The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-08-15
wELI.TiMED REMARKS.
Judge Brown InstruCts the Grand
Jury to Investigate the Riot


jury to Investigate the Riot
Upon the assembling of court Mon
day morning, Judge Brown summoned
| the Grand Jury before him and sub
mitted to them the following we'll
timed remarks, which embody
thoughts and facts VIC would earnest
ly admonish the lawless element of
our community to consider and heed:
Mr.. FOREMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE GRAND JURY:
1t is the duty of the Court to call
the attention of the Grand Jury to d
matter directly affecting the welfare
of this community. You are again in
the presence of the Court, to call your
attention to a disturbance which oc-
CURED in this county and town last
night. The law forbids unlawful
assemblies and riots. All riots, routs
and unlawful assemblies are regarded
as unsafe and as menace to the peace
of the community. On last night,
about l o'clock, the Court was called
upon by the sheriff and by the mayor
of the town, to lend its assistance and
its moral influence, as far as it could,
to the suppression of an anticipated
disturbance. In company with the
the jail, and found assembled
there several hundred persons. In the
hope of preventing any disturbance
the Court, personally, unattended,
went among this crowd to ascertain
it's purpose. The Court found they
were all practically armed, and with
their weapons in open display. The
Court was Informed by some of them,
whose names the Court was unable to
raf Il n hot
ticipated there would be some injury
done to prisoner who is now on trial.
The Court assured the crowd, there
assembled, that it would be almost
impossible for any injury to be done
to this prisoner; that the Court being
in session, his trial being proceeded
with, was practical guarantee of his
safety. And in order TO quell the
disturbance the Court directed the
sheriff to put guard around the Jail
in order to allay the fears of the peo-
pie who had assembled there. They
then promised to go home peaceably.
The Court was informed, afterwards,
by the sheriff, that they still surround
ed the Jail and were in very menac-
ing conditions; and of course, as the
law must be enforced, the Court di-
rected the sheriff to arrest all persons
caught armed and in unlawful assem-
Uly, SURROUNDING UIlc jail, anu DTIUg
them before the Court and commit
them to Jail until the Court could
issue warrants for them. The Court
Instructed the sheriff to use no more
force than was necessary to make all
persons obey the law.
The Court believes that the sheriff
used no more force than was necessary;
but | call your attention to thiS,matter
for the purpose of asking you to in
vestigate it. The Court is informed
that there are seven or eight persons
in jail, arrested oy the Sheriff under
direction of the Court. Bills will be
sent before you by the Solicitor
against these persons for carrying
concealed weapons and unldwfullY
assembling. The Court directs you
to carry your investigation as far as
you can to ascertain what other per
sons were engaged in violating the
law. l take it, Mr.. Foreman, that all
good citizens, regardless of color, are
interested in the enforcement of the
law. 1t would seem to me to be per
iectly potent to all intelligent persons
of both races, that the law is stronger
than any combination of evil-doers,
and that the law will be enforced, and
with strong hand if necessary.
L hope in this emergency all per
sons of both races, who value the
peace of the land, and all who value
their own safety will endeavor to as
sist the Court or it's officers in the
execution of the law. / want it I'M
derstood that the law will be enforced,
it matters not at what cost.