The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-20
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Mr.. Carson Sentenced to $50 and "a
Hours in Jail, but the ImprisOn.
ment Remitted.
The Case of John @. Riley Set for
Monday Morning.

| III yesterday 81 OTAR was given luil bc'
count of the difficulty which occurred in
open Court between Messrs. E. T. Carson
and John G. Riley, in which the latter was
slapped in the face by the former, on provo.
cation by calling Mr. Carson some opprobri.
Gus epithets.
Mr.. Carson was at once arrested for con-
tempt of Court and sent to jail, from
which he was soon afterwards delivered on
bail. His case was set for half-past o'clock
this morning.
Promptly at the appointed hour Judge
! Longworth, who had ordered Carson's ar
rest, opened Court, a large and excited
crowd being in attendance.
Mr.. ]. R. Sayler, who had been charged
by the Court to submit the specifications
against Mr.. Carson to the Clerk, filed his
papers, charging Mr.. Carson with contempt
of Court in striking Mr.. John G. Riley on
the previous day friday in the open court
room. The specifications defined the points
published yesterday.
Mr.. i. 7. Carson, the defendant; Mr.. A.
s. Longley and Mr.. Tnos. Shinkwin, repre-
sentatiyes of the press, and Mr.. Worthing-
ton, who were all present in the room at
the time of the difficulty, were called up to
testify, and did so. Mr.. Wulsin was also
called, but declined.
The relator offered Mr.. Riley, but the
Court declined to hear him. not thinking
his testimony to be pertinent to the ques-
ton in hearing
The witnesses testified that at the begin
ming of the affair there was remark made
by Mr.. Riley that Mr.. Carson had called in
the reporters to give publicity in the papers
to case then in progress before Judge
Longworth. Mr.. Riley denied this. A re-
mark followed by him; after which Mr..
Carson got up from his seat. without any
remarks, when Mr.. Riley called him q -
rascal. Then Carson struck the blow.
Mr. Sayler then proposed to examine Mr..
Riley, to prove justification of Carson's
action on account of Riley's remarks, but
the Court said that in this proceeding it
was not necessary to hear him or any fur
ther testimony. The Court, moreover. re-
marked that Mr.. Riley shouldn't escape.
Judge Longworth said that it was not
question whether Riley's remark justified
the act, but that it was of such nature as
to mitigate Carson's ottense. Riley himself
was not now on trial. There was no such
thing as justification for the blow espe-
elally in Court of justice.
AiAC Noult Iucll pIOCEtleu 10 QeClQe the
case as follows and said:
'1t is an extremely painful one to him.
IN view OF all the circumstances and in view
OF his long acquaintance with the party and
the respect entertained for him. This was
not an injury nor an insult personally to
the Judge who sits on the bench, but it is
an insult to the peace and dignity of the
State
ut often becomes necessary in judicial
proceedings to make very ugly charges
against individuals, and they are sometimes
true, but that is no reason why license
should be given to party to avenge him
self by striking another, as had been done
in this case, and therefore the law allows
no excuse.
r "He Judge Longworth) knew Carson we'll
enough to know that he would do no such
thing, were it not for extreme provocation,
and the Court took it for granted that this
was extreme. Under the circumstances he
would not answer for himself but he (the
Judge might have done the same thing as
Carson.
"Yet that was no defense. The Court did
not hear the remark that caused the blow,
but If the remark was made by Riley it was
provocation for breach of the peace, and
was an otfense as great, if not greater, than
the blow that followed and if the remark
was made by Mr.. Riley he certainly should
not escape the punishment he deserved.
But Mr.. Carson was man who has been
for years faithful officer of this Court
Deputy Sherltf-a conservator of the peace,
and a man who knew what respect was due
by citizen to the laws, and, that he should
outrage the peace and dignity of the State,
admitted of no excuse.
''The sentence is that he should pay fine
of $50 and costs and he imnrisonad in ;o;l