The news & observer., 1897-02-05
cLEMENcY FOR NORWOOD
TAr COMMITTEE DECIDED TO
GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE (
.Iuaqe Avery Puts in a Word For the
judge Action Unanimous
Co. Lusk Referee.

--IC9s GuSN kattSt'SCs
! The Judiciary conmittee met at four
o'clock yesterday afternoon, present,
MesSns Iusk (chairmanl Cook, Price.
Chagp.n. Duffy, Schulken, McCrary, Hart
ness, Caudler, Hare, Ferguson, Black
burn. Cunningham.
4 Mr. J. NJ Moody, the friend and neigh
Dor OF Judge Norwood, was on Qaud
prom ~, though Judge Boykin was alb
sent, according 10 his statement We'd
neslay ,lsesn00n THAT he would necessar-
lily have to lie GibSent from the city. That
was &c of he chief reasons why Judge
Boykin had urged immediate action
Wedns day, because as a friend of Judge
Norwood he desired to be with him
through his difficulty to the end
Among the visitors present, was Mr..
Herbert McClammy, member of the
House last session from New Hanover.
After dispoSing of several current bills,
Mr.. Moody appeared and asked for the
consideration of the Norwood case. Col.
Lusk asked if Col. Sutton was present;
some one suggested that he might be yet
bunting for the Governor Amy way the
case proceeded. Mr.. Moody said that
Judge Norwood had made his resigna ton
unconditional and that it was in the
hands of the Lieutenant Governor. Mr..
Moody repeated his pledge of the day be-
fore that the wife of Judge Norwood
would be with him, adding that he had
never failed to keep straight when she
was with him. MIR. Moody reiterated
his statement that the judicial record of
Judge Norwood was pure as the sky and
as stainless as the stars" The wife of
Judge Norwood had assured him that
she would never ask clemency again and
Mr. Moody said he would never again ask
| for mercy for him, if he fell again, and
all he asked now that the Judge be given
another chance.
! Mr. Cook asked about the resignation
as to its disposition.
! Mr.. Deyereux appeared for Judge Nor
wood and said that the resignation in the
hands of the Governor would have to be
acted on: Col. Dtisk interrupted TO say
that the Governor might die; Mr.. Deye-
reux promptly replied that then the resig
nation could be put in the hands of the
Attorney General; Mr.. Schulken suggest
ed the Chairman of the committee, Col.
i Lusk Mr.. Devereux made further feel
ing remarks, saying that mercy ought
to be shown to this man for when hope
was gone all was gone. Mr.. Deyereux
SAID all this agitation was rather sudden
as this offence had been cond0ned in
North Carolina for thirty years and by
those who were now bright judicial lights.
! Col Lusk called attention to the inn
peachment of Judge Jones, but Mr.. Deye-
reux insisted that the cause was not i'm
| toxication but for indecent conduct on
Fayetteville street He did not think this
step should now be taken, so suddenly.
Col. Lusk said he hoped we were getting
better. Mr.. Deyereux said the action
thus far had satisfied all who were look
ing for Improvement In public morals.
The perfect man was he who had all
the mperfections Of human nature and
he begged not for justice, but for mercy,
Judge Avery said he had only arrived
in the city half hour before, and he had
dropped in here, and was not now willing
to let this opportunity pass to say
good word for Judge Norwood. lie had
known the Judge since they were boys
and he had known him to be an upright
man and as long as man had charac-
ter he was the last man to disgrace him
because he was suffering from a habit
which was almost a disease. He begged
that the committee give him another
chance.
Mr. Blackburn spoke very strongly for
the Judge, and moved to report the bill
unfayorlbIy.
Mr.. Gambler said he was a pYohib-
t5onist, and if his principles had been
carried out, there could never have been
such case before them He had known
Judge Norwood all his life, and he knew
IA 30
II 1T was possible to lift that man up he
felt that it was our duty to do so, and
he felt that 1T would crush both him and
his wife il the committee should deal
hafshly with him, and Mr.
Gambler closed by saying that he had
never had word spoken to him on this
subject.
Mr.. McCrary thought the course of
true charity was clear in this case, and
he did not believe any man had heart
so cold as to enable the finger of seorn
to be pointed at Judge Norwood and his
own and his descendants for years to
come He did not agree with Mr.. Black
burns motion to report the resolution un-
favorably for this in strict sense would
be qualification, but he moved for inde-
finite postponement, and hoped that the
resignation be held by the Lieutenant
Governor.
Col. Lusk repeated his suggestion that
the Governor might die, but the 1t. Gov
ernor said that he would not succeed to
the Governorship until he could take the
oath Of Office, he could give it to the
chairman of the committee if necessary.
Gov. Reynolds had seen him ait courts in
the midst Of his temptation, but with his
wife along, he would be with her when
he was off the bench.
Mr. Schulken took the view of Mr.. Nc
Crary and Col. Lnsk, too, and Mr.. Schulz
ken suggested again that COL Lusk keep
the resignation. Mr.. Gambler saw no
objection to indefinite postponement, Mr..
Blackburn accepted Mr. McCrary's sub