The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-06-18
Court Proceedings.


Our report Of the proceedings of the
court of general sessions closed IN our
last issue with the announcement of
the verdict of guilty in the case
against Acquilla Sharpe, convicted of
seduction last Wednesday. Sentence
was suspended pending argument on
the motion for new trial.
Judge Rice in passing the sentence
upon young Mr.. Sharpe gave him a
lecture and in part said:
"The jury had plenty of ground
upon which to convict you, but there
has been some doubt in my mind as
to your guilt, viewing all of the cir
cumstances, but not enough, however,
for me to set aside this verdict, but
enough for me to give you the benefit
of that doubt in passing sentence upon
you. have made this sentence light.
but am taking one of the best bonds
that know of and do not We 1T you
to understand that because i have
made this sentence lighter than it
otherwise would have been that I in
any manner condone anything you
may have done, but because there has
been little doubt in my mind as to
whether or not you are guilty of the
crime as charged by the State and that
the jurv found you guilty of. I have
made this sentence little lighter than
it otherwise would be.
"The offence with which you were
charged was and is very serious one,
and whenever a man is convicted Of 1t
he ought to be punished; there is no
question in my mind about that. 1t is
not the light offence that some men
seem to think it is. 1t is serious
one and sometimes I think that the
law is Lot as severe az it should be.
1t is not light thing to ruin a
woman's life, and that is practically
that you are charged with. But I
have been lighter in this sentence on
you for the reason, as 1 have just
stated, that there is some doubt in my
mind; but in order to keep you
straight in the future I have taken a
bond, which is to be recorded in the
clerks Office.
"The sentence of the court is that
the prisoner, Acquilla Sharpe, be held
at hard labor upon the public works of
Lexington county for a period of
twelve months, or be confined at
hard labor in the State Penitentiary
for like period, and pay a fine Of
$500. Upon payment of lie fine above
imposed the sentence Of imprisonment
and hard labor is hereby suspended,
but ou condition that if the said de-
fendent is ever convicted of any
offence hereafter in any court of gen.
eral sessions of this State, then the
said sentence of labor and imprison-
ment shall Immediately become efec-
tive"
The sentence is one of peculiar
character, and is the first of the kind
ever known here. IS
Sharpe paid the fine of $500 and
went free.
THE LEE CASE.
An effort was made by the counsel,
for the defense to postpone this
case but Solicitor Zimmerman forced
the trial, stating that there was too
much expense attached to the case in
the matter of getting the witnesses
here and there was really no reason
for the continuance. Judge Rice held
the same view as the Solicitor and
the case went to trial Thursday.
'Not guilty' was the verdict in
the case of Arthur V. Lee, baggage
master, who on February 21, last, was
charge d with mortally wounding Capt.
". L. McNeill, conductor Of the Sea-
board Air Line Railway, near Swan
sea. The jury was out for one hour
and fifteen minutes. Lee shook hands
with his counsel, and expressed his
sincere appreciation to the Hon. O.
M. Efrd, who had made a strong and
hard fight in his behalf. Young Lee,
as did the other members of the Lee
family who had been patiently await
ing the fate of their relative, passed
over to where the jury sat and each
member Of the family thanked each
of the jurors personally.
Young Lee was overcome with Joy,
while the widow of the dead conductor,
and other relatives, were sadly dis
appointed. The Lees passed quietly
from the court room and departed on