The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-26
VAUGHN LOSES APPEAL. .
DECISION OF FEDERAL TRIBU-
NAL AGAINST CONDEMNED
SOUTH CAROLINA
PRISONER.
To BE Rcscntenccd SOon-Appcals OF
MallOy and Bethune Cases Dismiss
ed-JOc Grant Sent Back for Trial.

Columbia, June 21.--Attorney Gen.
eral Peoples received a telegram to-
day announcing that the United
States Supreme Court had affirmed
the sentence of death upon T. U.
Vaughn and had dismissed Vaughn's
appeal with cost. The telegram also
stated that the Supreme Court had
dismissed the appeal of Joe Grant.
negro, wanted in this State on the
charge Of murder, and who has been
fighting extradition. Grant will be
brought to South Carolina at once for
trial.
The following is the telegram to the
Attorney General from James d. Ma
her. 'lerk of the United States Su-
preme Court:
Vaughn VS.. South Carolina. Af-
firmed with costs. United States ex-
rel Brown VS.. Cooke. Dismissed for
want Of Jurisdiction"
The negro, Joe Grant, alias Brown,
a white man in Edgefleld county in
1906. He fled to Pennsylvania and
has been fighting efforts Of the South
Carolina officials to get him back here
for trial. After an extended hearing
the governor of Pennsylvania issued
extradition papers for the return Of
Grant to South Carolina, and it was
an appeal from this decision which
Grant took to the United States Su-
preme Court. and which that body
dismissed today.
1t is the expectation of Attorney
General Peoples to expedite the re-
turn Of Grant to this State for trial
Il. Y. Vaughn, who also lost his
case before the Supreme Court today,
is under sentence of death on a con-
viction of criminal assault. He was
former superintendent of the Odd
Fellows Home in Greenville. and hlb
ftriai attracted vide attention - ks
based his appeal On the ground that
the mode of legal execution had been
changed, after the time his alleged
crime was committed, from hanging
to electrocutiOn, and he contended
that this was in the nature Of an ex-
[ post facto law. But the Supreme
Court overuled him on this point.
Vaughn will be resentenced at the
next term Of the general sessions
court of Greenville county.
Vaughn is at present confined in
the State penitentiary, and it is stated
that he has not spoken word in
nearly two years. and that he con-
stantly acts as if he is insane. It has
been thought for some time that
Vaughn was either insane or is a
splendid actor for he has been acting
as one demented. During the early
part Of this year DR.. A. p. Herring, Of
Baltimore. while in Columbia, made
close study Of Vaughn and gave it
as his opinion that the man was only
acting. During Gov. Manning's visit
to the penitentiary last week one of
the newspaper men who was along
observed Vaughn. At that time he
was seated on the floor, head bowed
and fingers constantly interlacing. AL
though addresse" in a loud tone Of
voice he did not seem to notice that
ne was spoken to, nor would he ut
ter a word or pay attention to any
one near him. 1t is likely that a COM
mittee Of medical experts will be ask
ed to pass on the question Of wheth-
er Vaughn in insane or not.
Vaughn was convicted in October
or 1912. and has been confined in the
penitentiary ever since for safe keep
ing.
Two other capital cases from this
state. Joe Malloy. of Bennettsville,
under sentence of death for the mur-
der OF Prentice Moore, and Will
Bethune. Of Clarendon county, also
under sentence Of death, have been
affirmed by the United States Su-
preme Court on the same point in
volved In the Vaughn case.
Attorney General Peoples has Won
all six of his cases before the United
States Supreme Court this year. In
addition to the four mentioned above,
he won two insurance cases, which
were taken up on appeal.