Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-24
MOTIONS REFUSED

prejudice the minds OF jury against
their Client" attorneys for William c,
FAIRIES, charged with the murder OF
four persons at Glover, September 6,
yesterday afternoon made motion for
change of venue in the case, which
motion was promptly refused by Judge
PeuIifoy. In quick succession the
judge also refused to grant a motion
for continuance Of the case, stating
that the principal counsel for the de-
fense at a previous trial had given
him perfect assurance that he would
be ready for trial at the present tern,
if the case were continued from the
September term.
Motions relative to the two excuses
came at a special session of the court
held at 4:3O yesterday afternoon in
accordance with previous arrangement
with the judge. Only few people
were present in the court room when
the two points were discussed, those
present including two sons Of the de-
fendant, William C. FAIRIES.
Blease Opens.
It was Former Governor Cole Blease
who made the opening motion. I'VE
are making motion for a change OF
venue" he argued, mot because the
people Of York county are not honest,
truthful and good but because we be-
lieve that they can be swayed to such
height that they might possibly for
get their sense of Christianity, right
and reason"
There is published in York county,
the attorney went on to argue, "a
county newspaper of county wide in
fiuence. This newspaper, The Yorkville
Enquirer, has more influence in York
county than any newspaper or state
wide circulation has in any county.
The editors Of this newspaper regard
it as their god above every other earth
ly consideration and try to serve 1t
with their might and main and to make
it worth while. That newspaper has
had great deal to say about this case,
and no man can read it without say
ing that he has formed some kind Of
an opinion relative to this case or
any other case that he has found
published therein"
Mr. Blease went on to quote an edi-
torial from 1.-THE Record" a newspaper
published in Rock Hill, the editorial
being relative to the alleged killing OIL
Jim Whitener by Robert c. Whitesldes,
near Glover, a few days ago. Quoting
the editorial he said that although
short, it was strong" and he proceeded
to argue that such editorial arguments
were calculated to prejudice public
opinion.
There would be no reflection on the
people of York county," he went on 10
say, "if this case were changed from
York county to Fairfield or to Lam
caster or to any other county in this
circuit. Under the circumstances the
citizens of any other county rather
than those of York county should try
this case"
Arguing the matter of continuing
the case until another term, Former
Governor Blease went on to say: 1t
should not be tried now because the
minds of the people are too much In
famed. Again, believe that as sure
" as there is a God in heaven, this
man should not be brought to the bar
of Justice now. 1 believe that this old
man in doing what he did either acted
in defense of his life and property or
else was irrational at the time he did
what he is charged with doing. Be-
cause Of the state Of the public nina
now believe that if he were not COM
PEELED by the law to pay the extreme
penalty, he would be required to do
so without the law.
"a proposition that we made relative
TO this case" Governor Blease went on
to say, met with a rebuff from man
who has been a prosecuting officer Tor
many years and who in a short time
will be called upon to request pardon
from the Greatest of all Judges. We
have dealt fairly in this case. Our Of
fer has been refused.
81 would have it understood the
attorney said in conclusion, that what
1 have said relative to a change OF
venue and for a continuance, is with
the utmost regard and the utmost
respect for the people of York county
who have been more than kind to me-"
Spears Objects.
Resisting the two motions of attor-
neys for the defense, Solicitor Spears
said:
This case would have aroused the
hearts, minds, consciousness and gen.
cral feeling of any people-even those
in darkest Africa. A statement of
facts relative to it has been told IN
the press-undisputabIe facts have
been heralded throughout the civilized
world, it is quite true.
1T is true that counsel for the de-
tense have made a certain proposition
to the state and it is also true that if
for the defense thought that