Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-08-13
From the Raleigh Sentinel
Judge Watts and the HabGaS Corpus.

we haVo already alluded to the haLcdS
C0'p'tS case tried, or rather hrourht be-
fore Judge Watts, on the 2Gih dav of JpIx,
which resulted in the release on bail Of
tho persons accused of the murder Of VIM.
IL. Putney and the stabbing of Ed. Moss.
From facts that have como to our know.
ledge since the former nllnSiOn 10 the af-
fair, we are of opinion that il needs some
farther ventilation.
1t Will be remembered that Walker and
Bell were brought before Mayor Harrison
OF this city for examination under CHARGE.
the former of stabbing Putney with u BAY
onet, OF which wounds he died, and tho
latter OF stabbing Moss, who was then rep
represented by Mai Martin, Chief Of Po-
lice, as lying dangerously i'll. Tho evidence
before the Mayor was direct and positive
that Walker was seen to plunge tho bayo
net into the back Of Putney, and other
witnesses stated they saw Bell stab Moss.
On this evidence, Mayor Harrison commit
ted Walker to prison without bail to an
sWer the charge OF murder; and Bell he
committed in default OF $1,000 bail to
await tho result of Moss's wounds. AS m
honest officer, he could do NOTHING less.
Walker at first, as We arc informed.
made an effort through his friends to take
his case out of the hands Of the civil au-
thorities and to be turned over to tho
military. 10 what extent these efforts
were carried we are not informed, but it
seems they were unsuccessful. The next
move was to get hearing before Judge
Watts on writ of h0bcUS CO,puS, and tho
Judge being sent for arrived in Raleigh by
the five o'clock train Monday evening July
Goth. The petition was gotten up and the
writ issued that night What lawyer acted
for Walker and Bell is not known, as we
understand Mr.. II. 9. Badger, who was
announced in the tSt4nClarG as counsel for
the parties denies having had anything to
do with it. BE that rs it may, tho writ
was issued and the parties brought before
Judge Watts Mt the Marlborough House. -
Here the petition was heard and granted
Walker was admitted to bail in the sum of
$500, and Bell i'll likO amount But the
strangcst and most unhCArd Of part Of the
proceedings ia, that tho witnesses who had
in the trial before the Mayor,
were not summoned, nor were they
present; the Solicitor Gem Cox. thounh
within n mile was not notified; tho Mayor
who had conducted the preliminary cv
was not consulted; in short, the
prisoners who had been committed npon
direct and positive evidence, were admit.
ted to bail on the statements alone, mado
in their own petition, and perhaps the
mental in bringing the Judge to Isaleiph.
but who could not possibly know anything
Of the facts Ill the case rs they occurred III
But Walkers was not the only case that
needed the assistance OF judge Watts
One Emory, formerly IaIlOr, had been ac-
cused OF furnishing prisoners the means OF
escape from Jail, (amOng them, Willis, the
for which service he had receiv
ell compensation in money. The evidence
in this case was go strong and positive that
Emory was held to an8wcr in bond of
81, ,0OO, in default of which he was commit
tod to Jail. 1t is known that parties were
anxious to have the bond re-.
duced, and SO, on Judge Watts visit ON
the Goth, n writ of A,tbc,ts co1,oug was sued
out in his case, and without hearing Of any
evidence, at least from tho witnesses who
had testified against him, his bond was re-
duced to $500 and the bail given by his
anxious friends, which all believe will DO
Such proceedings look strange in North
Carolina. We don't think anything like
it was ever seen on heard of in the State
before, and VIC trust i'll God nothing like
it will ever be witnessed in tho GOOD old
North State again. 1t is currently stated,
and wo believe it to DO true, that on the
night OF these trans ActlOn8, Judge Watts
was not in n condition TO attend to Judi
cial or any other matters, in Il discreet AMI
proper manner; in short that he was too
much under the influence OF liquor to know
much what ho was about. If this should
be construed into contempt Of Court"
we think VIC can fully substantiate what
VIC have said, namely, that the above is
the current report, and that Tie report had
foundation in fact
But there was another little judicial Job
required of the Judge on that cveniful
night. The Governor wanted an ininnc-
ton against Col. Harris, TO keep him from
in the Wilmington, Charlotte
and Rutherford Railroad affairs. The
papers wero fixed up ready for the Judges
signature, bnt where was the JUDGE ut
that time ? Will Judge Watts say--nay.
dare he say, where he was at the time lie
was called for 10 sign that Injunction 4?
We have thus alluded to this affair be.
cause we believe duty to tho people and
tho State require it. We have stated
nothing hastily, nor on any yagno rumor,
and VIC are Convinced that the facts are, in
the main, as here set forth. II then, thew
be true. what a condition of affairs 10 they
present !! Let the people of all classes
ponder them.
Wa lpoIn that C. T, IFaI.~iu S,nnr;,i.,,