The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
Whiteville, March IA.

an ~"N
Editor Messenger:
Columbus superior court is in session
here this week, His Honor, Judge Fred
Moore, presiding and Solicitor c. NJ.
Mclean representing the state. Be
side the resident lawyers 1 note the
following named from other counties
in attendance: c. c. Lyon, Elizabeth
town; Walter H. Neal, La%urinburg; \.
w. and N. A. Mclean n Wade Wish
art, of Lumberton. Resident attorneys
are: j. d. Lewis, H. l.. Lyon, j. 3.
Schulken and D. McCracken.
There are many cases on both the
criminal and civil dockets, but none
of great Importance.
Judge Moore. as has been the case
at all the courts he has held in east
ern North Carolina where l have been,
is making a fine impression generally.
For nearly twelve years now, 1 have
been in almost regular attendance
upon h courts in different sections
of the state, though mostly in the east,
and / must say they have not ceased
TO be of interest to me. There are no
other gatherings known to me in the
world which anything like resemble
them in many respects. While they are
a necessity, yet they are a great tax
and hardSnlp on the people
This is a one-week term of court and
If / were to say that 1000 days WoHk
had been lost on the farms in Column
bus county On account of it, L do not
thing 1 would miss it far, and at this
season that amounts to a great deal.
AS is we'll known, this is only a part
of the cost of the courts to the people
of a county, though they are great edu-
Gators; for here there is a mingling Of
the people from the emotes parts of
the county who exchange views and
ear the law discussed, which would
be valuable if turned to good account.
Whether sunshine or rain, whether hot
or cold. the people in great crowds at
tend the courts; some from necessity.
some for business, and, perhaps, a few
for pleasure
They exceed in Importance all other
weeks in the year for the horse trader.
local as well as from adjoi1ing counties.
He is in all his glory here. From some
fine stock down to the poorest runts
and old and worn out are to be found
about the court house during court
week. The greatest attraction, outside
Of the court room. is offered by the horse
trader. and all manner of bargains
from a chew of tobacco, twenty-five
cents and UP are driven. / 4 do not know
it to be a fact, but 1 hear of it that
it is sometimes the case that a horse
swap is made for a chew of tobacco to
boot.
Then the patent medicine men, who
are abroad in the land, the newspaper
agents, the hotel and boarding houses,
local merchants. lawyers and others, all
lay greater or less stress on court week
in los counties.
When night comes on the attorneys
and others gather in the hotels and
boarding houses and spend hours re-
lating their various experiences during
the day and in the past 1t Is often the
case that a place to sleep is at a prem
ium. / nave known as many as seven
men in one room at night, and some
times an over-communicative friend
persists in talking most Of the night.
while another brother will add to the
disturbance by h most labored snor-
ing imaginable.
There is rarely any trouble in getting
something to eat. as the tar for
serving lunches of various kinds of food
are generally numerous on the grounds,
beside the hotels oil boarding houses
The court room is often an interest
ing study. Judge and jury are often
perpexed to nov what course to pur-
sue under the circumstances. lawyers
and their clients as well. All kinds OF
differences spring up between attor-