The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-18

Jury Severely Criticised for Acquittal
OF Criminal.
Editor Daily Item.

pursuit Of his lawful business. father
of dependant family was shot
down by the red hand Of murder,
none the less murder because his life
was saved almost miraculously.
Through days of mortal weakness
and weeks of pain and suffering he
lay quivering between life and death.
Friends proved true as steel" at this
time and men as "good and true
men" as ever sat in jury box know
ing the unprovoked. dastardly at
tempt made on his life. asked his
consent for them to save the coun-
ty any expense and the court any
trouble. With deep gratitude for
theirssioyalty. the offer was declined
to let the law take it's course.
The criminal. through carelessness
and >inefficiency of our officers. was al
loweHtO escape without arrest. Rela-
tives In sister county offered a re-
ward for his capture, and time drew
a curtain on the first scene in a trag-
edy.
A few weeks ago, through the Wig
ilance Of friends and officers of this
adjoining county. the criminal was To-
Gated in his hiding place. brought
back and turned over to Sumter au-
thorities for punishment.
Now. for the first time in years did
the victim and his family feel that he
was safe from the bullet of the mid
night assassin. Once again, came Of
fers from other men 'true and tried"
to put the criminal where he could
menace him no more, without
trouble to court or jury. and once
more passion was suppressed. to let
the majesty of the law be vindicated.
Yesterday this vicious man was ar
raigned in court to stand trial for his
crime. With q functional trouble
dating from the shooting, his body
Scared. and carrying numerous shot
imbedded in his person. some causing,
annoyance, this law-abid-.
ing citizen attended court to see JUS.
tice done and the law triumph.
Now for. the personnel Of the dra-
ma. The State proved concusively.
that Wash Williams had stolen a
large part OF Mr.. Kirven's crop. that
Mr.. Kirven went to Wash's house.
under orders from the law. to get
what was left. that while standing
in Wash's yard directing his helpers.
surrounded by Wash's family. Wash
he was shot in the side,
The load was seen TO come from a
hole. fresh cut (showirg premedita-.
tion in cold bloody in the window of
Wash's house. The load entering his
body. the wadding falling at his feet.
After ne left, apparently mortally.
it was testified that man
who looked like Wash Williams was
seen to slip from the rear door of
his house. in a STOPPING position. look
furtively around and in tho same bow
ed posture dodge into a nearby swamp.
AS our vigilant (?) officers did not
inconvenience him after week or
so he reappeared in the neighborhood.
A man who enjoys the esteem Of all
and of undoubted veracity. hired
Wash for day labor, and testifies. that
at no time would the negro put his.
gun out of his reach.
Shortly afterwards ne fed the
State. With this sworn testimony the
case was left in the hands Of the jury,
Did they remember "the wicked flee
when no man pursueth?" Why did
he go in hiding Immediately? Why
keep gun always? Why have his
family reported him dead? How these
questions were answered, I know not
ASto JuotiCC NCI IcT eyes WIlllc lnSy
deliberated?
After time they file with stately
tread into the temple Of justice to
pronounce him mot guilty" The as
sault must have been dream or
perhaps wandering zeppelin dropped
a fateful bomb that caused this trag-
edy. Again. time draws the curtain.
Now Mr.. Editor. the last act in this
tragedy is not written, but here is the
material and it must follow as surely
as night follows day:
A peaceful. law abiding citizen has
narrowly escaped death at the hands
Of a mean. cOwardly negro who bears
a bad reputation. The negro knows
he shot to kill. Mr.. Kirven knows
the negro shot him. The jury knows
the nerrn Ia upiltv Co1f ,>cococ,,o to a.