Evening star., 1900-05-02
GUILTY OF . CONTEMPT
JUROR snwAnr cos~rrl TED TO JAIL
BY JUSTICE COLE.
Will De Released Next saturday-The
Defendant Makes Statement in
His Own Defepse.

Justice Cole, In Criminal Court No.
today, adjudged Williat tm -SSwan. colored,
who served as a Juror last month in that
court, 10 be in contempt. AS punishment
Sewall was sentenced to be confined in
the District Jail until next Saturday after
noon at o'clock.
Sewall appeared in court, in compliance
with rule to show cause. He sat on the
jury impaneled in the case of Frank Turner
and six other colored men tried last week
under an indictment alleging criminal as
sault on Dora Linkins, white. After being
in conference over night the jury reported
that 1t was unable to agree and was dis
charged. 1t was charged that while testi-
mony was being introduced Sewall made
audible and improper references to the po-
l1cemen who appeared as witnesses. and
during the summing up argument Of As
sistant United States Attorney Semmes re-
marked that the statements Of the prose-
cutting attorney were ''all rot" or ''all
bosh." Upon the matter being called to
the attention of the court the rule to show
cause was directed to be issued.
SewaIl's Statement.
In his defense Sewall most positively as
serted that he does not remember of maxi
Ing, at any time, any improper references
to the policemen who appeared in the case.
Sewall did not deny that he used the word
rot or 'bosh," or some other word show
ing disapproval of the argument of Assist
ant United States Attorney Semmes, but
just what the expression was he does not
remember. Semmes, it was contended by
Sewall, In the most excited manner poSsi-
BILE. called upon the jury to remember that
this is your flesh and blood, meaning
that the prosecuting witness, Dora Linkins,
was a white woman. and that the defend-
ants were negroes and should be conV icsed,
if possible, thereby drawing the color line
and appealing to the prejudices of the jury,
and under the influence and feeling the
wrong and great injustice of such an ap-
peal, whatever Sewall said, he claimed, was
said upon the impulse of the moment and
without any iptenlion whatever to violate
any rules of the court or to show diSreGpect
to the presiding Justice Sewall disclaimed
any intention to be cisrespectful or inten-
tonally to do any wrong. He expressed
regret over having allowed his feelings to
get the better of him, but, he said, smarting
under the expressions made by the prose-
cutting attorney, he may have shown his
disapproval, but that whatever was said
was not intended by him to be heard by
any one except the members OF the jury on
his panel
The morning that Sewall was drawn on
the jury, SO he said, he was suffering with
a serious headache and as the day wore on
he suffered seriously from pains through
the head. Being a highly nervous man he
became so restless and nervous that he
could hardly keep his seat in the jury box.
Justice Coles Comment
Justice Cole remarked that he accepted
what Sewall said rs fact, and if he could
act on his own feelings, he would pass the
case by lightly. The majesty of the law
must be upheld. however, explained the
court, and therefore he could not let so fla
grant an offense go unpunishcd. Justice
Cole thereupOn committed Sewall to Jail
until next Saturday afternoon and he was
placed in the CUSTODY of the United States
marshal.
The respondent was represented by At
torneys W. p. Williamson and Lemuel Flu
gilt.