The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-13
IN THE FEDARAL COURT.
A Sinner Pleads His Own Cause
Holleman Gets Sixty Days.

Holleman Gets Sixty lays.
1t is said that man who is his own
LAWYER has a fool for client. Maybe,
but there was one such that gave Assis-
tant District Attorney Spears good
scare yesterday.
Schofield Mcneil is his name, and he
halls from Robson county. He stood
charged with retailing without license.
He had been in jail for some time, and
when brought into court yesterday morn
ing he brought his baggage along with
him. 1t consisted of ragged oyercoat,
out of the pockets of which stuck COMB
and brush and red-stem pipe.
Schofield had no witness except him
self-no bad one, by the way-but he
o,.os.e-examined the witnesses for the
overnment with shrewdness truly re-
markable in one so black and uncouth.
Then when it came to argument by
counsel. the prosecuting attorney an
nounced with some show of confidence
that he was willing to submit the case
without argument.
''But perhaps YOU" he said, turning TO
the negro. would like to have something
to say"
No. the negro said, he reckoned he
wouldn't say anything.
'Oh, yes, if you want to, it's right
you have. You can speak"
Whereupon Schofeld arose and was
soon making q cracking good speech. In
deed it was so good. so shrewd and so
plausible that lawyers sitting in the bar
began to bet that the negro would beat
Spears and get clear.
As the thing progressed Spears began
to suuirm in his seat and finally he re-
sorted to the trick of combining the negro
strictly to the rules of evidence and of
argument.
This repeated interruption confused the
negro and he sat down.
Ten minutes later the jury returned
verdict of guilty, and Mr.. Bernard's
beautiful and accomplished assistant
breathed easy again.
The judgment of the court was that
the defendant be imprisoned ninety days
and pay fine of 500.
A case less amusing, but one that took
up much more time, was that of w. b.
Pope, of Johnston county, charged with
illicit distiling. 1t was stubbornly
fought by the defendants attorneys, but
the trial fina. ended in Pope's convic-
ton. As the verdict was not brought i'll
till after the adjournment of court, judg
ment has not yet been pronounced.
The most sensational case of the day
was that of w. Ii. Holeman, of Apex,
charged with breaking open letters that
passed through his hands as assistant
postmaster. The evidence against him,
as collected by Inspector Gregory. who
worked up the case. was very strong.
oil 9TH Il Sc aff
III. Il. Norris, submitted and threw him
self OH the mercy of the court.
Young Holleman is the sixteen-year-old
son of Nathan Holleman. the Republi-
can postmaster. In addition to the
prisoners extreme youth. Mr.. Norris
pointed out other extenuating circum-
stances Connected with the case. Last
January the boy lost his arm. he said,
in a saw mill. and it has been impossi-
bic for him TO do any manual work since.
His father is a poor man with large
family and his mother is unfortunate
Postmaster Holleman placed the manage
ment of the postoffice in the care Of his
son after the boy lost his arm. While
serving in this capacity he was interested
in CERTAIN young lady and he saw with
dismay that she was correspondence with
supposed rival. He could not resist
the temptation of pryine into their let
ters. A petition from these vonng peo-
nile was read, asking that Holenan be
not punished. as they did not think he.
ut the time. realized the seriousness Of
his offense.
Judge Purnell expressed regret ut hav-
ing to impose any sentence at all. hut
said the law guarded very iealonslv the
| sanctitv of the mails. and lie wonld there.
fore have to imprison the defendant for
sixty days.