State v. Holmes

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Chief Justice Blease.

James Holmes, Willie Evans and Esther Robinson, all colored, were indicted and tried together, in the Court of General Sessions for Sumter County, for the crime of murder, growing out of the alleged killing by the defendants of Nora Franklin, by strangulation.

The defendant, Holmes, was, usually called “Donnie” Holmes; Evans very often went by the name of “Mottie” Evans; and the woman, Esther Robinson, bore the nickname of “Queenie.”

Neither of the defendants engaged counsel. The Court assigned counsel for each of them. L- D.…