The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-08
SHUT OUT OF THE GALLERY.
More Comfort and Less CrOwdinG De-
sired in the city Court.


Judge Norwood inflicted a great hardship
upon the colored population yesterday
The manner of innictlng it was an order
from the judge to Sheriff Whelan 10 clear
the gallery in the City Court and 20 keep
il cleared hereafter during the summer.
Ever since Friday became the weekly
criminal day in the City Court it has be n
the favorite diversion Of the lower element
of the colored population TO flock 10 the
gallery on Fridays. The clocklike resu-
larity With which their fellows were tick
eted for the county chain-sang seemed 20
be an unfailing source of interest 10 them,
and none the less so that many OF me
spectators had shared this fate before
them. IL was not sympathy that drew
them there for the readiness with which
these petty lawbreakers testify against
each other has been one of the marked
features eff the criminal side Of the court
II was merely curiosity and The familiar
ity of the place doubtless made il seem
homelike to many of the spectators VINO
felt that il would sooner or later 90 be their
turn TO stand in the dock again.
The crowd in the gallery has caused con-
siderable annoyance 20 the court OF late by
the muttered conversation carried on
while the court work was i'm progress ana
then the crowd of unwashed humanity IN
tie gallery did not contribute TO the com
fort of the court roOna on not day 50
the exclusive order was issued. Not only
this, but Judge Norwood instructed the
sheriff to see that the crowd in the court
room was kept down to those who had
business there or some better excuse tnan
idle curiosity for their presence. This eX-
clUsiVeness on the part of The court Will
not be relished by the element which mas
heretofore had It's chief pleasure in Wit
l. FalIf
the order viii meet with the general ap-
prevail OF all who have business with the
court
The following criminal cases were dis
posed of by the City Court yesterday:
J. D. Ellis, larceny from the Central
Of Georgia Railway Company $50 and
costs or twelve months. James Primus
stealing chickens from G. A. Kellar at
Monteith. twelve months; Jake Frankln
| larceny of lumber, not guilty; VIII Davis
! and Jim Snquetield, larceny. not guilty;
! James Jones, larceny of vegetables, sly
months; Thomas Robinson, vagrancv
! three months on the county farm; Robert
| Mack, vagrancy three months on inc
county farm; Katie Aiken and Louisa Nc
| Grath larceny of clothing not guilty; Ben
| Williams, larceny, six months; Willard
| Bond, carrying concealed weapon, $40
| Several women charged with larceny were
| found not guilty.
| Judge Norwood also laid down another
rule which will not be to the satisfaction d
! the lower cement both white and black
| A number of cases have come before the
court where men who had sought amuse-
ment in low dives, in some Instances
! spending the night in these places have
! prosecuted the inmates on the charge D.
| larceny, having been, as they might have
| expected, plucked of whatever change they
| had with them. These cases are usually
difficult of proof and the testimony is not
such as TO give the court a high opinion
! Of either prosecutors or prisoners. Two
! parties who prosecuted negro women OF
the charge of larceny from the person
| were ordered held for trial on statutory
charge next week, and Judge Norwoot
| announced that he would pursue this poi
| Icy in dealing with similar cases here
| after.
MIR. D. c. Barrow was the acting solici-
! tor general yesterday. and handled tht
criminal matters with his usua. ability.