The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-04-13

Life Threatened, She Says.
The allegation of the prosecutrlX
that Kenneth Gossett had threatened
her life is she called out TO John
Gossett and the other girl after they
had left the automobile, and that 1t
was that threat which caused her to
submit. was brought out on cross
examination by Proctor A. Bonham'
for the defense, and was the first
time that any such allegation has
appeared in the record of the case.
J. Olin Sanders, sheriff of Ander-
son County, told of the ldentlllca-
ton of the Gossett boys by the two
girls and testified that although
Kenneth Gossett denied that he had
committed crime on the prosecutrlX,
he inferentially implied that he had
laid his hands on her, Parts OF his
testimony were substahtiated by j.
w. Clamp, his deputy.
Court Room damned.
Court convened at 10 o'clock and
udge Sease Immediately ordered the
Coors opened to admit spectators, who
we're iammed and wedged on the out
:de. 1t was as if a dam had broken
"a stream of humanity poured
through and quickly filled the seats
md compacted in the aisles.
Judge Sease ordered the aisles
cleared and all who could not get
seats to leave the court room. Then,
when there was no move made to
obey his orders, he exclaimed: Clear
these aisles, you! You who are look
ing at me, l mean, have to get seat
or get out. Sheriff, clear the aisles.
If they can't get seat make them
get out" Sheriff Burts and his dep
uties began clearing the aisles and
many were forced to leave the court
room. but approximately one hundred
stood in the rear.
When John and Kenneth Gossett
were brought into the court room
they were placed in an aicove in the
bar of court and were invisible to
the spectators. They were arraigaled
at 1910 o'clock and both pleaded not
guilty, Kenneth Gossett in clear, res
onant voice, and John Gossett in an
undertone. The father and mother of
Kenneth Gossett were in the court
room. Both boys were neatly dress
ed in greenish brown suits. Neither
appeared to be nervous. AS they
stood in the dock they appeared to
be nothing but lads just out of
knickerbockers. The younger boy,
Kenneth, appeared to weigh about
10 pounds, and his cousin, John,
about ten pounds heavier. Both have
clear cut, intelligent features.
The defense, before the drawing of
the jury, interposed the same objec-
tions which were made during the
first three days of the trial. They
were overruled, but noted by the
stenographer. The defense by these
tactics is laying the foundation for
an appeal should the case 60 against
their clients, it is believed. All the
venire, thirty-three in number, were
placed on their voir dire. The state
was allowed FIVE challenges and the
defense twenty. The state exhausted
four of it's objections on the first
venire and the defense thirteen.
Judge Sease set aside six of the We
nire for cause, principally because
of relationship, and three temporar-
lily. Seven jurors were sworn when
a recess was taken at noon until 2:3O
o'clock. in order that the new venire
of thirty names drawn in open court
might be summoned.
First Juror Excused.
W. A. King, farmer, married, the
first venireman, was excused by the
court.
Of the first venire panel. NJ. G..
Sherard, Walter B. Wilson, j. c. w.
Powell, @. W. Sims, R. C. Parnell, r.
l.
R. H. Purdy, T. O. Price, D. E. Nick
els, Earl Murdock, w. j. Milford and
o. T. Bradberry were objected to by
the defense. Practically all of them
on their voir dire admitted that they
had either read or discussed the case,
some Of them forming an opinion
but all claimed that they would be
governed by the weight of the evl-
dence and the law. They are far
mers and all married, living IN varl-
Gus parts Of Abbeville county.
C. Lamar Richey, a bookkeeper Of
.LLo,,:Il ;,o1o A,I . & Ellis :.