The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-04-04
COMMON PLEAS COURT
HAS BUSY WEEK
Friday After Disposing
Of Many Civil Cases of Minor
Importance.


journed Friday night In addition to
the cases tried as reported in our
last issue, the following other cases
were disposed Of:
Mrs Leila Williams sued the Able
vile Cotton Mills for five thousand
dollars damages, alleged to have
been incurred by reason of a false
arrest The jury charged with the
trial of the case was unable to agree
after remaining out all Of Tuesday
night and a mis-trial was ordered
In the. case of J M Morris and his
wife against Southern Railway COM
pany and A. n. Barnett, for DANA.
ges due to sickness caused by abusive
language and a refusal to issue
bill Of lading, the jury rendered a
verdict in favor Of the defendants.
The case of Vermillion VS.. Wo-
mans College of Due West, which
has been in the courts for several
years, was tried on Thursday. It
will be remembered that Mr.. VerA
million, a young man residing near
Donalds, was killed when the bal
cony Of the new Memorial Hall at
the Woman's College collapsed dur
ing an entertainment given about
three years ago. His father, as ad-
ministrator, brought suit against the
Woman's College for damages by
reason of his death. The college
pleaded that it was a charitable in
stitution and was not liable in an
action for damages. In the first trial
the action was non-suited on this
ground, the defendant relying upon
its charter to prove that it is
charitable Institution. The judgment
was reversed by the Supreme Court,
which held that. it was necessary to-
show that the institution was being
operated for charitable purposes, as
a corporation organized for charit-
able purposes might be operated for
profit. In the present trial it was
shown that the college is owned by
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Synod of the South and that it is
operated solely as charitable in
stitution. Upon this showing The
presiding Judge directed a verdict
for the defendant. The case will 60
to the Supreme Court again and
probably to the Federal Courts if
the judgment is affirmed. The case
has been hard fought on both sides.
Messrs. T. P. Cothran Of Greenville,
and Graydon & Graydon Of Colum-
bia represent the plaintiff. Tho col
!ege is represented by Messrs. Grier,
Park & Nicholson Of Greenwood,
and William P. Greene of Abbeville.
W. L. Mundy, Mrs. jamie B. Stew
enson, and Mrs. Cynthia Hannah
brought their action against Mrs.
Essie D. Anderson for contribution,
alleging that their father the late
Samuel T.. Mundy, decided them GER.
tain lands on condition that they
were to pay one thousand dollars OF
his debts; that Mrs. Anderson refus-
ed to pay her part and they were
forced to pay the whole of the in
debtedness. They sued her for her
share, two hundred and fifty dollars,
and the jury gave them verdict for
the amount, less certain rents which
it was found they were due her.
John Hunter, through his attorney
Sam Adams, Esq, sued Chief of Po-
lice, J. E. Johnson to recover a pis-
tol taken into possession by Chief
Johnson sometime ago, and for two
thousand dollars damages. The jury
which tried the case awarded the
plaintiff the pistol but denied him
anv damages,