The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-04
THERE WAS NO TRIAL.

ONNS~
ded That There Would be no
Trial---A Plea of Nolo-
Contendere Entered
Remarks on Both
Sides Given I'm
partially.
Those who read the papers are ia
miliar with the many reports of the ar
rest of Mr.. s. Ohio Wilson, chairman
of the Peoples party in this State, on
charge of being chief organizer of Gid
cons Band " alleged to be in existence
in this State and elsewhere. We do
not propose to discuss the circumstan-
ces connected with the case at this
time. Suffice il to say that at the Jan
uary term of Wake Superior Court
the grand jury returned a true bilI'
against Mr.. Wilson, A capias was
issued and officers went to VIII
sons house, four miles from this city
end brought him to Raleigh late one
afternoon when the snow was from
twelve to fifteen inches deep Bond for
his appearance in court the next morn
ing was fixed az $500, but before it
was filed (Which could have been
done in a few minute3) Mr.. Wilson
was released on his own recognizance.
He appeared in court the next morn
ing promptly, but the Solicitor put the
case off until the March term Ct court
and the 28th was the date for the trial.
Before and since his arrest the political
papers of the State. with a few excep-
tions only, did everything possible to
prejudice the minds of the public
against Mr.. Wilson. 1t is generally
talked that the jury for each court,
january and March) was packed
for the special purpose of trying this
case, but we hope this is not true. How
ever, the evidence produced by the
State against Wilson, SO far as has been
published, and we suppose all has been
published, was very fragile, and evi
IDENTIFY could not stand alone. 1t was
charged that "Gideon's Band" which
few believe exists, was a political or
~ganization. In order that people out
side the State may fully understand
this case, we will explain that there is
a law on u statute books against ''se
cret political societies. or ''organiza-
tions," made years ago to break up the
'Kuklux" organization. 1t is a very
good law too, for such organizations
are wrong and may be carried too far.
At the time of the Democratic State
Convention in Raleigh last May, Mr.
Wilson had not left that party and
took some part in the Convention as a
delegate. It has been alleged that he
made signs by putting forth the
tongue" and by ''wiping his hand
across his mouth" We are not pre-
pared to say whether hat is ''poIiti-
cal' or not, but that seems to be the
extent Of his operations as a SO Jailed
"Gideonite." We know something
about conventions, however, and think
it would require a good deal Of nerve
to take part in one for any length of
time without ''wiping the hand acros<
the mouth" or putting forth the
tongue" We are Inclined to the opin
ion that the men who didn't wipe
their mouths" are as likely to be Gid
eonites' as those who did. But a eau
GUS Of Mr.. Wilson's political enemies
was held during the sitting of the leg
islature and they decided that he must
be prosecuted. Most of our people al
understand the meaning OF all that.
Geo. II. Snow was retained by the
State to assist Solicitor Pou in the
prosecution. Mr.. Wilson employed as
counsel, Messrs. r. H. Battle, J. G. L
Harris, w. J. Peele and Walter L.
Montgomery. Mr.. Harris states that
few days prior ID the opening of
court that he aad Mr.. Snow were talk
ing about the case, Mr.. Snow suggested
that it would be satisfactory to the
State for Wilson to enter a plea of n0lO
cOntendere and pay the costs. The
matter was brought before the associ- |
ate counsel for the defendant and fully
considered. A little later Solicitor
Pou came to the city and further con
sultation vas had. He promptly agreed
with Mr.. Snow and the Solicitor also
promised tostOp the Witnesses, notify
them that they need not come to court, |
so as to make the costlighter. But they
all came and Wilson was taxed with
much more cost.
On last Tuesday the case was called
at 10 o'clock. As conflicting state
ments have went out through the
press and otherwise, and as much has
been said calculated to add color to it
we propose to give all the affair in
full, tr~uthfully and without either