The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1874-10-28

Cuurt, and thereforetoo late to hear the
change Of his Honor, Judge Kerr, Of which
all spoke In the warmest terms of COM
iiendation. One reform has been lis
augun,ted under the new regime, which IL,
the punctual presence ofthc Judge and
Solicitor or tie day iixeJ for the opening
of the term. Suilors witnesses. Jurors and
Others are thereby assured oftIle prompt
despatch OF business, and are saved all 81
that uncertainty and vcxation which
formerly attachedto u acknowledgement al
lbe pleasure Of the presiding Judge.
Judge Kerr, in persoa as elsewhere,
won golden opinions. bybislegal learning,
his strict immrtiality, his patience and
hi-uniform courtesy, and commanded res
pect BY lis exaction Of difference to the
dignity oftheiribunai from theattcndants
upon the Court.
Mr.. Strudwick, ss Solicitor, has also
confirmed the favorable impressions al
ready much in the preceding Courts ofthe
Circuit. His uufiaggIng industry has
already bruuglt him upto the ready
transaction ~ bis new duties, and he
shows nothing uftlle ilIcxperience ofthe
novice.
He Is always ready with his cases, and
shows a ready familiarity with the Grim
inal law and practice which makes him
already The peer OF any solicitor Ia the
State. Ills powers Us an advocate are
great, aud In The only important case in
which we heard him speak, his name both
III Argument and eloquehce was at once
established In Person County.
The whole OF Tuesday was occupied In
the trial Of isobt. Barnett, white, for rape
upon tile person Of Julia Barnett, a colored
girl OILS years Of age. The prisoner, q
man IS years Of age, aud extensively con-
neclec In tile Cnuntyo Person, was de-
Tended by MeSsrs a. w. Tourgee, z. >.
wlrrtead, aud $. q. Barnett. The case
for the prosecution rested mainly nron the
testimony OF the injured par y. corrob-
Grated by the evidence 81 AZ oil negro
woman. MiIly barnett, with whom the in-
jured party lived
The facts We're clearly proved, and the
crcdibIIisy OF the witnesses npt impeach-
ed, aud the defence WAS rested solely up-
on the ground 81 the want 81 moral re-
sppnsibiliiy on tie part OF The prisoner. II
was clearly proved by DIS. Jordan and
Fuller that Barnett from early childhood
had l,een more OF Irs@ insane: that his in-
sanity had always manifested itseli.in ven
ery and religious mania; that insanity
was hereditary, and That tile prisoner
couId therefore badly be held legally
responsible for his acts.
Ex-Judge Tonrgee, made most able
aud Ingenious defppce which won forhin
high communication as an advocate. The
charge Of Judge Kerr was very able and
learned. aud instruciinG the Jury, that i
they found. that AZ the time ofcommitiing
She crime, tie prisoner had exhibited \
consciousness of the consequences Of his
offence. that heknew the distinctions be-
tween right aud wrong, l. did not relieve
him frum The consequences ~ moral de-
pravity. The Jury must bring In YER
die, 81 Guilty.
The Jury retired, and aficr a consul,a-
lion of ab.ul M hour. returned with u
verdict 81 " Not Guilty on account Of In
sanliy.'
The next morning motion was made
10 conilnc the prisoner ia the Insane Asy-
lnm al Raleigh. which motion wa under
a.lyisement when We left.
The criminal docket was filled with ca
ses, mostly offences against morality. A
number Of indictments ugainst y. ".
Tuck, late Clerk of the Court for non.fea.
sance ofofiice, were sent 10 10 The Grand
Jury.
We were pleased to see 50 many people
Al the Court House. and 70 become ne
quainirl with rice - remarkable ~
their energies. aud general sucerss IN bus
lncss A. that 81 Person County. We had
no reason to complain of our success a.
nong them. This has been a hard year
In The county. owing 10 failure In The TO-
bacco and grain CROPS, set We had the
good fortune 10 meet with several gentle
men WIN had escaped the general calam-
It's, and whuse crops % tobacco promised
to redeem, with them, much Of past mis-
fortune.
Tue following gentlemen, mcnll,ers OF
the bar. were present ~ the Term:
Mes-rs ". n. Jordan, NJ. Mctsehec, J. J.
Lansdale. G. +. wiusteaa, =. &. Barnett,
and ". Il. Bumpnss Or Person, John w.
Graham q Orange, Al w. Tourgee OF Cub
ford, 4. u. Nithers. aud Geo. \. Thomp-
son Of casWell, aud A. II. Henderson OF
Granville.
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Pace Hrs's &c..