The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-04-10
NO CHANGE
OF VENUE
Gossetts Will Be Tried In Able.
ville-MiIitia Not Wanted

Abbevillc, April G.-Judgc Thomas
S. Sease late today denied the motion
for a change of venue in the case of
the State against John Gossett and
Kenneth Gossett, charged with GRIM
inal assault. Simultaneously with his;
denial Of this motion Judge Sease an
nounced that he would not have
either a company Of militia or part
of company as an armed guard at the
Abbeville court. He did not relish the
idea OF uniforms, pistols, swords and
bayonets in a evil court. 1t smacks
TOO much Of militariSm or PrusSian-
ism. he said and if the prisoners
should be brought to Abbcvillc under
military guard the militia would not
be allowed to come into the court
room. Sheriff Rurts was instructed to
swear i'm sufficient number of depu-
ties to keep the situation well in hand.
The judge does not object to q half
dozen or more armed. deputies in the
court room if they are needed.
Proctor Bonham, representing the
Gossctts, made an earnest appeal for
his decision. The Greenville at
tcrney's opinion was that unless such
a guard was provided, the case would
not be settled in the Abbeville court.
Judge Sease was unmovable in his
conclusion. He thought Mr.. Bonham
was in error as to the inflammatory
cl,ara cter of the sentiment of the
community. but said that Sheriff
Er,ts could swear in enough deputies
to protect the prisoners, who are in
tho GIeenville Jail.
Not Before Thursday
Tie defense has three days after
tie opening of the court Monday
morning in which to go to trial, and
Mr.. I;o.,j1am informed the court tina;
the defense would not be ready before
Thursday. Some preliminary motions
are tc be made hs- the defense tonlor-
row. Attorneys for the defense would
not Glivulge what these would be, but
prs su@.ption is that they will be for q
continuance of the case. One Of the
possible preliminary motions, is that
OF having venire Of jury rejected be-
cause some names we're thrown out by
county officials. Those thrown out
are known to be relatives Of parties to
the case. 1t is understood here tha!
such a challenge will come from the
defense.
Argument on the motion for c
change Of venue was begun at :;
O'Clock this afternoon, and the lesa
battle was kept up until { o'clock.
Proctor Bonham and James H
Price, of Greenville, counsel for the
defendants. made eloquent appeals 70!
q. change of venue in behalf OF thei,
clients. Chief points in their argu-
ments were that the public feeling was
surcharged with prejudices and pas
sions and the people so enragec
against the defendants that fair anc
impartial trial could not be granted
that because OF the enraged attitude
in the community no lawyer at the
Abbcville bar could be engaged to de-
fend the Gossetts and that this out
RACED public feeling would filter
through the very crevices about the
windows and doors Of the jury room
and through the keyhole, and pre-
judicc the jury.
George Bell Zimmerman. Of LeXlng-
ton. and Solicitor Blackwell. of Lau-
rens contended that when the crime
was committed March IA, the people
were indignant because of the char
acter of the crime alleged to have
.,ee. committed but that this feeling
OF resentment had now subsided; that
the people OF Abbeville were reconcll-
ed to letting the law take its course.
and that q fair. impartial trial couio
be had in Abbeville.
Many Aflidavits.
The defense submitted more than
100 afIidavits in which citizens gave
their opinion that a fair trial could
not he had in Abbeville. Chief among
these was that by foreman Morse OF
the grand jury which found a true bill
against the Gossetts yesterday.
The State offered about seventy af-
fidavits in rebuttal. One of these was
from, a brother Of the prosecutriX, IN
which he said the relatives had sub
naiIied their cause to the court IN Sooo
faith and and wanted the law to take
its course. Other attidavits submitted
hv the State were by J. Howard
Moore, state senator; J. L. Perrin
clerk of court: Sheriff Burts, t. L.
Cam. deputy sheriff: c. ]. Bruce.
United States marshal. and the Rev.
IL. Bristow. pastor Of the First Bap-
fist church here.
There is no semblance Of excitement
here. and consensus Of opinion is that
county officers will keep the situation
well in hand.