The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-19
General Ses-
sions Court
Wallace Case Begun This
Morning

The court Of general sessions
adjourned Saturday afternoon until
Monday morning after having been
in ser .ion for the first week of its
allotted two weeks term. The court
has made a fair degree~of progress
and has cleared UP and disposed
Of a considerable number of cases
on the docket.
The finding Of the jury in the
case of the State VS.. Joe Wilson,
charged with grand larceny was
guilty but with the recomnenda-
ton to mercy. This case came into
the court for trial late Thursday af-
ternocn and was continued through
Fridays court An appeal for a
new trial was heard this morning
and the council for the defense
brought forth their reasons why
Joe Wilson should be- granted a
new trial The main grounds~upon
which the argument for new trial
rested was. the fact that the jury
in this case had recommended
mercy and with the request that
the minimum sentence of three
months be passed upon him. Will
son was charged with the stealing
of horse, buggy and harness. The
defense also cited the fact that one
Of the main State witnesses had
been a felon. Judge Mauldin, af-
ter hearing all Of the arguments.
stated that the negro had been
found beyond reasonable doubt
guilty by the members Of the jury,
but that he would respect their
recommendation Cor mercy. He
passed the sentence hn Joe Wilson
of three months at hard labor
upon the public works Of Sumter
county.
The case Of the State VS.. j. c.
Wallace for an alleged criminal as
sault upon young girl under the
age of fourteen years was taken
up for trial this morning. There
was q great deal Of delay occas-
ioncd by the absence from court
of the girl upon whom the alleged
assault is said to have been COM
n1ittcd. This witness was sent for
and brought into the court room
by Deputy Sheriff McKagen. The
girl was found to be sick and the
court was further delayed by re-
Guests from the defense that
doctor be summoned and the girl
examined to ascertain whether or
not she was in a physical condi-
ton to testify in the case at this
time. The State then likewise sent
for a physician. The girl was ex-
anlined by the doctors after they
had reached the court house and
both physicians declared upon the
witness stand that she was in no
condition. to. go through with the
ordeal Of witness cross exaRlina-
ton. They stated to the court that
her pulse was 130 and that her
temperature was 102. The girl
was finally sent home but the
state made out subpoena and
stated that she must be in the
court room when her testimony be-
came essential. Several witnesses
were examined but no material
! advances made in the progress Of
the case. Court adjourned for its
recess at p. IN. and will convene
again at the $50 hour for the
continuance Of the case.
Attention Of the public is called
by the fire department to certain
people who hinder and interfere
with their work when they are
called to a. fire by getting in front
os the apparatus when on the way
to a fire and sometimes parking
their cars in the way at the fire.
It has become the habit with some,
Immediately the alarm rings, TO
race down the street in front Of
! the department endangering
themselves as we'll as others.