The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1920-01-21
SESSIONS COURT PROCEEDINGS
FOR FIRST HALF OF WEEK

court of general sessions for LeXing-
ton county convened on, Monday
morning with the Hon. James w. De-
Wore, of Edgefield, presiding. Judge
Prince, who was to have presided, was
detained at home on account Of ILL
ness.
On account of the absence of one Of
the grand jurors, that important body
did not get organized until after the
noon hour. Judge DeVore delivered a.
strong and impressive charge to the
grand jury, referring first to their
general duties, and then branching
off into a discussion of the public af-
fairs. The Court laid stress upon
the fact that the grand jury should
first acquaint themselves with the law
governing all public officials before
entering into an examination of the
books and records. He urged the
members to make no accusations un-
less they knew the same to be true.
Judge DeVore took occasion to COM
pliment Sheriff Miller and the several
magistrates of the county on the
prompt attendance of all witnesses.
The grand jury should examine the
public schools of the county, said
Judge DeVore. Teachers should be
paid better salaries. You can't get
firstc las teacher for a second class
price, he said. "It is better to have log
school houses and competent teachers
than to have brick palaces with in
competent teachers he said. The
grand jury was admonished to keep
close watch on all violators of the
criminal law.
The first case called for trial was
that of the State against Clifton Cha
Wis, former policeman of the town of
Cayce, who was charged with having
shot and wounded Dallas Craft, post
~
consumed all of Monday, every inch
of ground being hotly contested, the
defendant being represented by for
mer Governor Cole L. Blease. The case
was given to the jury early yesterday
morning and after remaining out until
late in the afternoon verdict OF
guilty was found. The defendant has
not as yet been sentenced.
The case Of Tillman Pinckney,
| negro Of Swansea who is charged with
the murder of his wife, was next TAX,
en- up and is still in progress today.
He is represented by Judge c. NJ.
Efird and Coils GeorgeT. Graham and
T. C. Callison. n.
Pleas of guilty were entered by the
following defendants: Lincoln Shealy,
young white man charged with taking
automobile without owners consent,
was given months on the chaingang
or fine of $500. . s- -.
John Henry Johnson, negro charg-
, ed with housebreaking and larceny
was sentenced to serve period of
two years. = s..@ -:
George Curtis, young white boy,
entered plea Of guilty to the charge
Of stealing an overcoat and was given
a sentence. of eighteen months. 49,.
Lewie Goff and Henry Reynolds;
white, entered pleas of guilty to the
charge Of assault and battery of high
and aggravated nature, upon pleading
guilty, was sentenced to pay fine OF
$1,000 each or&serveSthree months. S.
3. Strickland, charged Jointly with
Goff and Reynolds later entered a plea
of guilty to the:same offence and was
sentenced to pay; a fine Of 1s65.es>or
serve four. menths::' = e.. z. - -, :
Frank Wheeler arnegro, entesed~a
plea Of guilty to the charge Of forgery,
and received one year.
Adam Singleton. negro, charged
with intent to kill, received fine Of
$500 or thee months.
Robert Woods, Lexington negro who
q few months ago killed a, fine mule
the property of Mr.: L. l.: Parker, we'll
known lumbernlan, entered a plea Of
guilty and was given a sentence of
two years at hard labor.
The grand jury yesterday returned
a true bill against Jack Summers, one
Of the negroes charged with the nur-
der of young Harold Suber at Peak,
which occurred some weeks ago. Sum
n1ers will likely be tried during the
week