The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-25
ABOUT THE CRIME OF RAPE
But When Law Has Put its Hand on
Him Let Him be Tried.
The ILtGtEa DIVORCE AND MARRIAGES
Judgs Robinson Comments on the Low.cu
Dress. One Of His Characteristic
Charges to The Wake County
Grand Jury.

The September term (CriminaD of
Wake Superior court began yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock, Judge w. S. OBJ.
Robinson presiding and Solicitor Armi-
stead Jones prosecuting.
The morning session was consumed in
the charge to the grand jury, impanell-
ing the petit jury and calling the docket
of cases left over from last term.
Then argument was heard on the Pc
tition of Sheriff Jackson for mandamus
to compel the Corporation Commission
to tax the franchise of railroads in ac-
cordance with the law of 1901. A report
of this case appears in another column.
At the afternoon session of the court
the warrant docket was taken up and a
number of cases were disposed of-none
of them of special Importance
A remarkable thing about the juries
for this court is that there is not a
single negro on them. Even the Oldest
inhabitant cannot remember when such a
thing was ever before true. The grand
jury is composed as follows: Y. +.
Young (foreman), r. A. Morris, W. b.
Terrell, j. A. Austin, E. NJ. Lassiter, R..
e. Richardson. Wiley George, w. H.
Kcely, S. V. Horton, S. D. Coley, Charlie
Edwards, A. T. Bevers, N. P. Jones, S.
w. Stone, Icana Pool, w. c. Bagwell, w.
b. Pollard and j. G. Adams.
Judge Robinson's charge to the grand
jury was in his characteristic style.
He spoke of V-shaped dresses. "the "
cut so low you have to get under the
fah 10 RI fn11 u-hn 10
dressed at all or not
The Flagler divorce and recent mar
riagc next came up for severe denuncia-
ton. Touching the action of the Florida
Legislature in passing a special divorce
law for Mr.. Flaglcr, Judge Robinson
thanked Cod no Legislature has ever
done such thing in North Carolina, and,
he said, if such should happen II should
want to pack my duds and leave the
State by night Yet such divorced man
gets so-called minister of the gospel
to perform ceremony; that is, he stands
UP before them and says, What God hath
joined together let no man put asunder.
Three times the miserable farce of say
ing these solemn words has been gone
through and God has never come be-
tween them yet
Lynching also came in for considerable
notice, though the Judges sentiment seems
to be that necktie parties or shooting
frolics for rape were under certain cir
cumstanccs excusable, if not justifiable.
He denounced lynchers as law breakers
and murderers, then, speaking of rapists,
said: II am not espousing the cause of
these wrctckes, for if l saw a brute as
saulting woman | would shoot him like
I would snake or wild beast, but when
once the law has placed it's hands upon
him and l stepped in to take his blood,
the deed would be murder"
At the afternoon session of the court
yesterday the following cases were dis
posed of:
"a S. Morgan, retailing wine. On plea
OF guilty judgment was suspended on pay
mcnt CT costs.
Ncedham Wilder, w. L. Todd, Johr
Branch, Atlas Branch and Walter Branch
charged with disturbing a religious meet
ing in st. Matthews township all plea.
guilty. Judgmcntswas suspended on pay
mcnt of costs.
Caesar McSwcen, alias Caesar McPher
son. indicted for breaking into box Cal
OF the Scaboard Air Line for the purpOs.
OF committing larceny, was found guilt.
and sentenced to two years on the roads.
Lorenzo Spencer charged with break
Ing into the residence of Col. Alfred viii
liams, plead guilty of larceny and wa:
sentenced to two years on the roads.
In the following cases verdict of no
guilty was found:
Ed. Leonard, assault with a deadl.
weapon, w. II. Williams obtaining good
under false pretence, Ed. Dickerson
charged with carrying brass knucks.
The case of G. W. Blacknall and Oti
Holderfeld, an ARRAY, was mol prosset
ami the case of Nancy Allen, embe2zle
ment, was continued in the absence o
the defendant.