The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-03-05
tstaH Correspondence J

WALHALLA, March 4.--After de-
liberating for 28 minutes the jury In
the case OF William T. Mcclure. j.
woodrow Campbell. Calma c. Kay.
s.. Augustus Jones, John Mcdonald
and Will Kay, residents of the Fair
Play section of Oconee county, who
were placed on trial Tuesday morn
Ing charged with the murder OF Green
Gibson during race riot there on
December 20 last. tonight returned
verdict Of mot guiiir" with reference,
to all six defendants.
Interesting iHrfal.
The rendering Ct this verdict
brought to close the ftfee days
trial OF q case that has attracteu
wider interest .Eaan any matter tried
In the r--..Iisaai courts OF Oconee
county in years. The six msn who
were on trial are equally well known
Ia anderson, and interest In the out
come OF the case was probably keen
err In the IatfEr county than in the
county I'm which the matter was
tried. The cnse was not without con-
adorable intereAt In Georgia, as al
,ged incidents leading up to the
me for which the men were tried
ware said toi have transpired over the
GeorRiarSouth Carolina state line
from Fair Play. The defendants were
Pepresenteda by, an array OF attorneys
from Anderson. Walhalla and Hart
well, Ga. The matter Is OF further
interest In Georgia for the reason
that warrants have been lodged by
the authorities Of Hart county, sieor-
Kia, against some Qe the aefendants
III the case tried fat Walhnlfa, and
( the papers are now before the grand
Z jury or that county ar confederation.
These warrants charge the parties
named with having beaten to death
two negro men, George Gibson and
Tom Spiehte. on Georgia territory, on
the same Sunday that Green Gibson
, was killed.
Last Days Proceedings,
The course Of events on the last day
y OF the trial moved rapidly, and the
mater was brought to q close rather
8 essssier t.ssss sAssa been sss,,siciseate.s- All
testimony was finished &C the fore
noon session of court. Immediately
after the conycning Of court altar the
dinner recess arguments were begun.
Three attorneys for the defense
spoke. each Tor oximately so
minutes. while the solicitor alone
spoke for the prosecution. his argi-
nnent requiring something like an
hour and d half.
At $50 tho court began It's charge
10 sthe jury. and OF $50 O'Clock the
case was Fiven to them for decision.
Within % minutes the jury had
y agreed, and Immediately returned
= taiaiT ruiz T5TSitt OF not Euiiitty
No Excitement.
The verdict had been expected c0n-
seauently, there was nc surprise exs
pressed or demonstration when Il wac
announced. The decision or the, jury
seems to meet with general approval
OF + ose about here. within d short
while the court room had been clear
ed and tonight the streets OF Waihalle
( are deserted, and there Is. no evidence
Of an Intensely interesting trial hay-
Ing been staged In this little noun
4 sain town for the past three days
There were several dozen Andef-
~ sSa people in attendance ON the trial
~ fFolN the first but the number was
s Increased nm fhs 1ast
stay Thnse out .of-town peonie and
8 the men who were acquitted seays
Z for their homes Friday moTninG.
though some OF ttbe defendants and
Spectators who could reach their
Homes conveniently by automcbile
+ feft here tdni zlit
TIE Trial To-day IS
III testimony In the case had been
completed when court recessed at /
p'ci iock Tor dinner, and upon recon
Heniiag On hour end half later she arr
Rulnents were begun When court met
at 9.3 80 clOcl this morning the dsS
xetdnnt, William n. Mcclure. who
s kOok the stand Wednesday afternoon
and Wsss sexaIlipsd by counsel Tor tho
: 1efenset lreeunaee the Witness chair
,,i.,fs.. =, 49,