The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-06-24
C. urt Orders Mistriai and
Case Goes Over TO
Another Term
DEFENCE ENTERS PLEA
OF SELF DEFENSE

Contrary 70 Expectation the Case was
Easily EGncd in Two Days, the Jury
Going to its Room Saturday Even
ing. Understood that Seven stood
for Murder, Three for MansIamght-
er and Two for AcquittaI.
After remaining out all Saturday
night the jury, in the case Of JOS. G.
Sullivan charged with the murdCr of
John NJ. Cannon, reported early Sun
day morning that they were hopeless
ly disagreed and Judge Gary ordered
mistral. And thus a case which
has attracted statewide attention is
prolonged until the September term
OF court. 1t is understood that the
jury stood seven for conviction of
murder, three for manslaughter and
two for acquittal. This alignment is
said to have been formed early in the
night and to have remained approx
rnately the same until morning.
The case was called Friday morn
ing with an immense attendance upon
the court. The attorneys for the de-
Tense asked for continuance of the
case to the next term on the grounds
OF unpreparedness and illegality Of
the courts continuance into sec
over Saturday night. Judge Gary
took the practical view Of the case
stating that the situation as to the
trial lasting over until another week
would be met when it arose. He
the. .eiorc ordered the trial to pro-
coed, 10 objection coming from the
state.
Judge Gary, OF Abbevillc, was pre-
siding and the other officers OF the
court were in attendance except
Sheriff Owings, who was very i'll at
the hospital. SOLICITOR Cooper, who
had been with the campaign party,
mad arrived the night before and
took charge OF the prosecution. He
was assisted by +. Barron Grier, of
Greenwood. w. r. Richcy, Of the To-
cal bar, and Alvin II. Dean, Of the
Grcenville bar, conducted the defense.
Though the brilliant array OF attor-
neys stoutly contested every inch of
ground, both sides seemed to be anx-
ious to confine themselves to the
rules of the court, making possible
the expeditions disposition of the
case. Testimony in the case consum-
cd about one even day, selection OF
the jury, addresses to the jury and
the charges of the court consuming
another day. The case vas given to
tho jury a few minutes before six
o'clock Of the second day.
One hour was consumed in select
ing jury. That the plea of self
defense would be set up by the de-
fcndant became apparent when the
first venireman presented himself to
be sworn, Attorney Richey requesting
the court to ask him whether or not
che believed in the law Of self de-
tense" .]udg, Gary refused To PIT
the question just in this form, but
did agree to ask the following qucs-
tion IF the court should tell you that
self defense, when properly made out,
is a perfect defense are you in
frame Of mind to heed the instruc-
tion Of the court Besides being re-
duired to answer this in the afiirma-
tive, each venircman was sworn on
his voir dire and several were re-
jected because Of having previously
formed or expressed opinions as to
the guilt or innocensc of the accused
and that it would be with some diff
Guilty to dislodge that opinion. The
following Jurors were drawn eight
being farmers, one a livcryman, one a
barber one a bank employee and one
a clerk. The following gentlemen
composed tic jury: NJ. r. Workman
foreman. John l.. Bagwell, Geo. W.
ProfIitt, Frank Abercrombe, J.. w.
Martin, IT. l.. Moye, w. Clyde Fowler
d. II. Simpson, S. j. Davis, j. Wofford
Anderson, w. Il. Medlock, B. w. Dav-
enport The jury was secured from
&c vcniremen.
Defense's Plea.
In making out the plea OF self de-
fense. which the defendant set up, the
case revolved largely around the