The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-10
RACES CALLED 0F9
A NEGRO BELIEVED TO BE GUILTY OF
ARSON TURNED LOOSE.
Farmers Are Indignant Because Of the New
Law That Took Them Away From Their
Work Mckinley Price For Cotton.

| NeWDern, n. u, OcI. 5-(Speclal')-
Yesterday the Oaks Driving Club
called off the great race meet which
they had advertised to take place here
on the Oaks track the latter part of the
present month, 26th to Goth. The entry
fee has been returned to those who had
entered their horses. The races were de-
clared off on account of insufficient
number Of entries to promise success
full meet No doubt the entry fee, 10
per cent, was >too much and had lot
to do with the lack of entries" The
lovers of sport here are very much put
out
Criminal court has been in session
here all this week, Judge Sutton pre-
siding. 1t seems as if judgment has been
suspended upon payment of costs in
most cases, and there will be but few
for the ''pen" this time. The case that
has received most of the courts atten-
ton for the past two days was an arson
case from James City, negro town just
across the Trent from the city. At
late hour last night the jury found a
verdict of not guilty for the accused.
The prisoner was told to stand up and
face the jury, and when the foreman
gave out the verdict mot guilty" the
prisoner fell over rejoicing, saying,
THANK you, Jesusr' Well, he may
thank somebody, for if there ever was
guilty negro he was one, as all the
testimony proved to the mind of all in
attendance, save the twelve men with
whom his destiny rested. Trial by jury
| is all right in some cases, but in this
one it was all wrong, as it has let
| treacherous and guilty negro go free.
| Farmers from this county who were
summoned here to court for the purpose
of getting a jury for the above arson
case, claim that they have been greatly
| imposed upon by the court in calling
! them away from their occupations and
having them travel many miles only to
| find upon their arrival in court that they
were not wanted and that no mileage or
expenses could be allowed them. Some
of the special venire of seventy-fve sum-
moned for this case had to come thirty
miles, and one of the jurymen was fined
| $50 for failing to answer when called.
| This is an outrageous law.and works bad
for those who were so unlucky as to be
upon the list Makes no difference in
this county how far you come or how
you came, you don't get a cent unless
you get a seat in the jury box. That's
the law for this county and several
others in this State, enacted by that
lovely % Legislature of 1897" One of
the special venire in conversation with
your correspondent yesterday said:
"What do you think of that? We people
summoned for a jury don't get even
mileage now and some of us hurried off
and left hands in the field picking cot
| Ton inl-
thing in it, but Sheriff Hahn says we
get nothing" / asked him if he had just
begun to see the great blunders that
| his legislators whom he helped to elect
made while they were in Raleigh trying
| to make laws last January and Febru-
airy. HIS said: "They certainly raised
cain up there, didn't theyE" He was
answered: Yes, at your expense. It's
the law; but you must take your dose.
The man in question was a P0pulist,
and he did not fail to curse those who
voted for the law. He was told to go
home and vote the Democratic ticket
next time and he might get mileage.
| Cotton has been coming in this mar
ket during the past week in good guam
titles, but the prosperity" price-below
6 cents-still greets the Woodworking
farmer. Will he ever learn a lesson and
quit depending entirely upon cotton as
money crop?
The course the driveway bridge is to
take across the river Trent from this
city was surveyed yesterday and the
contractor will in a few weeks COM
mence it's construction. This bridge is to
be built by the county at considerable
expense, as it covers about a mile of
water across and will no doubt be of
great benefit to the city's trade in gem
aral