The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-18
ra,E NEWS AND OBSERVER, AUGUST is, 1897

| or the matter ABOUT SuuuOWH, ne uIuH
| know what to do; said he would try tC
| find a man answering the description
| saw George Brodie next morning run
ming towards the woods. Rufe Person
was with me and the postmaster. | had
| sent Il man on to arrest hIm-Mr. Hal
Woodliff. When | saw them W0odliti
and the negro were running. Brodie
| fell down and Woodliff caught him. 1
| got to him al soon as l could. He asked
| what he had done. l asked what in the
devil he had run for. He said he had
| Just run for fun, just to see what we
| waited to do. Afterward the prisoner
said if he had taken Pat Woodliff's adj
vice this year, he wouldn't have been
in this trouble; that Mr.. WOOdliff had
given him good advice, but he had taken
too much wine and had gone to the
spring: That Sid Allen had sworn he
had gone to the spring against his
CBrodie's) statement. and that Allen had
told the truth-he had gone to the
spring. -......
The State rested. ... @
The court house was very quiet but
there was no longer any of the morning
look of buoyancy upon the faces of
those. present In the orderly crowd,
there was Il solemn mien even among
the negroes who packed the left half
of the room. Brodie had not wilted; he
looked hacked somewhat and confused,
but was splitting his tobacco-juice out
as smartly as ever, with trihing care
lcssness which is the Characteristic play
of his features.
There was a consultation among the
lawyers on both sides, lasting little
while. during which. only the same un-
meaning hum and coughing were prevail
ing in the court rOOm-noth-
ing more. Mr.. Roberts rising at
this moment said: 1.-The defendant has
failed to get MS any witnesses, and he
says he does not want to go to the stand
himself E.
His Honor said it was half past twelve
and if counsel do not wish to address the
jury "One second" answered pris-
oncr's counsel who were consulting
with him in the midst of perfect still
ness I'VE leave it iupderI the charge Of
your Honor" said Mr. Brdgers after
the pause #9a.. I~.F grin f"a-
His Honor then stated f.. the crime
with its definition. adding that the only
question to be determined was whether
the fiurg believed the testimony TO be
true; it WAS merely Il question of fact
if tho testimony was, TO be believed it
was n pure. case Of rape; then the testi-
mouy was clearly reviewed by the
Judge while the same stiffness continu-
.ed-A stiffness which semcl to have in
1T more sense pffputrq &C and hardly re-
PleSsed- .iuligqafQ than, can
1be IN. described. TEer Judge again
said with Emphasis that if
the jury believed the testimony it was
their duty to convict. if not it was their
duty to acquit. Take the case" closed
the Judge, and it was twenty three min-
utes past twelve. There was a short
wait, while the clerk, according to di-
rection, SWore in afspccial officer, who
now preceded the jury through the
great press of people. ro
BrOdie's face just now wore its most
serious look during the trial. F.f.
At 1870 there was an electric move
ment of the whole mass-the jury had
appeared. The next few moments were
long moments. Clerk Gill's voice trem-
bled somewhat as he asked the jury if
they had agreed upon n verdict III.
They had.
They stood and faeed George 'Brodie
who also stood The prisoner did not
show a trace of emotion-tbere was the
same indifference and cunning CLINT
about his big white eyes: had be been
called TO do Gan serranda he could not
have looked less impressed. He looked
squarelys and curiously Awithouty ire
NOR or flicker as}they answered "guilty'
the negroes among them. One would
have pronounced him intensely attentive:
This was the predominant quality of his
mien. F-tI
But a few moments followed before
Brodic was ordered to stand up again to
hear the sentence Of the Judge He
faced THE sentence as he had faced the
trial Seemingly Indifferent as If he did
not believe the proceedings were real
The Judge was brief and quiet and
impressive. He recalled to the prisoner
the. details Of the crime, and the self
repression of the people, and the due
regard that had been had for his legal
rights, and proceeded to pass sentence
which was that on the list of Septem-
Der next, he be taken to the regular
place of execution in Vance county and
hanged by the neck until he was dead.
Mr.. Harris of counsel for the sprisoner.
just before the passing of the sentence
had asked the Judge for mercy. and the
Judge in his sentence, had said that in
mercy he had deferred the date of the
execution, as he felt no heart would be
grudge the prisoner that time in which
to prepare to meet his God. (Aosort of
an Amen from the negroes.o a.f,
= When the word Dead was uttered.
there was deep audible groan that
peryaded the immense cloud of negroes
it was about to be answered by APP
plause from the whites, which the Judge
promptly checked ....-...,. -taa
A few moments more! The, Judge orr
dered those present to. dispense. which
they did in order. The courtroom was
soon almost clear. In a half hour.
Brodie was in his cell-and about the
deserted old building all was quite silent.
w. r.. CHRISTIAN. ,
"They don't make much fuss about
IT." We are gpeaking of De Wits Lit