The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-06
THE OHIO WILSON CASE.
sat. Cbronicle. March 10Th.

ic-,"rGay morning The Gaze 81 ''e
state against S Ohio Wilson vas
lied IN the superior court. 'l''
On was present, his counsel, X. II.
Battle, J. C. l.. Hsrrls, Walter A.
M,atxonery and ". }. Peelc, heipg
with BIN. For the stato Solicitor
N,on was assisted by George II
Snow. There were many persons 10
ths court rood, some being from otn'
ec counties. J. ii. Damn, NJ. l.
Reid, J. 5. Bell and j. NJ. keudrick
were present as witnesses.
A. soon - the case was called
taere was a eurprise. MIR. Battle, OF
counsel for defense, said: "Mav 1t
please your honor, White the defen>
dant protests his innocence he is
willing to enter the plea Of 'nolo COP
tendere' and to pay the cost OF the
prosecution, if that be agreeable TO
the State
Solicitor Pou taen said: MAY
1t please your honor, there has never
been any desperation On the part Of
the state to press this prosecution
anv further than public safety de-
nanded. The organization known
as .Gidcon's band threatened In
some degree 1T least to trammel 8
free expression OF the political Will
Of The people. Its very existence
vas a violation Of the law. 1t was
syrannical in al it's methods. 1t de-
manded blind obedience to superiors
and While few men who would join
such an order are possessed of the
smallest degree Of courage necessa>
~ to carry into effect the penalties
E imposed, yet it proposed to infl'ct
severe punishment upon those who
dared dlaobe7 suporiozs. II propos-
ed to put An end to political freedom.
It's meetings we're in the night time
aud in secluded place.. 1t dared not
reveal ito existence to the world. Its
members we're sworn to deny even
the existence Of the order. Its or
ganIzatlon was nothing less than s
conspiracy whose presence in our
midst the state would not tolerate
Some we'll meaning citizens, it is
true, were deceived and became
members. Every word l have said
the state il ahundantly able to prove
oy unimpsschable evidence. Bot. il
your honor please, the prosecution
hiss served its purpose. 1t II ever has
bsen tho intention OF the state to ask
that this defendant he severely pun
ished 10 case of bic conviction. The
main object Of the prosecution was
to give notice that the statute undeI
which tho bill was drawn could DO,
be violated with i-npunity. This is
| believe the first prosecution under
the ststute. Many people were ig>
norant OF the existence Of such 6 law
am Informed that the organization
Is broken up. Aud uow, because
tue defendant GENES into cuGrt SCH
practically CONTRASTING bis guilt casts
himself upon the mercy Of the cou ct
| desire to ask your honor to scs
psnd Judgment upon the payne OF
,o~'e. v..icn are large II the de
fendun. shall violate the law in like
manner in the future, this case car
be brought forward on the docket
and the judgment Of the court then
praysd.''
Mr.. Montgomery, OF counsel for
the defense said: cit IL snr-
prise to the counsel for thu de-
fendsnant that the Solicitor should
have seen fit to make speech upon
the filing By the defendant
# hit plea Of nolo contendere
We had hoped :hst the matter wnuId
aave pasased CT without any Earth CT
proceedings than the acceptance of
the plea. The solicitor took occa-
sion to saw that the ofTe1ce cf til.
defendant was most serious one
and shat the State was compelled
to take notice OF it; that The order Of
Gideon's Band, secret political
order, was in sctive operation during
the time Of the last election, aud
this prosecution had had lts desired
effect in thsf It had broken I'D and
destroyed the order. We OF the de.
fance are we'll assured that tho order
OF Gideon's Band never had, in
North Carolina, the least force or
real organization, and that this pro-
secution is unjust and unwise; that
she defendant WAS made the scope
goa: for the alleged political s,ns of
others. The defendant is PLAN
farmer, without social or political
! L