The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-01

now. i am DIS luHoCeut ds a He"
born baby"
+ Bigham's show of weakness at the
end may have been in some measure
due to the fact that he was not sus-
tanned by the presence of his wife
and children whose devotion has been
so marked a feature Of the trial.
When it was announced that the jury
was about to return to the court
room Mrs. Bigham and the children
left and heard the news Of the ver-
dict and sentence while in the office
of the clerk of court downstairs.
Wife Faints in Office
Mrs. Bigham tainted when she
heard the verdict and Mrs. Worrell,
the wife of a Florence policeman
who has been her constant companion
during the trial, went to the court
room for doctor. DR.. E. NJ. Hicks,
attended Mrs. Bigham and when she
was made comfortable she was taken
back to Mrs. WorrelPs boarding
house where she has been guest.
A record attendance marked the
final day of the trial, the percentage
of women growing greater than ever
and their manifest interes. viSloiy
increasing. It was an orderly crowd,
however, and only once during the
day did the judge have occasion to
rebuke any outbreak On the part OF
spectators.
Attorney A. L. King began his ar
gument for the defense shortly after
the court opened. Mr.. King read I'M
pressively from the Gospel accord
ing to St. Matthew, chapter 2S, and
drew the analogy. between this case
and the false witnesses against the
Savior, and then from St. Matthew,
chapter 27, the demand of the mob
for the release of Barabas and the
.crueifying of Christ. The attorney
handled this delicate proposition very
effectively and without bringing upon
himself any show Of feeling upon the
part of listeners. 1t was daring
thing to do and he did it we'll.
AS Mr.. King warmed up to his at
tack on the prosecution for introduc-
ing the Arrowsnith testimony and
began to vent his opinion on the Ar
.rowsmith fee of $4,000 for straight
ening out the affairs Of the Bigham
estate, Mr.. Gasque rose and asked
that such attacks be stopped.
Judge Menminger promptly as
serted the courts prerogative and
gave Mr.. King notice that any fur
ther attacks Of such nature would
result in his being denied the privl-
lege of further argument and another
attorney be appointed to present the
case to the jury.
Attorney Apologies
Mr.. King at this period and more
extensively at the close of his argu-
ment apologized to the court for what
he had done, took the blame upon
himself and said he hoped the jury
would not allow his outburst to IN
fuence their attitude towards his
client. Aside from this incident Mr..
Kings speech was impressive and was
pronounced by those who heard 1t to
be masterly piece of advocacy. AT
times it was not cohesive and this
fault was the chief one critic might
have urged against it. Mr.. King
relied principally upon the defense)s
theory of the insanity of Smiley Big
ham, in committing the murders and
his subsequent suicide. He did, how
ever, bring into his speech the testl-
mony bearing upon the alleged in
sanity of Bighan's father and laid
stress upon the prejudice shown Dy
neighbors against the defendant.
The presentation of the case by
Solicitor Gasque is said by lawyers
and laymen to have been an exempla-
ry work Of its kind. He connected
his facts in logical sequence. From
that Sth of January when it IS set
forth that Edmund D. Bigham whip
ped his sister because she had accus-
ed him of stealing certain papers
connected with the Bigham estate
until the day when Mrs. Bisham tried
to smuggle bottle of chloroform into
her husbands cell, Mr.. Gasque did
not leave an unconnected link in the
story.
The story ran tina. Edmund d.
Bieham, the son Of rich father