The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-05
U. S. STATUTE WAS READ
They Must Also Investigate the Es-
cape Of Federal Prisoners.
INDlCT THE GUILTY OR NEGLIGENT
A Lisl Of Cases by Counties is Given. Large
Number Were Disposed Of Yesterday.
Most of Them Charged With
DistiIIing or Retailing.


nell delivered to the Federal grand jury
yesterday was very striking. The judge
didn't confine himself to a dissertation
on the moonshner, his origin, purpose
and final destiny. He didn't give especial
prominence to the enormity of the sin
Of footing Uncle Sans postoffices, though
of course, this figured in the charge. He
tried to impress the grand jury that
while such matters as violation OF the
war tax act and monkeying with the
genuineness of the coin of the realm were
matters which came within the scope OF
business of every we'll mentioned Fed
eral grand jury, still there are other
things that demand their attention and
bigger game is on hand.
The more important parts of the charge
related to the violations of the election
law. and to the escape of Federal
prisoner from the penitentiary author-
ties He says he forgot to charge them
against trusts.
Judge Purnell said the jury should dis
abuse their minds of the idea that the
United States courts were foreign courts,
as they have been called. They are not
foreign but domestic courts and have
native judges and the jurors have been
residents of the district. It is as much
a North Carolina court, said he, as any
State court is, and the rights of citi-
zens are as secure in this as they are
in any State court
In referring to the violations of the
election law, Judge Purnel read section
E507, SO, chapter 7, of United States
Statutes. The first section read provides
that every person who prevents, binders,
controls or intimidates another from eX
ercising or in exercising, the right of
suffrage to whom that right is guaran-
teed by the 18th amendment by means of
bribery or threats of depriving such per-
son of employment or occupation, or OF
ejecting such person from rented house,
lands or other property or by threats of
refusing to renew leases or contracts for
labor or by threats of violence to himself
or family, shall be fined not less than
$500 or imprisoned not less than one
month or one year, or be punished by
both.
The next section read refers to conspir-
acy and fixes the punishment at $4,000 or
Imprisonment for ten years. The next
section read provides that if any INSIDE
meanor or felony by State law be vio-
lated in committing the act provided
against in the above sections, the often
der may be punished by the State also
He charged the jury also that they
should inquire into the circumstances
connected with the escape of Federal
prisoners, from the penitentiary authori-
ties here. and charged them that they
should indct any who may be found gull
ty Of aiding, abetting or of negligence.
These escapes, either through negli
gance or design, are of such common oc-
currence, he said, that they have be-
come a public scandal He charged the
jury to fully investigate these charges,
and command the processes of the court
in getting the proper parties before them.
Inquiry among the prison officials re-
veals that the prisoner referred to es-
capped last July, just before the Federal
prisoners were changed from here to
Nashville The prisoner was 'trusty,"
and, having been sent out to drive in the
cows, as he had frequently done before.
made his escape. The authorities assert
that the same safeguards were taken in
his opao AS with State prisoners of sim
liar disposition.
Mr.. II. B. Arendell heard of this part
of Judge Purnelrs charge from a News
and Observer reporter
He said: "They are welcome to exam
inc into the penitentary affairs just as
much as they want to. Mr.. Ladow. the
official who come here from Washington
to attend to the removal told me to
keep the convicts at work lust as they
had been. The escape took place the day
OF the removal. Pearce, white Fed
eral prisoner, had been a "trusty' for
six months, and for that length of timc
had been in charge of the cows. He
was sent out after them as usual. and
didn't ccrne back Mr.. Ladow told me
that in all his experience with convicts.
nothing had so facilitated his work as M
conduct with the prisoners that day
a number of cases of minor Importance
were disposed of yesterday.
The cases on the docket by counties are
rs follows:
CHATHAM COUNTY.
Sim Dark. removing and retailing.
Marion Jordan, retailing and distilling.
j. Nj. McIver, violating stamp law.
MOORE COUNTY.
nureas Maness, retailing.
Thomas Person. retailing.
Joe Walden, retailing.
John Wicker, retailing.
Ross banners, retailing.
Jim Martindale, retailing
Henderson Deems, retailing.
James Williamson. Illicit distillinS.
George McIver, retailing.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
r. b. Holden, retailing.
J T. Holden, retailing q cases).
j. c. Harris, dstilling.
GRANVILLE COUNTY.
Harvey Pearce, retailing
John Davis, Illicit distilling.
Green Lyon and ]. w. Brown, retail
ing
w NJ. Pearce, retailing.