The news & observer., 1898-09-10
WHITE WOMEN ARRESTED
BY NEGRO CONSTABLES AND
TRIED BEFORE NEGRO
JUSTICES.
THE NEGRO HIMSELF is PILLAGED
Neither Age, Sex, Color ncr Condition can
Claim Immunity from the Results of the
Reign Of Disgrace. LAWS By
word and Justice Myth.
word and justice a Myth.
charlotte Observer.l

Charlotte Observer)
Newbern, n. c., Sept. G.--Ncwbern is
cursed with negro magistrates. As Viii
mington is in the hands of an incompe-
tent, insolent police force, so Newbern
is in the hands of incompetent and in
solent negro magistrates. Craven coun-
ty is in a deplorabe condition. There
are in the county about 1000 Democrats
and $500 Republicans; of the latter
number there are but 63 white men. SO
the county at present seems doomed
The negroes can do as they please as
far as numbers count. In this town
there are 10 negro justices of the peace.
Four of them, Douglas, Chapman,
Green and Bryan are very active. They
keep runners out all the time to pick
up every little case. No day passes
that there are not at least a dozen trials
in the town. 1t does not differ about the
color of the parties in question i'll the
least The justices of the peace are af-
ter the money.
Here are some samples of what the
negro magistrates of Newbern are do
ing Some time aboue the middel of Au-
gust two negro women, Lucille West
brook and Lucy Francks, had a fight.
No licks were passed. Two negro JUS
tices of the peace, Fred Douglas and
nj. w. Chapman, issued warrants in
dependent of each other for both wo-
men.
Fred. Douglas, former pension
agent, but now debarred from practic-
ing before the Pension Department on
account of fraudulent practices, tried
the cases against the women and con-
yicted them This was on the 11th of
August The judgment was simply an
affray and the women satisfied it. Lucille
Westbrook was required to give SlO0
justified bond to appear before NJ. w.
Chapman, justice of the peace. She ap-
peared at the appointed time and in
formed him that she had been fined for
the same offence before Douglas, but
asked him to hear her case at once.
Though it was the time set for the trial.
the justice said that he was not ready
for triad as the States witnesses were
not all there. In few minutes all the
witnesses named by Chapman were on
the spot. The defendant demanded
trial but the court refused, saying that
she would have to wait till o'clock
p. M. 1t was then 8 a. IN. Chapman
bond for her appearance at 2 o'clock.
The warrant that she was arrested
on did not show who was the inform
ant on whom it was issued. The de-
fendant and her counsel demanded the
name of the person giving the informa-
ton. Thereupon, the court said that lie
did not care to give the name of the in
formant but the information was given
on oath by one of the States witnesses.
The defendant then rendered to the
court an affidavit in due form for re-
moyal to another justice for trial and
requested Chapman to swear her to
the affidavit and remove the cause
under the statute to some other JUS
tice of the peace for trial. The court
refused to swear the defendant to the
affidavit and refused to remove the
cause, but ordered the case continued
till p. m. The defendant went home
without having given bond for her APP
pearance in the afternoon. Shortly
thereafter, she was arrested by the neg~o
constable, j. p. Stanley, of this, the
eighth township, and brought before the
magistrate. She was put in custody Of
a special officer appointed by Chapman
and ordered to remain in custody of
said officer until 2 o'clock, the time of
tHc tlldIs tJnc OlLcl0d 1t IttDSulIdHcr
with solvent security to appear at >
O'Clock, which was refused. The court
finally accepted justified bond for her
appearance. AT the appointed hour she
appeared with her counsel and witnesses,
and also an affidavit for removal, duly
justified before another magistrate.
1t appeared from the so-called capias.
under which the defendant was arrested
after the morning hour, that it was
unsigned by the justice, but he signed
it after the defendant had been in Gus
tody for hours
The defendant and counsel renewed
their demand for the name of the ner-
son that gave the information on oath
Chapman refused to give the name of
the informant, but said that he was
among the States witnesses. On fur
ther demands for the name he went ont
and held a consultation with j. T..
O'Hara, a negro lawyer, came back in
court and said that one John Brown, Il
one-legged negro was the informant.
At once he called Brown to the chair
and whispered something in his ear. The
defendants counsel asked Brown If he
had sworn He said that he had nor.
and further stated that the only
conversation that he had was had about
~ vas OIc udy NHeIi 1udpiidH anu Cpii
stable Stanley called at his house and
asked if he knew anything about the
fight between the defendant and Lucy
Francks. He told them that he knew
that they had had a fuss but he didn't
see If.
The defendant then filed said affidavit
for removal The court asked O'Hara if
he was obliged to remove the case to
another magistrate for trial Yes was
the reply. Thereupon the Justice of the
peace said he would dismiss the case.
The defendant objected but the court dis
missed it.
On August 18th she swore out a com
plaint against Chapman. as follows
North Carolina Craven County.-In
Justices Court Before S. r. Stout. JUS
tice of the Peace.-State VS. NJ w
Chapman. Affidavit
Lucille Westbrook, being duly sworn