The age-herald., 1898-03-26
B|G CROWD HEAR THE TRIAL Of Jerry Scroggins in the Cir
 cult Court Room. THE JURY COULD NOT AGREE In the Case of Psttyjohn vs. the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company in the
 United States Court.

The second day of the preliminary trial of Jerry Scroggins, the motorman charged with a criminal assault upon Miss Laura Menasco attracted another large crowd to the circuit court room, where Justice Ben ners is sitting.
 Many of the spectators occupied positions on the judge's bench, while the jury box was filled to overfiowing with men anxious to hear every word of the evidence.
 number of witnesses were examined yesterday, and there is only one witness yet to be examined. The hearing will be resumed at o'clock this morning. when the evidence will be closed and the arguments begun. The trial will probably be concluded by noon, when Justice Benners will either render his decision or take the case under ad- visement.
 Numerous expressions of opinion were heard in the court room yesterday among the spectators as to the probable outcome of the case.
 Mistrial
 The case of w. R. Pettiford, administra- tor of the estate of Jordan Griffin, de- ceased vs. the Louisville ard Nashville company which was given to the jury Thursday afternoon resulted in a mistrial, the jury being unable to agree upon verdict after remaining out all night
 It is the custom that if jury fails to agree at a reasonable hour it is taken to a hotel, where they sleep over the case, but this jury decided to spend the night in the court house and 1t Is said that the famous Georgia jury which was out all night and was entertained by a story from each member was mild in comparison with the stories that were told by this jury, each member entertaining them with his ex- perience from real life that would fill a volume.
 The jury was kept together until yester- day afternoon, when it was discharged.
 Amendments Filed
 Amendments to the petition of the Pioneer Mining and Manufacturing company for writs of certiorari against Back Tax Col lector Henry L. Badham and County Tax Collector J. B. Francis to require these of ficials to bring all papers in the case or back tax assessments made against the company, were filed In the city court. A writ of certiorari is asked against Probate Judge M. T. Porter, who was presiding officer of the board of equalization. It is alleged that no entry of the action of the board has been made on his docket for the year 1895 and it is asked that he as such official be made party to the suit and be required to appear before the court with she assessment books and other rec ords of 1895.
 The petition was referred to Judge Will kerson, who allowed the amendments and set the 2d day of May as the date of hearing writ of certiorari was ordered issued against Judge Porter, giving him thirty days notice.
 U. s. Court
 The United States court has about com pleted the criminal docket and will take up the ciVir-cases in a few days. The following prisoners who were convicted at the present term of the court were sen- fenced yesterday:
 Frank Gillian, William B. Ward, Bryan McDonald Wilson Cross, J. J. Stephenson. retail liquor dealing, $10O fine and costs and thirty days imprisonment
 John Eaton, counterfeiting, eighteen months in the penitentiary at Raleigh,