The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-03-08
DIR. SAPP ACQUITTED.
Jury Rendered Verdict at Eleven p
IN Saturday.

DR.. L. L. Sapp was acquitted of the
murder of James Lamar, in KernerS-
vile, on Sunday morning, December
18th last.
It was nearly II o'clock Saturday
night when the jury rendered the YER
dict of mot guilty" Mr.. r. D.
Johnston was the spokesman for the
jury.
Judge Whitaker began his charge
to the jury at 1870 and it was nearly
ten O'Clock before lie concluded His
review IT the evidence was able, i'm
partial and plain. In concluding he
told the jury that if ne had made
the charge stronger or more favorable
for one side than the other, not to
consider his words; that if he had
done such = thing it was his fault;
that it WAS his purpose as well as his
duty TO make the charge as favorable
10 one side as the other. He said
Take the case, gentlemen, and take
your time in deciding upon verdict.
can stay here indefinitely. If you
can't decide this week l can stay next
week
While the jury was out the court
passed upon the summons docket.
Ills Honor and the lawyers walked
out upon the courthouse green"
to get some fresh air, as Bis Homer
put it. They were out only about
fifteen minutes When there was a rush
tor seats, this signifying that the jury
was returning with Il verdict.
Judge Whitaker, the attorneys, the
defendant, his father and father-in-
law followed in a few minutes. His
Honor called for Mr. Jones to take
the verdict for the Clerk of the Court.
Mr., Jones being absent Mr.. Manly
was asked to perform that duty. When
Mr.. Johnston, speaker for the jury,
said mot guilty." the crowd cheered
heartily-clapping their hands and
stamping their feet. This was not
kept up long as His Honor in language
that could not he easily misunder-
stood, said: ''Ihat is a disgrace to
the county; ] Gam certainly aston
ished at such, thing, especially IN
this city Of progress. 1t Is tue hrst
disgraceful thing l have seen here.
| did not caution you before hand be-
cause | thought you had too much
sense and pride to attempt such Il
thing. am glad to say that this is
the first time such Il thing has hap
pened since / have been on the bench.
| want you people to understand that
this is I temple OF Justice. You have
no more right to cheer here than you
nave III ii CflUrcD, when preacher
says something bright. There is but
one place more sacred than the court
room. ana that is the church of God.
Ny only reason for not Furnishing tie
guilty parties here is on account Of
not knowing who you are. We have
TO teach people by object lessons.
The great trouble IN North Carolina
is the disrespect the people have for
the law. the officers and the court"
Ia his remarks His Honor made an
other pass at the old courthouse. He
said that no wonder there was such
conduct when one considered such an
old building Forsyth had for d court
house. cit looks like an old stable"
he said: This old dirty carpet apd
floor invites people to spit on it-and
you can't blame them for doing it."
He asked the jury not to understand
from his remarks that he meant the
slightest disapproyal OF their verdict.
He said that he would have rendered
the same decision had he been enc Of
'em. The only difference between
me and them" he continued, II would
have come back sooner-nOt been out
so long in deciding the case"
DIR. Sapp WAS discharged by the
court, after which he entered into a
warm Misunderstanding with his many
friends Sheriff Macarthur adjourned
court sine die
DR.. Sdpp, accompanied by his wife,
father, father-in-iaw and m0ther-in-
law returned to their home in Ker-
neTSyiile Sunday morning.