Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-17

CONTEMPT OF COURT in NORTH CAROLINA.
-[From the Winston IN C. Sentinel "A
scene occurred at Stokes Court, on Tu' SHAY
evening Of the first week of court, that was not
put down on the bills.
At the fall term, 1872, Of Stokes Superior
Court eolurcd man insll!tcd w. d. hlcGill
and sought shelter in the Court House. where
Mc1i followed him, and gave him u beating
in the presence Of the Judge, and was fined
500 for contempt of court McGill was in
dictcd for an assault, in the same case, and
was fined last week $50 by his Honor, Judge
Cloud. After having been punished by Sc
we're fine for contempt once, McGlll was lncensed
at the heavy fine imposed on him the second
time aud concluded he would give bis Honor
just cause to 20 for him in regular heather
Chinec style, and on Tuesday evening, during
the sitting of Court, he walked up to the stand
leaned over and spoke in low tone to him and
your nose, you Odd scoundrel" The Judge,
who was expecting friendly message, was
taken back at what he heard and thinking
he might have misunderstood him, asked him
what he said, and Mctiill repeated it, The
Judge then called instantly for the Sheriff to
comc and arrest him and take him away, say.
ing he was drunk, and had threatened to pull
the Courts nose. NlcGilI very coolly got up,
and spoke to the persons in court and said it
was untrue that he was drunk, but he did tell
that old rascal (pointiug to Cloud) that he
would pull his nose.
The Sheriff by this time had reached the
scene of action, and the Judge ordered him to
to carry McGill to Jail, and keep him there
sixty days. As McGi descended the stand,
he turoed to Cloud aud said "You nor
any Of your party are honest" whcrcupon the
judge repeated his order Of sixty days in Jail.
BY this time the Sheriff was descending the
stairs leading down out of the court room, and
McGill fired back at the Judge and said:
"Tl get even with you and your party yet,
you Id old scoundrcl" The Judge then
had McGill brought back, and examined the
statute TO see what was the extent of his power
to punish in the case, and finally ordered the
Sheriff to conine McGilI 10 jail for thirty days,
fined him two hundred and fifty dollars, and to
remain in Jail until the fine was paid land to give
bond in the sum of 900. with good security,
to keep the peace with all citizens Of the State.
The Sheriff, with guard then started to jail
with the prisoner, and had gone some distance
with him, and when they arrived at Taylor's
Hotel, where d man was holding NlcGill's horse
he pulled out pistol aud told them to stand
back, that he did not intend to go to Jail, and
called to man to bring him his horse. As
the Sheriff nor any of his guard were armed,
and knowing Mc(iill to be desperate man,
they concluded that it would be an unhealthy
business to attempt to stop him. and he mount
ed his horse and rode slowly out Of town.
We were present in the Court house and
witnessed the whole scene, and the above is
plain statement Of the whole affair without
comment.
We learn that the Judge had bill brought
against Sheriff Gentry for allowing the escape,
and that the trial of the case has been rcmov-
ed to this county.