The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-10

the interest OF the community wherein
these things were done? Would the
situation be pleasing or satisfactory Tor
the officers of the law, who thought they
were doing their duty and who would
have been censured and punished, had
they failed to arrest this man, to suffer
cruel and humiliating punishment, be-
cause. under these extraordinary circum-
stances, they used excessive force
While the man caught in the very act of
breaking into a store at midnight walks
out of the courthouse at the direction OF
the Judge, veritable hero. A few words
more about the people of our town: /
have lived here the best part of my life.
| think ] know the people of Edenton
thoroughly. They are n law-abiding, law
loving people 1t is untrue, as stated by
she Judge that there is, or has ever been,
any sentiment against the punishment
of white men, existing in any element
or class of our society. 1T may be COM
forting to Judge Undertake to put him
self in the good company Of Judge Hoke.
The likeness between the two, however,
exists only in his imagination. Judge
Hoke, when here, in the proper discharge
of his duty, felt constrained to punish
some white men severely, one OF them,
at least, was my client and l was in
n position to know aad do know the
state of public sentiment with respect to
their sentences. OF course, they had
friends, some Of whom felt agrieved, as
would have been the case in any com
munity, but Judge Hoke was sustained
and honored by our people. While his
judicial position had required him to be
severe, he was thoroughly just and left
Edenton with the highest esteem and re-
spect OF our people. He would be well
coined here again. Had Judge Timber
lake pursued the same course he would
have met the same sentiment A con-
trary course has brought to him an OPP
posite feeling Judge Timberlake has
stated that he knew at the time of the
trial that he would probably be assaulted
on account of this trial This is an UNI
fortunate statement for him to make. If
he felt so at the time of the: trial, it was
due entirely to his own conscience, which,
we are told, makes towards Of us all,
for certainly no one ever expected him
to so behaved that he would feel that
he might be assaulted. No one ever ex-
pected him to deserve it. and: in the his
tory of the town, no judge, Democrat,
Republican or Populist, had ever received
or felt" that he was likely to receive
here treatment of which he could com
plain. That the action OF Governor
Carr is right is shown by the facts: LIST.
That the defendants, who are humble
men and who, had they been properly
convicted, would have been championed
by no class of our people, upon this trial
and conviction were sustained almost
unanimously by the good people of our
town, some among the most prominent OF
whom, without solicitation, volunteered
in the very presence of the court to sign
their bonds. End. Almost all the white
people of the town signed the petition
for their pardon, and every man. except
one, or possibly two, who was approach
ed on the subject, contributed to the fund
which was raised by the people to pay
the expenses of the lawyers to Raleigh
to ask the pardon. Among the signers
OF the petition and the contributors to
the fund are found Democrats, Repub-
licans and Populists. 3rd. To-day, we
believe, that there is hardly dissent
from the approval of the course of Gov.
Carr among the white people of Eden
ton. If, then, the approval Of the good
people OF the community, who knew all
the facts is worth anything, Governor
notwithstanding the illusions of the
judge. / will add in conclusion, that /
have never had the slightest connection
with this case as attorney. My partner,
Mr.. Vann, assisted in the defense, be
cause he was mayor OF the town at the
time of the occurrence. My son, Mr..
J. n. Pruden, visited the Governor with
Mr.. VIM. NJ. Bond, to secure the par
don, but none of us have received or
expect to receive any compensation for
our services in procuring this pardon: ell
have acted simply from a desire to help
thes humble citizens of our town, whom,
we believe, were punished unjustly and
this Is our sole reward.
w. D. PRUDEN.
p. S.-My absence from home has pre-.
vented the appearance of this letter be-
fore. w. T. ID.
Edenton, N. c., Jan 7, 1896.
MR.. BONDS STATEMENT.
To the Editor:-Excuse me for asking
space in your paper to add chapter TO
the history of the Pratt pardon case.
which seems determined to convert itself
into another cause celebre of our sec
ton.
1t is to be regretted that the action Of
Governor Carr should have invited such
harsh censure from the learned judge,
the sudden accumulation of whose Off
cial power might be put to better employ
ment than making newspaper assaults
upon the chief execptive of our State.
1t may display weak appreciation Of
danger for layman, who has never
acquired high judicial position, to enter
in any way into the controversy, but as
| did all in my power to secure the par
don land would do so again., as | knew
then, and know now, that what the Gov
ernor did was right, ! feel it my duty to
add a statement to the "few admitted
facts upon which his honor relies to
prosecute the defendants ninety days af-