The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-10-05
Some Interesting
Cases In Court

Court of general sessions for Pick.
ems county which convened Monday
morning, September 25, adjourned
! Friday evening. Most of the cases
disposed CT were for violation of the
prohibition law.
"A case which created considerable
interest was that of The State VS.
Z. M. Duncan, charged with violation
OF the prohibition law. He was found
guilty and sentenced to- serve twelve
months on the chaingang and pay a
line of $1,000. HIS attorneys will ap-
peal to the supreme court. The evi-
dence brought out during the trial
showed that Duncan and Elzie Dur
ham owned and operated an illicit dis
t:llery in the Six Mile section about
two years ago. According TO the
testimony the still was at first To-
Gated on Duncan's place but was la
ter mover near Durham's home and
that after the still was moved Dun
can reported it to officers who cut it
UP and arrested Durham. Durham
mas served six months on the chain
gang and paid 800 fine for his part
in the affair, but IN some way the
case against Duncan was not brought
up until this term cf court A short
while after Duncan reported the still
ne was appointed constable or deputy
Sheriff at Cateechre and iSol:,,itor
Smoak ccntcnded that the "turning
up" CT the still by Duncan had some
thing to do with his being appointed
an officer Of the law Duncan denied
all charges against him. The Jury
was cut only a few minutes in reach.
ing a verdict of guilty. Duncan was
formerly policeman at West Green
vile, the town made famous by Stub
Turner.
Another interesting case was that
Of The State against Rhett Riddle
and Frank Haskins, charged with
Violating the prohibition law. Riddle,
a Srartanburg man, and Hask:ns, a
Canadian, were recently caught near
Georges Creek church by Rural
Policeman Julian after an exciting
automobile race of about fifteen
miles in which Mr.. Julian's stripped
down Ford overlook the high power
cd Stoddard- Dayton car of the sus
pected rum runners. Policeman
julian searched the car, and found
forty gallons Of whiskey in it, arrest-
ed Riddle and Haskins, confiscated
the whiskey and car, the body of the
cor, to all appearances, being especi-
ally built for hauling whiskey. The
case came up fer trial Friday. De-
fendants' attorney, Sam Nichols Of
spartanburg, made a powerful argu-
ment before the court contcniiEg
that the search cf his clients car
without a warrant was unconstitn-
tional and evidence obtained by reas-
en- Of such illegal search could no;
be used against defendant. The
State ccntcnded that Haskins gave
permission for the car to be searched,
but the. defense ccntented that Has
kins had no right to give permission
since it was not his car. In charging
the jury Judge Scase said an officer
had no right to search a car fon,
whiskey without a search warrant
unless the whiskey was in plain view
of the officer and that evidence un-
lewfully obtained against any one
could net be used. lie then told the
jury it must decide. whether Police
man Julian had obtained sufficient
permission to search the car Of the
defendants. After dolibcraiing sew
eral hears without reaching verdict
the jury was dismissed and a mis-
trial ordered. Haskins then plead
guilty tc the charge against him and
the case against Riddle was mol pros
sca. Haskins sentence was twelve
mcnths on the chaingang and a fine
of $1,000, but upon serving four
months balance of sentence suspend
ed during godd behavior. Although
the amot,nt of wh:skcy involved III
this case was the largest CT the week
the sentence was about the lightcst.
Jeff Harris was found guilty Of
violating the prohibition law and
sentenced to serve twelve months on
the chain gang and pay $1,000 fine
but urcn serving six months balance
CT sent.nce is suspended during good
behavior. Harris was found by oft-
ccrs in path near still. He claim
cd nc was cut hunting. but The StA:2
brought cut evidence that he was IL,