Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-03-30
LAST OF CIDEON'S BAND
-. OHIO VVKH-0ORg INNOCENT.
BUT WONT DO KT AGAIN.

HUT WONT 4D2D ASIA1kSs
That Seems tSD rSse About The 0ize
Of The verdict Hn Ezis Case-The
Defendant Pave The COsts. q
0mal1 9nHm.
RALEIGH. N. c., March 27.-Tbe event
of special interest here today was the
trial of =. Ohio Wilson, chairman of the
Third party in this State, on a charge
os being a member of the order of Gid
eon's Band and with having promoted
its interests, the said order being an un-
lawful secret political organization.
Wilson was indicted January 1s last,
aud two days later was arrested at his
home five miles from here. He gave bond
in $500 for his appearance at this term
of court. At 10 O'Clock this morning he
sat in front of ] Judge Brown in the court
room.
MIR. Battle, of counsel for Wilson, rose
and addressing Judge Brown said:
while the defendant protests his inno-
ceuce he IL willing to enter the plea of
nolo contendere and to pay the costs of
tie prosecution, if this be agreeable to
the State
After this plea had been extended So
licitor Pou said: There has never been
any disposition on the part of the State
to press this prosecution any further
| than public safety demanded. The or
ganization known as 'Gideon's Band'
trammei q free re- .r e1pression of e. the eA politi,
cal will of the people. It's very existence
| was a violation of the law. 1t was ty-
ranical in it's methods. 1t demanded
blind obedience to superiors, and while
| few men who would join such an order
are possessed of the smallest degree of
courage necessary to carry into effect the
IN
infiict severe punishment upon those
who disobey superiors: 1t proposed to
put an end to political freedom. Its
| meetings were in the night time and in
secluded places 1t dared not reveal its
existence to the world. Its members
| were sworn to deny even the existence
of the order. Its organization was moth
ing less than a conspiracy whose pres
ence in our midst the State would not
tolerate. Some well meaning citizens, it
is true, were deceived and became mem
bers.
Every word that have said the State
is abuu6antly able to sust ain bv unim
lpeachable evidence But, if your Honor
please, the prosecution has served its
ton of the State to ask that this defend
ant be severely punished in case of his
conviction. The main object of the
prosecution was to give notice that the
ST atue under which the bill was drawn
could not be violated with impunity
This. believe,is the first prosecution un
der cnaC STATUE. MANY pSOplc were
norant of the existence OF such a law.
am informed that the organization i
broken up And now, because of thes
facts, and for the further reason that i
: has been suggested by some that thi
was a political persecution aud becatrs
the defendant comes into court and prac
tically confesses his guilt and casts him
self upon the mercy of the court, l de
sire to ask YOUR Honor to suspend jude
: ment upon the payment of the costs
which are large. If the defendant shal
violate the law in like manner in tn
future. this case can be brought forward
on the docket and the Judgment of tn
court then be prayed
Mr.. Montgomery, of counsel Wi
sci for the defendant that the solicito
should have seen fit to make speec
upon the fling by the defendant of hi
plea of nolo contendere. We of the de
fence are well assured that the order c
| I'Gideon's Band never had in North Car
olina the least force or real organization
and that this prosecution is unjust an
unwise; that the defendant was mad
the scapeeoat for the alleged politics
sins of others. The defendant is plai
farmer, without social or political powe
last campaign was under the directio
and teaching of men who were a thoI
sand times more influential in every r.
llation of life than was the defendant"
The solicitor then said: Nothing
have said must be construed as an a
tack upon this individual defendant. br
| L merely desired to show that the Sta
did not regard the matter lightly"
Judge Brown said: THE defendan
S. Otho Wilson, comes into court an
while protesting his innocence. pleat
that he il unwilling to contend with Il
State and that he abides by the jud
- ment of the court. wherefore it is ORDER
that the defendant be required to pa
the costs of the action. The plea OF t
defendent. 'no1o contendere. is a pl
which il often permitted by the court
The defendant by that plea, while aver
ing his Innocence, nevertheless plac
himself upon the mercy of the court.
can be sentenced and punished as fu
as if convicted by the jury. The solicits
! | an able and conscientious officer. recO
mends that the judgment be suspend
over the defendant and that defenda
7 be now required to pay the costs, whi
are quite heavy. 1t appears that Il
! 10 the first prosecution under this statt
and that no great good will be ne
accomplished by Furnishing the defer
ant further than to tax him with all I
costs. 1t 10 therefore ordered. upon n
- ton of the solicitor. that the judgns
be suspended and that the defendant
in custody of the sheriff until the CO.
are paid
This terminated the matter. Nc
correspondent is informed that the CO
exceed $1OO.-CharlotteO Observer.