The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-09-28

her Term, 1898.
The September term of the Chance
rs Court adjourned sine die Monday
night.
The time of the court from Thurs
day morning until after 5 o'clock Mon
day evening, was entirely taken up in
trying the case of w. T. East VS.. Jes-
sic M. East, a suit for divorce on the
charge of adultery. The complainant
was represented by Cassidy 4 Cassidy
and Chrisman q Brennan, and the de-
PENDANT by A. c. McNair and Thomas
Brady, all the ablest members of the
Brookhaven bar. 1t was the first time
in the history of Lincoln county that
case of this nature was tried before
jury, and it is doubtless the first
time in the history of Mississippi that
a negro was called to sit in judgment
as juror upon the chastity of white
woman. There was one negro on the
jury, not challenged by the attorneys
vi eltutI Siuc, a idct 1uue, oiohS WAN
some other dusky features of the tri-
al, has been most justly condemned.
There were charges and counter
charges of adultery, the former en-
bracing a period of five years. And
besides husband and wife, the future
of four little children was involved
in the decision of the issue. The pro-
ceedings we're highly sensational
throughout, and such as should right.
ly have been carried on behind closed
doors; but as the constitutional pre-,
rogative accorded to judges in certain
cases did not apply in this instance
unfortunately it could not be exercis.
ed and the curious public was admit.
ted at all stages of the proceedings.
The speeches of the lawyers were
able and eloquent, without exception
but partook, necessarily, of the sensa
tional nature of the testimony.
But if this were the first, it is more
than likely it will also be the last just
such trial as this, and God grant that
it may There are some things il
this sim cursed world dearer and more
precious than life-some wrongs anc
degradation more awful than death
and better, far better the shotgun Oh
revolver for the guilty despoiler of &
happy home, than the uncovering Of
all the shame and misery of that home
before the cold gaze of an idle crowt
by suit in chancery, while its de
spoiler goes free and mocks at the
ruin he has wrought.
When the case was submitted to thu
jury it retired for few minutes anC
returned with the following verdict:
We, the jury, find that the defend
ant, Jessie M. East, did not commi
adultery at any time within the date
charged in the compliments bill o
complaint in this cause.
The following is a list of the case
disposed of during the entire Septem
: Der term:
Frederick johnson VS.. Sophie JohI
: son-decree of divorce.
Adam Harness VS.. Aggie Harness
decree of divorce.
S L. j. Prestidge VS.. w. l.. Prestidge
decree of divorce.
Mary Burke VS.. William Burke
: decree of divorce.
p. j. Cassidy VS.. all persons-o
. overruling motion of defendant.
J. ID. Brown ct al VS.. j. Alex Moak {
al-defendant granted sixty days
4 answer.
Laura Keen VS.. Lafayette Keen
decree of divorce.
S James Deene VS.. Lizzie Deene-dt
y cree of divorce.
Mrs. A. j. Norton ct al VS.. estate {
r. Norton-decree confirming commits
5 sioner's sale of land.
John d. Bailey ct al VS.. Charity Kee
demurrer of defendant sustained.
G. Atkinson VS.. Mrs. Julia f. Pric
? order appointing guardian ad liter
; for infant children of Jesse M. Price.
Estate of E. Cowart, deceased, Mrs
Mary NJ. Cowart, executriX-decre
confirming act of clerk admitting will
| to probate.
: Thomas Grantham by his mex
friend, c. L. Siebles VS.. w. c. Cham
berlin ct al-decree for complainant
for 1854.
w. S. Selick VS.. Aldera Lower-ordel
allowing Mrs. Lower to file an amend
ed answer and cross bill.
Moreton & Helms Lumber Co. VS.. w
P. Adams-decree fixing ownership OF
lands.
w. H. Seavey VS.. S. F. Smurr ct al
decree quieting title to land.
Laura T. McRee, guardian order
for sale of land.
w. M. Gwin ct al VS.. S. a. Martin ct
al-order confirming commissioners
sale of land
Ex-parte Mrs. L. 7. McRee, w. ID
McRee ct al-decree partitioning es
tate of S. P. McRee, deceased.
Ella Everett VS.. John Everett-de
cree of divorce.
Alexander Magee, guardian, VS. the
minor heirs of Sophronia Demands
order fixing amount guardian may eX-
pend for the maintenance of his wards
/ James Dixon VS. Lucinda Dixon
decree Of divorce.
- Cannon ct al VS.. j. ID. Burkitt ct
al-defendants granted 60 days to an,
Swer.
Jennie Rembert VS.. John Rembert-
decree of divorce.