The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-19


bond OF $3.50. Mrs. Fields, a kind
hearted lady, who is befriending the girl.
having implicit confidence in her integrity,
went out and made the bond, and took
| the girl home with her The trial bids fair
to be a racy ono at the next hearing.
The trial OF James Harris, colored en-
ploye at the cotton shed OF Stewart,
Gwynne & Co., before squire Gutenberg,
yesterday afternoon for assault and bat
terry on Henry Woods, also employed
| there, developed novel state OF affairs.
In fact II was but retrial OF case from
| court which exists with absolute functional
| powers in this city, one too, from which
there is no appeal, but up to this good hour
the great body OF taxpayers, law abiding
and God fearing people know nothing OF.
| This court, or rather courts, each being
supreme and independent in its BALL.
wick, holds weekly session every Satur-
| day afternoon nine months out of the year,
and has done SO for the past four or five
| years IL IN wonder that some nOsing
newsgatherer hasn't caught on to them
| long before now, for there is not the least
secrccy'obsorved at the sessions
The case as tried before Justice Butten-
|
In every well regulated cotton shed in the
city there are certain rules 10 be obcycd
| by the employees, the day laborcrs, who
handle the cotton, and violations Of any OF
these rules Is punishable in three ways,
by fine, a whipping, or Ia quit the shed.
| The negroes make these rules themselves,
many OF which are trivial. Each new man
Is told Of these rules, and before he begins
/ lao.
the consequences. The fUremen and
clerks OF the shed, who are, OF course,
white, know about these crude rcglla.
tons but have nothing 10 do with their
enforcement, unless he wishes TO see the
fun Of one Of the trials, and will not act ~
Judge, as he Is often requested. In orler
that these rules may be rigidly enforced.
there is one man selected boy vote, who Is
known as the high sheriff OF the court
This high horiifappointsade deputy over each
squad Of dozen or more, and any violation
must be reported by them 10 the high
sheriff, who has .powcr to convene the
court, which consists Of all the men la the
shed, from whom judge is selected, and
also jury II the accused 30 elect Should
the offending member refuse 10 pay the
fine, which at the limit is 80 cents, he Il
/ Ailtl NIutItu VI lliit " uu'
willing, Is forcibly stretched across a bale
Of cotton. and then the sheriff, who IL lord
high eXecutiOner, either with a cotton tie
doubled or good thick board, administers
| the punishment, which varies from three
to ten stripes, according TO tho finding oI
the jury or the sentence Of the judge IN
the absence Of n jury. As stated above. u
the accused does not wish TO submit "a
either OF the above requirements lac mus
quit the shed.
The caSe at bar Il one out Of tho regular
| order. Harris was the iir-t and executive
deputy 10 the high sheriff Several day,
prior To Saturday one OF the hands, Lind
say Anderson, had committed fragrant
| violation OF the irUn-clad rules, aud n,
WIS much opposed 81 being brought q
trial. Harris was the official 10 report
him. and evidently intended doing NJ, buI
Lindsay consulted with his side partner
Richard Ford. and they biz on a schCm,
whereby he. Harris and Lindsay would h,
the benciiciarics and the r7st OF the lot LEFT
out in the cold. II should be- stated righ
here that all OF the fines assessed arr ap
propriaicd for buying whisky. which Ia Ill
yidcd among the hands on Saturday. !
there arr no fines every man buys his owl
Il
Lindsay AMI Ford, was LINDSAY
, should purchase 20 cents worth Of whisk,
aud that the three would drink IL. Thi
was done, and Harris promised faithfully
not to report Lindsay. hut somehow thl
matter leaked out, and Saturday niyh
, High Sheriff Jackson called session q
the court. The frsi thing done was 10 tr.
Lindsay on the original charge. and ~
|
: was mnlicasance and bribery In office, AM
} against Ford, aiding and abeiting the sli,
! | Harris In the snme, whereby the honOra
r bic court was dcirauicd ont Of drink.
, came 10 the carS Il the young hO1 oi lhl
: shcd-who h an excellent business man
l but likes Ia have q little iun now aud thci
& ~ q recreation from his labOrs that Their
Q wis 10 bo a big trial, aud he concluded {
< stay and witness the circus. lie did NJ
!. and NJ highly was his presence ~
r prcciaicd ho was called upol
\ 10 act rs Judge, and with nll tho dignity q
i Blackstone lac stmddlod bale 0i c0ito
q and formally opened court. Harris an
= forl had such entire confidence In th
, humanity and justice Of their young bo.
. that they waived jury and confessed
Tie court ordered that each he given th
lAsnf llhiiNs ul NlIluc VI wv uWU't
J. receive ten blows, aud Ford five. Harri
3 walked aud spread himself on a coiio
Il bale, aud Sheriff Jackson, with dOubl
i tie, began 10 administer the punishment
. Every time he struck Harris, No sewer
u were tho blows, the self.condcmned prii
< oncr would roll of the bale Of cotton, bu
> would pull himself back. amid the cnooul
Q aging cries oi Ford. who WIS 10 come mex
!, 20 "lay sill bar II like a man" FINAL
& one 81 the clerks, who had also stayed 10 ~
IA the fun, ordered Henry Woods 10 lay hol
/ Of Harris aud hold him fast 10 the bal
@ until the sheriff finished his work. HAIR
:, told Woods not 10 take hold Of him, NJ j
Q would lay still aud take the coming f.
= blows. lldt Woods obcycd tho your
Il clerk, and caught Harris by tho left lc
I, which happened 10 he very SORE from
IA long standing afiliction. lie screamed