The age-herald., 1901-03-05
UNITED STATES
 COURT IS OPENED
Judge John Bruce of Mont
 gomery Presiding
CRIMINAL DOCKET TAKEN UP
Judge Hears Tale of Woe From One Defendant-He Thinks Life Sen tence for Mark Blankenship
 Sufficient-Other News.

The March term of the United States Circuit Court opened yesterday with Judge John Bruce presiding. Judge Bruce arrived in the city at F o'clock from his home in Montgomery
 Court opened at 2 o'clock, and the grand jury was organized follows;
 J. A Adams, foreman; Will Wright. D. N Smith, J. S. Wildman, w. H. Bryan (c) N. R. Fielding co, Stephen Sukey, David Horton, T. K. Glass, D. A. Brown. Jim Williams, Duncan Mcdonald, s. M. Ellington. R. w. Scott, E. N. Cookson, R. B. Burgin, S. M. Francher, J. M. Ward. P. W. Mitchell Rufus Anderson, John Hutchens, R. w. Berry and D. Lewis
 The following petit juries were also or ganized:
 Jury No. IN. R. Rhodes (c), Ali Scott, R. J. Byers, E. N. Haynie, G. c. R. Webb, Marion King, R. W. c. Ander- son, Alex Owens Co, J. R. Richardson, John Funderberg J. r. Odom and D. R. Coalton.
 Jury No. 2-Jake Archibald. John B. Phillips, II. c. Enis, J. c. McElroy, Hen ry Hopkins Co. John Alexander, w. R. West, Walter Thomas Co, Pierce Lee, Mitchell Mccain, Charley Barber Co, Isaac Sartain.
 | After the juries were organized, the docket for the day was taken up Most of the cases were passed or continued to be taken up later in the term. A Tale of Woe. One of the cases called was that of | Isom A. Bentley of Cleburn County. He was convicted of illicit distilling several | years ago, but before he was sentenced | he received word that one of his children was very i'll, and the judge suspended | sentence and allowed him to go home on | giving a bond to return and receive sen- | tence Several years passed by without anything being done. Last term his bond was forfeited, and yesterday he appeared in court to receive sentence. Bentley l asked to be let off as the offense hap | pened ten years ago, the indictment be- | ing found in 1891. q am blind in one | eye, judge" he said "I have had the rheumatism all my life. and am a poor man. I aint got anything. My child died and I've got a daughter who Is par alyzed. I am physically unable to work" This tale of woe seemed to affect the judge. who said:
 ''The Jury found you guilty. though. I expect you were, wern't you?' No sir" Here District Attorney Vaughan arose and informed the court | that there was another indictment against the defendant for intimidating a witness, | the facts being that he had shot at him, | but missed hjun and wounded his wife and child The defendants attorney then arose and stated that this indictment was also an old one, that demurrer had been filed to 1t and it had been argued twice before two different judges, but no decision had ever been made. Judge Bruce then said that he would hear the demurrer, and after argument he prompt ly overrued 1t. "I will not pass sentence in your first case" said the judge to the defendant "until this one is disposed of. I am sorry you have the rheumatism-I have it myself and am sorry for any one who has 1t, but I don't like this shooting business" He continued the case until later in the term.
 A Life Sentence Enough.
 Among the cases on the docket was one against Mark Blankinship for distilling Blankinship Is one of the famous Notes gang and District Attorney Vaughan in- formed the court that he had been twice convicted and was now serving life sentence in the Nashville penitentiary That he was therefore willing for the case to be mol pressed as he did not think defendant would ever be tried on it in this world and he did not care to pursue the matter In the world to come. although MT. Cowart, defendants attorney, might want to do so. Judge Bruce mol pressed the case, remarkng that he thought life sentence was enough for the defendant, Court adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.
 City Court. In the City Court the case of T. B. Lyons vs. H. M. Horton, a suit on a note, is on trial.
 A suit was filed by Robert Johnson against Jeff D. Keith for 5000 damages for alleged false arrest. Juries were organized for the week, as follows:
 Jury N. l: J. H. Garrett, F. M. Garn- ner, Joseph Conrad, J. Dedman, Henry Gordon, John Spakes, Andrew Creel, J. R. Reeve. R. G. Hayden, T. T. Higgins, w. A. Bailey, Tom Chamberlain
 Jury No. 2: F. F.. Bentley w. R. Hil Hard, A. c. McAvoy, Jim O'Neal B. F. Hughes, Tom Hull, Bradley Kale, w. O. McArdle, J. A. Jackson, Mike Sullivan, Louis Trammel, J. P. Hickman. Criminal Court. Tn the second division of the Criminal Court the cases against George Worth ing, H. I. Newborn and Dudley Me- Micrel, charged with trespass after warn ing, were mol pressed. Decision was re- served In the case of Ida Cans, charged with abusive language.
 Court Items.
 The Circuit Court is not in session. Judge Coleman Is holding court in Wins ton County.
 Chancellor Carmichael has gone to Blount County and is holding court at Oneonta.
 The case of A. M. Levin vs. the Fidel- ity and Deposit Company of Maryland has been transferred from the Circuit Court of Calhoun County to the United States Court.