first to sign the petition
saying thereby ne is satisfied. Alsd
the girls brother and myself. We ain
feel he has been punished sufficiently. L
Tom has been an obedient and fafgn-
full servant, having lived with me-
for four years before this
happened and 1 understand has BEEN
good prisoner and is now a trust
on the chain gs1g. He had no one
help him in tie case as the girls Wer
our people we could not afford tD
show him any favor at the time, so
let MIN go to court without any legal
ior other assistance.
Most respectively,
f tsigned) J. R. Irwin"
.'The petition asking for clemency is
signed by W. R. Smith, sr.; W. 0
Keith; NJ. P. Allen; ". J. Holloway;
W. O. Holloway: J. L. Holloway; y
H. Johnson; W. IA. Webb; T. T. Reid
w. R. Reid, Magistrate; W. R. Smith!
Jr.; A. P. Coleman, in the fact almost
all of the citizens Of Chappells' de-
pot, including those who seem to be
mostly interested in the matter.
upon the showing presented in be-
half of the defendant, he has beeI
granted a parole, during good beha
ior, November 25th, 1913"
George Wilson Case.
"In this case the evidence Of all
witnesses, both for the State and
the defense, was to the effect that III
poor, unfortunate negro was subiec
to epileptic fits. On the day Of th'
commission of the offense Of which hey
was convicted, he and his wife and I
several other negroes were on their
way from their house to the field To-
90 to their usual work. This neg II
was walking along with his ar
around his wife, and the whole crow
was singing. George and his VIII
were walking some little distanc
ahead of the other negroes, and as he
went through hot sand bed he wasM
suddenly taken with one Of theseM
severe fits threw mis- wife into
road, and grabbed a piece firoI
rock which was lying near and stru
her in the head, causing her dean
Immediately upon striking the h
the testimony shows, he himself
backwards, and for some minutes s
fered fearfully from the effects Of TN
epilepsy. The defense put up was
sanity. The jury convicted MIN
murder and recommended him to meI
cy, whereupon the judge sentence
him to life Imprisonment in the Sta
penitentiary.
There certainly was no mid
ground. If the negro was responS
for his offense it was a cold-bloo
calculated murder, and ne should h
been hanged. If he was not respon
BILE on account Of this epileptic fit,
should not have been convicted Of al
offense, but should have been confn
in the State hospital for the insai
for treatment.
However. Re has been confined
the State penitentiary, at hard lab
since the 18th day of Apri
which, in my opinion, is ample
ment. in any view of the cas-
the offense which he committed!
Therefore, in a spirit of fail
and of mercy, I have this day g
o1 thi5 poor, unfortunate negro,
has m ore to help him, and no
TO speqk for nim, a parole dur
his good behavior"