The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-03-31
-, = s...,....,.. For the Standard. .
Martin County. leal.l

nal law, found IL very dlsaSfeeaDle, quite
distasteful and extremely unpleasant
Notwithstanding the time for holding the
court in this county has been so recently
changed by the Legislature, yet we have
had tremendous big crowd of people in
town all the week, among whom I noticed a
great many whose business was exclusively
confined to the criminal docket, which num-
.bered 40 cases. f''''f' 2ls.9if
This, Mr.. Editor, is very large docket
for this county, because the people here are
perhaps the most quiet, Industrious, sober,
economical and law abiding people of any
population in the State. Now you may,
think the writer of this is prejudiced in favor
of Martin county, Che being one of its ma
tives) to write thus of its citizens. Not so,
he is not prejudced, but simply speaks the,
plain, unvarnished truth.
The masses in this county are very poor
indeed, but are continually striving to get
along. Judge Barnes once remarked, when
he occupied a seat on the bench, that he had
travelled over the State and found less crime
in Martin than in any other county. This
speaks we'll for old Martin. s+
The politics of this county is slightly Re-
publican. The Constitution was ratified in
the county by seven majority, and the coun-
ty officers elected by very small majority.
l think, however, that the Republicans to-
day would carry the county by a largely
increased majority. '14 Ao
Ihave heard this week several Democrats
say that they were convinced of one thing,
that the Republican party was Il friend to
the poor man. The force of this important
truth is fastening itself upon the people. The
leaders of the Democrats are more reasona-
bic, not so litter towards Republicans, and
have come to the conclusion that there are
some very good features in the new Consti-
tuition. General Grant will make good
President, homestead is right, &C., the
poor mans wife and children ought to be
protected in their homes, &C.
You hear such expressions frequently fall
from the lips of hitherto prominent Demo-
Gratis OF the country-whce horses in the
party. There has been change for the bet
ter. Republicans entertain some hope for
these gentlemen, and trust they will ere long
give hearty support to the great national
Republican party, upon whose principles
depends the future welfare of this country,
and the perpetuation of liberty and freedom
to this people. srr.i
While speaking of our country, I forgot
to say word about our railroad. l mean
the Williamson and Tarboro' railroad.
This road was chartered in the year 1861,
and, though the route has been surveyed
and the line of the road adopted by the
stockholders, yet we have no road The
President, J. r. Stubbs, assures us that the
road will be built in proper time, but we
small fry are getting anxious to see the train
fLax iefl Mr ol-
tractor, was to have completed the road in
running order by the first of August next,
but up to now he has not even commenced.
The truth of the business is, I don't believe
we are going to have railroad from Will
/ liamston to Tarboro'. Something is the
matter. 1t may he the treasurer cannot col
lect his or 10 per cent. on stock subscribed,
or it may be that all the railroad iron in
America and Europe is sold, and just now
| Mr.. Pickral cannot purchase, or orperhaps the
''new bonds" can't be used. The next time
write hope I'd be able to inform you that
the road has been commenced with pros
! poets of its early completion. Give US the
railroad, Mr. Picknal, and God and our
country will bless you. ar
The bar this term was very well represen-
ted in court and out OF court There was
not civil suit tried in which jury was
| necessary. Most of the cases pending were
old actions of debt, in which the defendant
entered his pleas, or Judgment was entered
against him. Ills Honor ruled Il think
properly that when the defendant here
( tofore had paid his tenth, according to the
/ stay law he was entitled to plead, but when
the cause was at issue made up heretofore
! IL 70, Ia
There were two cases of manslaughtcr
tried at this term one against Henry
Brooks for killing Shack Sykes, and the
other against William Boyd for killing
! George Bailey, all colored. The evidence
| showed that the case of Brooks was killing
almost by accident The two boys Qor they
were not older than 15) had been bosom
friends, and the solicitor failed to show any
malice between them. Indeed the proof
was that they had always been friends and
attached to each other, and were perfectly
friendly the day Sykes was killed. The So
licitor seeing that the homicide was unin
territorial, and believing that the safety Of
the public did not require punishment, sus
pended the judgment upon paying costs
which course received the entire approba
ton of the community.
The case of Boyd was more serious. 1t il
true Bailey was advancing upon Boyd, with
out any weapon though, and Boyd cut hin
with an axe, which caused his DEATH Ye
Bailey was in the habit of carrying arg,
knife for Boyd, and had this knife on biz
person at the time he and two Others at
tackled Boyd. Boyd was at his own houst
with his family, was in no way interfering
with Bailey, and believing that Bailey and hi
two friends had come to assault him, o
course defended himself. He was convicted
but having been imprisoned five months f6
want of bail, the Solicitor concluded thi
was punishment enough, and suspended th'
i judgment upon paying the cost.
Abner S. Williams and Thomas Knowle
were tried for an affray and convicted, th
evidence disclosed regular street fight witt
pistols Williams attempted to shoot first
hut his pistol would not fire, so Knowles go
the first shot Williams ran anC
got behind a tree, Knowles pursued hin
around the tree, as the witness said, "lik
two squirrels" each party trying to shoe
as they went around the tree Williams
y boted for house near by, Knowles pursuet
him and fred once after Williams got il
the house. The last slot took effect ii
i Williams abdomen. Everybody at frs
thought that Williams was g dead man,
but DR.. Thomas G. Pugh pronounced th
wound not mortal. Knowles was imprisoned
60 days and Williams 80 days provided the.
are found in the county on the first May next
/ One William Boyle, indicted for settin:
i fire to an uninhabited house of F. A. Boyd
was convicted and imprisoned at hard labo
nine months. ,sgo lat81 -Tt -rfyl
! From the evidence I was satisfied tina
there were other parties implicated beside
Boyle It is true there was no evidenc