The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-09-17
FINE RECORD MADE
in SESSIONS COURT
Thirty One Cases Disposed
of During Week.
A LIFE TERM
FOR SAM PRICE
Court Adjourned Saturday Afternoon
After One Of the Busiest Weeks on
Record. Business Dispatched with
Precision and Rapidity.

The general sessions court adjourn
ed Saturday afternoon after a record
breaking week of work Thirty-one
cases were tried in addition to six
appeal cases. Fourteen prisoners
were sent to the county chain gang for
total of eighteen years and fines
amounting to $4S5 were either collect
ed or arranged for. In addition to the
total of eighteen years of chain gang
life term sentence for murder and
recommendation to mercy. but his at
torneys have filed a notice of appeal
to the supreme court and it will be
some time before it will be known
whether or not he will have TO serve
the sentence.
Following the disposal of several ap-
peal cases from the lower courts, the
court Of general sessions adjourned
Saturday afternoon after n very busy
session. The court was occupied with
the cases of George Lark for violation
of the dispensary law, when this pa
per last went to press. George Lark
was convicted on two of three different
counts and given sentence Of eight
months or $3.50.
Jim Burnside was convicted OF an
assault and battery of a high and ag-
gravated nature with recommendation
10 l. Al.
or $50.
John Vance was acquitted Of assault
and battery with intent to kill.
r. II. Smith, white, was tried for as
sault and battery with intent to kill,
the prosecuting witness being a negro.
The jury remained out until late
Thursday night without reaching a
verdict. The judge ordered a mistrial
James Wilson, charged with THE
same crime, was given 500 or three
months.
The court disposed of two murder
cases during the Thursday session
In the morning the court took up the
case Of Sam Price, charged with the
murder of Tom Hunter, the killing
having taken place in "Possum Hol-
low" near one of the negro church In
this city. The killing grew out of
jealousy on the part Of Tom Hunter
and occurred on the night of March
22nd, when Tom Hunter discovered
Sam Price at the formers house, in
company with his wife. Price claimed
on the stand that he had merely stop
ped there to find out of Toms wife why
Tom had threatened to kill him and
that Toms wife had called him into
the house for fear of public criticism
If they should be seen in the yard
Price admitted firing the fatal shot but
claimed that he shot to protect him
self when Tom Hunter advanced up
on him in a threatening manner. Price
was found guilty with recommends
tion to mercy. The court over-ruled
a motion for a new trial and the ne
gro was later given life term SEN
tence.
Thursday afternoon John Allen, who
hlllcQ VIII IOOpey IN tne southern
portion of the city on the 9th of Au-
gust, was tried for murder and con-
victed of manslaughter with recon-
mendation to mercy. The lawyers for
the defense and state agreed to recon-
mend this verdict and the jury rem
dered it's decision without leaving the
room Allen was sentenced to two
years in the penitentiary or on the
public works of the county. He claim
ed that the shot which caused the
death of Will Loopy was caused by an
accidental discharge of a pistol when
he and VIII Loopy were playing with
it, No evidence matcrializcd to con-
tradict this testimony so the verdict
of manslaughtcr was rendered.
Tho court Thursday also disposed
of Jim Dendy, charged with assault
and battery with intent to kill. lie
was acquitted
In the case of the Stat, VS. lessee
Eccder, charged with assault and bat
tory with intent to kill. Reed9r was
convicted and given a sentence of 500
or . months.