The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-01-15
BOTH ADMIT THEIR GUILT
UURGANOUS AND MRS. E. HIrE
SENTENCED.
Sensational Case Closes, But Mystery
Still Shrouds Batesburg Affair.
Mrs. Hite to Leave State.

lineman, and Mrs. Ella Belle Hlte,
charged with the shooting of ]. Mil
ton Hite, the prominent young busi-
ness man of Batesburg, on the night
of December s, last, to-day entered
pleas of guilty to the charge OF as
sault and battery with intent to xii.
and carrying concealed weapons, in
the Lexington county court of SEN
eral sessions, Judge T. H. Spain, o.
Darlington, presiding. Without any
ceremony Judge Spain passed SEN
tence upon the prisoners. Judge
Spain commanded the prisoners to
stand up and said:
The Sentences
"The sentence of the court is that
the prisoner, Walter Gurganous, be
sent to labor upon the public works
of Lexington county for period of
six months or be confined at hard
labor in the State penitentiary fo'
a like period, or in lieu thereof pay
a fine of $125.
sThe sentence Of the court is that
the prisoner, Ella Belle Hite, be
confined in the county jail of Lex
ington county, at such labor as she
may be able to perform, for period
OF three months and pay fine OF
500, provided that so much OF the
sentence as imposes Imprisonment
be suspended upon the prisoner pay
ing the fine imposed herein and up
on her leaving the State of South
Carolina and remaining away there
from"
Both Gurganous and Mrs. Hite
paid their fines promptly Before
sentence was passed, Col. J. Brooks
Wingard, of counsel for the defense,
said:
In Behalf Of Gurganous.
May it please the court, it is
agreed by the solicitor and counsel
of Mr.. Gurganous that counsel shall
have the opportunity at this point in
behalf OF Mr.. Gurganous, to make
a short statement and to have the
same incorporated in the. record or
this case. Mr.. Gurganous is quite
a young man, engaged in the lauda-
Bile business of earning an honest
livelihood by his own labors. His
present situation has impressed him
as perhaps nothing else could, the
fact that some time or other all men
are or may be subjected to influences
that too frequently cause a lapse
from the path of uprightuness and
right living. He is conscious even
now of not having committed any
OMANS-Bh22.p ST
legal wrong, which could justify or
give rise to the offence now pending
against him. He fully realizes the
indiscretions of his past associations,
but he is willing to enter this plea
and to meet this obligation rather.
than to enter into an investigation
which would disclose a situation
which might be construed by some as
bearing too hardly upon others who
are interested in this case, and could
result only in producing a sense OF
deep humiliation on the part of all
parties interested in the issues in
volved."
Mrs. Hite Signs Plea.
Mrs. Hite appeared in the court
room neatly attired in becoming
suit of blue. She did not appear the
least nervous until the time came for
her to sign the plea acknowledging
the part she played in the shooting
of her husband, which, perhaps, will
cause his stalwart form to be I'M
paired for life. Her hand tremblea
as she clasped the penstaff and her
signature showed that her conditions
was not normal. On her beautiful
face the lines of deep worry were
drawn and her stately form shook
with slight emotion. AS soon as the
sentence had been pronounced she
left the court room with the sheriff,
he alone appearing as her escort.
none of her relatives or friends hav-
ing taken any interest, apparently.
in her behalf. Her attorney, E. L.
Asbill, ESQ.,, of Leesville, did not
make any open plea for his client,
but he and the solicitor conferred
quietly with Judge Spain before the
sentence was pronounced.
A few feet distant on the opposite
side of the room sat Walter E. Cur
ganous, 1.-The man in the case
Mrs. Hite's eyes were centred on
the court and she did not glance in
the direction of the young man. At
the jail, in a private room, after the
proceedings were over, Mrs. Hlte