The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-09-08

Sessions which commenced Monday
with Judge Ernest Moore presiding
is still in session.
When we went to press Monday
the case of The State VS.. Chester
Fleming was being tried. Fleming
was charged with murder. The testi-
mony showed that he was endeavor-
ing to make peace between a negro
man and his wife when he was at
tackled by the negro, knocked down
and otherwise mistreated. He shot
the negro, death resulting. The
jury found him not guilty, the Soil
citor consenting to this verdict.
The next case called was that of
The State VS.. Boston Stewart
charged with murder and carrying
concealed weapons. Stewart, accord
ing to the testimony was in wagon
with Capt: W. C. Shaw when he was
attacked by another negro, who shot
at Stewart as he sat beside Capt.
Shaw in the wagon. Stewart return
ed the shot, killing his assailant.
The case was a plain case of self
defense and the Solicitor consented
to a verdict of not guilty on the
homicide CHARGE, and the defendant
consented to a verdict of not
guilty of carrying concealed wea-
pons. He received a sentence of
thirty days or 500.
H. M. Fell was tried on a charge
of murder and acquitted. Mr.. Fell
shot a negro woman several months
ago when he was attacked by her on
his plantation near Cedar Springs.
Henry Harris was charged with
murder and carrying concealed
weapons. Henry shot an obstreper-
ous negro at church. The deceased
had been ordered off the church
grounds by the officers of the
church. He was living with "his wo-
man" who had formerly been a
"friend" of Henry. AS he went away
from the church he saw Henry sit
ting in the church and asked him to
come out. He Immediately attacked
Henry with a knife Henry ran but
the assailant was about to overtake
him, when he turned and shot, deal
a death wound. The jury found
Henry not guilty on the homicide
charge, but guilty OF carrying con-
cealed weapons. He was given SEN
tence of 80 days or a fine Of S1OO,
the Judge not understanding why
Henry carried pistol to church on
the Sabbath as he was not one of
the men to take up the collection.
Tuesday afternoon the Grand
Jury made its report and the men,
bers were discharged after six had
been drawn to serve for next year.
Those drawn were S. ]. Link, John T.
Magill, ]. G. Baskin, w. A. Hardin,
J. B. Price and Thomas Stevenson.
The court then commenced the
trial of The State VS.. Willie Robin
son charged with murder and carry
ing concealed weapons.
The jury in this case found the de-
fendant not guilty on the first
count, but guilty of carrying con-
cealed weapons, and he was SEN
fenced to pay a fine of one hundred
dollars, or serve thirty days on the
chain gang. He paid his fine.
The case of The State VS.. Law
renee Callahan was continped until
the next term of the court.
Clarence Searles was charged with
selling moonshine liquor and plead
ed guilty. He was sentenced to a
/ term of six months on the chain
gang and to pay a fine of two hum
dred and fifty dollars, the chain
gang part of the sentence to be sus-
pended upon payment of the fine
and during good behavior.
George Douglas, colored, was tried
Wednesday morning for murder and
was found not guilty. 1t appeared
from the testimony that George went
into the field to get a plow stock
which the deceased negro had. A fuss
H. Oh rly