Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-03-13
ELECTION DAY COMING-JUDSsE l.
CLA RkE.


If the facts were not known from
other sources the conduct of Judge
Clarke of the Newbern District would
be sufficient to satisfy any reasonable
man that election day was drawing
near and that His Honor was candi-
date for denomination and that his
District was peculiarly strong in the
African element.
His Honor is usually very suavea eand
urbane and polite in his manner,
whether on Or off the bench, but then
circumstances alter cases and when
the tine for denomination draweth
nigh in district in which the majori-
ty of the electors are as black as His
Honor's hat, it becomes necessary for
His Honor to violate the reconstruction
acts and make a distinction between
men because Of their race and color
and previous condition of servitude.
His Honor, like the milkmaid in the
fable, has been counting his chickens
before the eggs were hatched, and in
dulging in pleasing speculation as TO
the color of his gown.
The poor milkmaid and the learned
Judge DO no; agree in the matter of
color, for whereas one said ''green it
shall be" the other says "blnck it
shall be, because black becomes me
best" And so his Honor is wrapping
himself in blackness, hoping that it
Will indeed be as with garment, a
judges gown forsooth. Ebony is the
watch-word and reply in the Newbern
District.
The particulars of the latest cases of
this, that have come to our attention,
we get from the Wilson -4drance. The
first case is that of : Mr.. B'irford( white
who being specially deputized by the
sheriff of Edgecombe county to carrya
negro criminal named Wilson before
his Honor, upon writ of Habeas Cor
1ons, brought him handcuffed just as
he had received him from the sheriff,
and a Radical sheriff at that. There
upon the Judge became indignant. re
leased the negro on bail and ordered
the white man into custody for con-
tempt, telling him he would not have
brought white man before him in
irons.
Now it may be that the law forbids
criminal to be brought before the
Judge in handouts, and it may be there
was technical contempt, but it is GER
tain that Mr. Burford was entitled TO
an opportunity to purge himself of
that contempt.
The other case was that Of negro
named Small Blount, who ''some two
months ago made a violent and ontra-
geous assaultupon Mr.. B. d. Stith at his
own house, and inflicted on him severe
injuries. The jury rendered a verdict
of guilty, and the Judge imposed upon
this negro the enormous fine OF One
Dollar ard costs
When a Judge thinks the majesty
of the law is vindicated by senten-
cling negro to pay 'fine of one dol
lar and costs for making violent and
outrageous assault upon white man
at the white mans own house, and in.
flicti.g upon him severe injuries, we
may fairly conclude that black men
are at premium il that judicial dis
trict, and SO also may we conclude
when the Judge tells white special
deputy, who for aught that appears is
utterly unlearned in the laws mystic
| ries, that the black prisoner owed his
handouts not to his guilt, but to his
color merely because he produced the
prisoner hand-cuffed- just as he re-
ceived him from the sheriff.
But we ought not to be surprised at
this or anything else done by Radical
Judge.
Our friends in the Newbern District
have our sincerest sympathy.