The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-19
THE CRIMINAL COURT

George johnson Sentenced to be Hung on
Thursday, November 25tb, Which 10
Thanksgiving Day for tho Balance Of the
United States-TheG Grand Jury's Report.
The county Home in Bad Condition
Pursuant to adjournment on Friday
evening, the circuit criminal court of
New Hanover county met yesterday at
10 a. m. Judge Sutton presiding.
An immense throng was present in
court in anticipation that sentence
of death would be passed upon George
Johnson, colored, who was convicted on
Friday Of criminal assault on Bertha
Brewington, on the oath of last July.
Johnson had been brought in and sat
in the prisoners dock, and when court
was called to order Solicitor Rich
ardson said:
IF is please your honor, Johnson is
now in curt. He has been tried and
convicted Of a capital crime and now
sir, as a faithful officer. it becomes my
painful duty to pray the judgment of
the court"
Stand up" said Mr.. w. r. French,
the clerk, addressing the prisoner, and
when Johnson had stood up, Judge
Sutton passed sentence as follows:
George Johnson, the jury having
convicted o OF one OF the highest
crimes known to the law, the most
painful duty OF my life now devolves
upon me. By your conduct you have
forfeited your life to that law. which
the jury by their verdict say you have
violated. I have endeavored to give
you a fair and impartial trial and did
1900 49,
be found for you from the fearful On
sequences OF our crime; but the evil
dence was SO direct, conclusive and
overwhelming that there was but one
course for the jury to follow and leaves
but the one remaining duty for me to
perform. The judgment Of the cour
is that the prisoner, George johnson,
be now remanded to the custody Of the
sheriff of New HanOve county, N. c.,
and by him safely kept until Thursday.
the 25th day Of November, 1897, n
that on a day between the hours of
10 in the forenoon and 3 in the after
noon the said sheriff OF New Hanover
county N. c., will at such place OF ex-
ecution as may be appointed by law,
hang the said George johnson by the
neck until he is dead, and may God
have mercy on your soul"
The prisoner looked detected, but
showed no sign Of emotion and did not
say a word. AS soon as sentence mad
been passed the prisoner was taken
back to Jail.
The court disposed of other cases as
follows:
State vs.. Mary J. Bunting, ARRAY, de-
PENDANT submitted and judgment was
suspended on payment of the costs.
The defendant was recognized till the
u-. - - oo.@- 1x Tho
week.
State VS.. Rena Pearsall, colored, af-
fray, defendant submitted and judg-
ment was suspended on payment of the
costs.
State VS.. Joe Johnson, colored, lar
ceny, verdict not guilty.
State VS.. Charles Wright, larceny,
verdict not guilty.
State VS.. Rena Davis, larceny, con-
tinued.
The grand jury, through its foreman,
Mr.. j. Avis Walker, made it's final re-
port and Judge Sutton complimented
them upon the work of the term and
gave them their discharge. They re-
port that they considered As bills, found
81 true bills, II not true, and continued
3. They reported the Jail as kept in ex-
treated. They recommended a change
in the diet of the prisoners and sug-
gested that the walls Of the jail be
scraped and w~hitewashed. They state
tina Mr.. W.. W.. King, the jailer, is
kind and humane to the prisoners and
attentive to his duties. Concerning
the county home the grand jury says:
1--WE visited the county home and
found it in an unclean condition; the
wards for the colored are in an un
healthy condition., some Of the in
mates claim to be lousey and show sigr
of it. They claim they have not gOt
clothing to change in so as to keeI
clean. The bedding is insufficient tC
keep the inmates warm; on crippled
man having an old pad for a bed an6
a corn sack filled with grass for his
heading. We think the home is in al
unhealthy condition and should b.
kept cleaner. The range is out of Ordel
and is of no service, and the stove il
not in good order so that the kitchen
can be kept clean. We find the pump.
out of order, and the washing place:
for the inmates are not in use at all
We recommend that the house be pu
in a good, hOlthy condition., and KEEP
so. The heater for the house is out o
order and is of no service to the In
mates. And we recommend that tn
county physician be instructed to visi
the county home twice a week., O.
oftener, if necessary. We find 80 In
mates, Is Of whom are males. AM
we find the house in bad condition
The inmates say they have a plenty t.
eat of wholesome food, but we thinl
the sick ought to W. some nourish
ment."
The court at 4 p. m. adjourned sin
die.
Mr.. w. w. King and others are al
ready getting up petitions to Governo
Russell to commute the sentence o
Johnson from death to life imprison