The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-02
GETTINGS IN PEN FOR LIFE
JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY. WITH
OUT LEAVING THE BON.
THE RAILROADS FINED $1,000 EACH
This is the Minimum Fine for Violation OF the
Anti-Pass Lave Il Goes 10 the School
Fund-.AppeaI TO The Su-
irene Court.

irene Court
Jim Booker the negro who was Thurs
day convicted of murder in the first de-
gree for killing his sweetheart. Mehaley
White. on August Goth, 1896, will, I'M
less he takes an appeal, hang on Friday,
May 31st.
He was sentenced yesterday after
noon. The judgment of the court is as
follows:
at is considered and adjudged of the
court that the prisoner, Jim Booker, be
taken in the custody of III. L. Jones.
sheriff of Wake county, from the bar of
this court to the common jail of Wake
county, and there detained in safe con-
finement until Friday, 31st day. 1893,
and on the said day, TO wit. 31st day
of May, between the hours of 10 in the
forenoon, and in the afternoon, to be
taken by the said sheriff to the place of
execution 1.-THE same to be within the
private enclosure of said JAIL unless
otherwise ordered by the Board of Coun-
~ Commissioners of Wake county, and,
between the said hours, to be hung by
the neck until he is dead
LIFE IN THE PENIT'ENTIARY.
Gettings, the Woollcott burglar, is this
morning in the penitentiary serving out
life sentence.
He was tried yesterday morning in the
Superior court, convicted by the jury
without leaving their seats and sentenced
by Judge Timberlake to life imprison-
mentsat hard labor in the penitentiary.
The State put only two witnesses on
the stand-Fred Woollcott, whose house
Gettings robbed. and Fred Mailer. the
jeweller who bought the stolen goods.
Gettings, Mr.. Woollcott said, had con-
fessed to him and told the particulars of
the crime Mr.. Woollcott reviewed the
conversations he had with Gettings.
Gettings had told him of the entrance
10 the house by a rear window, accom-
plished by leaping the rear fence, of
how he looked through the house and Of
ringing the door bell before entering.
After Mr.. Mailer had concluded his
evidence of how he paid Gettings $1,000
for part of his spoils. Solicitor Pou an
nounced that the State would rest. The
defense caused some little surprise by
not offe4ing any evidence and the spec
tators were greatly disappointed in that
Gettings did not take the stand.
Attorneys on neither side made any
argument, and the jury rendered YER
diet of guilty without leaving their
seats.
Judge Undertake imposed the utmost
limit of the law for Ceilings offense--
burglary in the second degree.
Late yesterday afternoon Gettings
was taken out to the penitentiary to be-
gin serving his term.
RAILROADS FINED 81 900 EACH.
When the cases against the Southern
and Seaboard Air Line were called up,
Judge Undertake announced that he
would fine one of the roads $1,000, that
this was the minimum allowed by the
statute.
Judge McRae and Mr.. Bachelor ar
gued for suspension Of Judgment
They said the roads had not intended 10
violate the law and that it was "A hard
ship for them to be forced to pay so
large a sum.
Judge Timberlake announced that he
would suspend judgment in one of the
cases if the solicitor consented, but Mr..
pou stated that while he did not wish
to see any hardships inflicted upon any
individual or corporation for an unin-
territorial violation of the law, he thought
both the roads Shout be treated alike.
Judge McItae intimated that both
roads would pay the fine of 1000, but
the solicitor stated that he did not feel
at liberty 10 commit tine State to such
an agreement. The law had been vio-
lated. He had not multiplied the prose-
cutions. He wished a corporation to be
treated as fairly as an individual, but
ne felt it his duty to pray the judgment
IN both cases. The Judge then fined
each road $1,000.
Mr.. Douglass explained his course in
the matter. He did not think the fine
any too much He defended the Cover
nor against criticism and said that he
differed firm the solicitor somewhat in
his views of this matter.
Solicitor Pou stated that he was not
crit:cising the Governor, but it was Il
matter of common knowledge that no
one regarded the giving of passes as q
violation OF the law until recently. The
Governor and members of the Railroad
Commission had used them. The Sea
board is indicted in this case for giving
pass to one of the Railroad Commits
sioners. He was sure the Governor
would not knowingly nave aided in any
violation of the law or the Railroad
Commissioner. He thought the Cover
nor had done right in having the matter
tested. but he could not lend himself t
n. crusade for or against any individ
nal or corporation. He must do what
he conceived to be right. free of all pre-
jutlice. He was under obligations 10 III
corporation on earth, but in the courts
they should be treated fairly.
In the course of his remarks. there was
some cross firing between Mai. Batche
lor and Mr.. Douglass.
The judge again announced that tht
Judgment being prayed by the solicitor
in both cases, he would fine the road,
$1,000. So the school fund of Wax,
county is helped up to this extent.
INCEST CASE DISMISSED.
The incest case against A. J. Clarl
and Annie Clark was a most revoltin:
one. 1t resulted in an acquittal.
Louis Taylor was given five years il
the work-house for stealing h0usehol,
property belonging TO Mr. b. c. Rogers
Telf Beasley was sent to the road
four months for larceny.