Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-03-05
Spring Term of Court of
General Sessions.

NlGnOJdk SSSSlOttSs
The court of general sessions con-
vened Monday morning with Judge
T. J. Mauldin presiding. His charge
to the grand jury was comprehensive
and set forth their duty along practi-
cal lines in most effective manner.
Judge Mauldin paid a beautiful trib-
ute to the lamented B. E. Nicholson,
having been associated with Mr..
Nicholson while he was member OF
the house of representatives, before he
was elected judge.
Solicitor Zimmerman handed out
a number of indictments to the grand
jury as soon as the court was organ
lied and prompt returns were made
in the following cases:
]. j. Doolittle, indicted for ma
Ilicious mischief, true bill.
John Gibson, murder, true bill.
Walter Brunson, house breaking
and larceny, true bill.
D. C. Nicholson, murder, true bill.
Archie Oliphant, assault and bat
terry with intent to kill, true bill.
Frank Carroll, assault and battery
with intent to kill and carrying con-
cealed weapons, true bill.
Clarence Bussey, assault Of high
and aggravated nature, no bill.
Criss Penn, indictment for seduc-
tion, true bill.
John Elam, assault and battery of
high and aggravated nature, true
bill.
Mack Terry pleaded guilty to the
charge of burglary and larceny.
The case against D. C. Nicholson,
indicted for killing negro at his
home near Cleora, was the first tried.
Having quickly established the fact
that he shot the negro who came to
his home drunk, in self defense, it re-
quired but short time to arrive at
verdict of acquittal. The State was
represented by the solicitor and the
defendant by w. H. Nicholson.
The second case called for trial
was that against John L. George,
fireman of the Southern railroad, for
killing A. R. Brown, the engineer, at
Edgefeld during February of 1918.
The State introduced testimony to
show that the deceased man was shot
while standing upon the ground near
the engine by Mr.. George while the
latter was standing in the cab OF
the engine and that after shooting
one time he jumped from the engine
and followed Mr.. Brown, firing twice
more. The defendant testified that ne
fired upon Mr.. Brown in defense OF
his own life as he, Brown, advanced
upon him with drawn hammer, and
that after adjusting his engine he got
down from the engine and fired two
more shots in self defense. A large
number of witnesses testified in the
case, some of them coming from CO.
lumbia and othr places in the State.
The case attracted much attention,
the court house being crowded to It's
full capacity throughout the entire
trial. Every step was vigorously con-
tested by counsel on both sides. The
Solicitor was assisted by N. G. Evans
and the defendant was represented
by Sheppard Bros, Mr.. S. M. Smith
and Hon. Cole L. Blease. The jury
retired at 1915 o'clock and rendered
verdict of guilty of manslaughter
at 3:45 o'clock.
TIL grand jury completed its work
Tuesday afteroon and was discharged
after making its formal report.
1t is probabl that the criminal
docket will not be cleared before
Saturday.
The court of common pleas will
convene next Monday and will con-
! tinue in session two weeks.
Howe ,,o,, +r;ad PatA-Cake7 Moth