The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-30
SENTENCED TO The JAIL
As Punishment For Effort to Tamper
With the Jury.
DECLARED GUILTY OF GROSS CONTEMPT
A Tenn in Jail VIII Teach Even. Corporation
Agents That They Cannot Safely Cor
rupt Jurors in North Caro-
Ina Courts.
Especial to News and observer)


ing is Judge Browns judgment in the
case wherein agents of the Southern Rail-.
way sought to tamper with jury in the
case of Long VS.. The Southern Railway:
NORTH CARoLINA-Iredell County.
Superior Court-May Term, 1901.
In the matter of l.. c. Caldwell j. A.
Gorham, r. A. Ramsey, ]. Fl. Brown and
b. G. Deaton.
Proceedings in Attachment for Contempt.
Before Hon. Geo. H. Brown, Jr., Judge.
The above named respondents having
been served with rule to show cause
why they should not be attached for con-
tempt of court for conduct during the
trial of the case of B. f. Long, admins
traitor, VS.. The N. G. Railroad and 9TH
ers, and having filed their answers sup
ported by affidavits, and after consider
ing all the affidavits both for and against
them the court finds the following facts
First That after the jury were en-
pannelled in said action, the court in
structed them in addition to the usual
instruction, that it was their duty to re-
pprt to the court. the name of any person
who attempted to talk to them about the
case or in their presence, and had each
member Of the jury to so promise the
court upon their honor. He further adj
vised the jury not to associate with any
one connected with the case during the
trial.
Second: That while the trial was in pro-
gress and just as the jury were discharged
from court on Friday evening, May oath.
r. A. Ramsey placed himself at one of
the exits OF the court house grounds and
n 49,, al
him to a bar room aud treated him to a
drink of whiskey and remained with him
for about two hours until about the ring
ing of the bell of the night session of the
court-and was seen in earnest converse
tion with him. That after Deaton had
gone back to the court house, Ramsey
declared that it was his purpose in his
communications with Deaton to influence
his verdict in favor of the defendant in
said cause and that was his only bust
ness here and the court also finds as a
fact that he attempted to carry out his
said purpose.
Third That j. A. Gorham is the law
agent of the Southern Railway Company
which company is defending said suit IN
behalf of the said North Carolina Rail-
road Company and State University Rail-
road Company, and has been present dur
ing the trial sitting in the bar and assist
ing counsel therein, and that this fact
was known to the juror j. H. Brown. That
after the adjournment of the court at its
night session on Friday, May oath, the
said j. A. Gorham and the juror }. H.
Brown were together holding long and
close conversation in front of the Hotel
Iredell, which continued for something
~ 4a1
were closed for the night and most of the
guests had retired. That the said law
agent and Juror talked about the case on
trial That about the hour of IL o'clock
the said Gorham left his seat, went into
the hotel, assembled partly up the first
stairway where he remained until the
juror Brown overlook him. That prior to
this juror Brown had left the seat where
he sat talking with Gorham, crossed the
street to the court house we'll, remained
for two or three minutes and then re-
turned. joining Gorham on the stairway,
that both Of said parties then went to the
room of said Gorham, No. IS on the third
floor, locked the door and extinguished
the light and remained together till next
morning. That the said Brown went to
Gorham's room in consequence of an
should occupy a bed in said Gorhams
room, and that it should cost him moth
ing-Gorham saying that it cost him moth
ing.
Fourth: That soon after, within a few
minutes, after the said parties went to
said room. three of plaintiffs attorneys
who had been advised of such proceedings,
went to the said room, knocked upon the
door twice and received no response.
Fifth: That the next morning about Z
o'clock juror Brown went down to the
hotel clerk and stated that he had occu-
pied q bed in Room No. Is and would
pay for it before leaving court. That said
Brown had not registered as guest.
That shortly after Brown left Room Is,
Gorham opened the door to start down,
and saw Geo. b. Nicholson, one of plain
tiff's counsel, standing in the hall way,
and lodged back. That he shortly after
wards went down stairs and told the hotel
clerk that Brown had staid in his room
the night before. but also said that he
did not know that he was a juror till
BROWN told him. The court finds as q
fact that said Gorham and said Brown
knew each other as juror and law agent,
before any of said conversations or ac-
tions took place.
Sixth. The court finds as a fact that
the object and purpose of the said j. A..
Gorham and ]. H. Brown was to i'm
properly and unlawfully influence the YER
dict of the said J. H. Brown in favor of
the defendant in the said cause on trial
Seventh. AS to juror Deaton, by con-
sent of all parties, the rule is dis
charged.
n a.
his conversation with r. A. Ramsey and
juror Brown and his connection with j.
A. Gorham at the hotel the court is not
able to find as a fact that said L. c.
Caldwell had any unlawful or corrupt or
wrongful purpose and the rule as to him
is therefore discharged.
Upon the foregoing facts it is adjudged
that J. A. Gorham, ]. II. Brown and R.
a