The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-01-15
Court Proceedings.

Court Proceedings.
The regul.z term of the court of
general sessions convened ON Monday
morning at 10 O'Clock. the Honorable
Frank B Gary, sfAb5eville, presiding.
All Of the officers Of the court were at
their post of duty, and no time was
lest in getting down to business.
The grand jury vas Immediately
organized. Judge Gary appointed Mr..
r. L. Lybrand, of Swansea, foreman.
Judge Gary delivered very strong
charge to the grand jury. touching on
many matters Of importance. he
defined the illicit sale Of whiskey and
the carrying Of concealed weapons as
tug two of the most potent factors
Ia the cause Of crime, and urged the
jurors to do their full duty. not only
while the court is in session but
throughout the entire term of their
o4Rce.
Tie first case called For trial was
that of Thomas Bypum and Oscar
Bynum, negroes, father and SOD, res
pectively, charged with having made
AN assault upon the person OF Mr..
Fletcher Wetherford, white farmer
OF the Swansea section during the
early fall last year. The defendants
had no lawyer and Tom Bynum con
Quoted the defense for the two. He
asked a number of questions and ad-
dressed the jury briefy. After re-
mainiug out short while the jury
returned verdict Of guilty. The
old man was sentenced to serve a
period Of 18 months on the chaingang
, whiee the boy received a sentence OF
four months.
John / CLANCY, white man OF
Swansea. was tried and convicted
yesterday on charge of breach OF
trust. It was alleged that MIR. Chsney
received a gun for repair, and meyer
refurnedi it to its owner. Upon motion
of T. O. Sturkie and T. O. Csliison,
attorneys for the accused, Judge Gary
immediately ordered new trial.
The court today is engaged in the
trial of the case Of Richard Harley,
q white man charged w.th assault aod
battery, it being alleged that Harley
shot Yastine Jefcoat; bis neighbor.
some weeks ago The case viii last
throughout the day.
Pleas Of guilty were entered in the
following cases: o. s. Rauch and
Arthur Harmon, OF Lexington, plead
ed guilty to yiolating the dispensary
Law, and Mr. Ranch was sentenced to
pay . fne $4,000 and serve four
months at hard labor, the latter sem
fenced being suspended during good
Behavior. Mr. Harmau was sentenced
TO pay q fine Of $1,000 and serve two
months, the lstter sentence being sus-
pended during good behavior.
@. W. Jsmison, white pleaded guilty
TO making an assault sn Conductor R.
A. Booker, and was sentenced to pay
. fine Of s2oo. .oo.
Elmer Hicks. a3oung white man
claiming New York % his home,
pleaded guilty to breach Of trust, and
received q sentence Of Ave months at
hard labor.
Henry Lewis, negro after entering
. plea Of guilty to the charge Of as
sault and battery, was sentenced to
nine months at hard labor.
George Grace, q negro, received six
months for privily stealing from the
person, he having entered q plea of
guilty.
Frank Bird, negro, was given five
months for assault and battery.
The case of Levi Gunter, charged
with the murder of his cousin, Lester
Gunter, near steadman last year, was
continued to the June term of court,
ON account of Senator Sharpe, Of coun-
sci for the defense, having to 20 to the
Legislature.
A true bill was returned in the case
of Acquilla Sharpe, charged with
seduction, bat the case goes over to
the next term.
The grand jury viii complete its
work today, with its presentmeut to
the court,
On account of the large number of
pleas of guilty, the work Of the court
will be completed this week, and all
i1rors who have been summoned to
appear on next Monday, have been
notified that their services will not be
needed, r. D. Haltiwanger.