Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-03-08
JULY WALKERS COUNSEL.


\ don't know, but certain it is that on on
occasion United States judge il
Georgia. while upon the bench, did ac
= as counsel for and defended before a jury
4 a prisoner upon whom he had TO pass
4 sentence. 1t was an able defense. too
and though the court lost his case hC
made up for it afterward to his client
: as this story viii show.
There are officials connected with the
United States court in Savannah who
still delight 10 refer to the visit there
about seven years ago Of Judge Boerman
Of Louisiana. who came to preside in the
federal court for brief period during
the absence Of Judge Emory Speer, posi-
bly, at a time when the latter was absent
sitting on the court of appeals at New
Orleans. However that may be, Judge
Boarman did for time preside in Judge
Speers place, and there were several
interesting incidents of that occasion that
those who were then connected with the
court still delight to repeat.
| Perhaps most interesting among these
was the trial of July Walker, colored, of
course, and charged, not unnaturally,
with retailing spirituous liquors with
out having first paid the special tax as
required by law as the indictment
might specify. July's counsel was none
other than the judge himself, and in that
| July was fortunate. though he was con-
victed, however paradoxical this state
ment may seem.
Maj. William T. Gary of Augusta was
district attorney at the time for the
southern district of Georgia, and it fell
TO his lot to conduct the prosecution.
or course it was never in any sense a
pleasure to Mai. Gary to prosecute a de-
oh hIt &c a
with pleasurable interest that he recalls
the case of July Walker, because. no
matter how often he tells the story, he
enjoys it as greatly as does his nearer.
July Walker, retailing" 1t was the
district attorney who called the next case
as Judge Boarman concluded his charge
to the jury and its members retired.
What is the plea?" asked the court.
Use not guilty, jedge," replied the
gaunt specimen of the south Georgia
darkey, when finally July was located.
He was one of the old-time negroes who
had forgotten several times how old he
was, and his manneR and bearing were
humbly respectful For that reason,
perhaps also for 4 Eight degree of his
crlms, W SeeGes -. s 1as gesI tAss
more than he should otherwise have
done.
1t developed that July was present,
ready TO stand trial, without means and
without friends, sometimes the greatest
essentials in these days of courts and
litigatiOns
Il will give you until day after tomor-
row to get your witnesses, July. Mr.,
District Attorney, will you kindly see
that this defendants witnesses are sum
moned| requested the court. turning
from defendant to Mai Gary, and the
latter promised the matter should have
prompt attention.
fTu-n 1ovs totop IuIv -, tho cn,,rt-
room beside his four witnesses, some Of
them blacker and more tattered than was
he. We're that possible. Pretty soon
luly's case was called and he stood be-
for the bar of judgment.
Have you counsel| asked Judge
| Boarman.
wat data" July Queried.
"a lawyer Have you got lawyer
said the judge.
NO, boss" July answered.
Then l suppose III have to appoint
one for you" said the court.
July gave no sign of apprehension. His
attitude and actions seemed to bespeak
confidence in the outcome of his ease.
There are the lawyers over there"
said Judge Boarman. indicating num-
Der of members of the Savannah bar
who We're seated within the court rail-
| ing listening to the proceedings. You
may select any one of these. | am sure
one of them will be glad to serve YOU.
Which one would You like to haveg"
July looked around him at the law.
yers, and then he looked appealmgIv Mt
the court. 1t was an interesting mo-
ment for the spectators rs well as for
July. Finally he said
81 believe I'd lax ter have Won. boss =
and there was an audible smile.
well. that's a little unusual July -
the court answered, but if Won saw so
III take the case and Wen see what we
can 40 with IT. Call the first Witness
Mr.. District Attorney"
And thus the trial began. with Judge
Roarman rs the prisoners counsel and
his judge combined. 1t seems July had
gone on an excursion rs negroes will
sometimes do. leaving his little farm in
the meanwhile to take care of itself. He
had doubtless heard stories of how othe,
''niggers' had made fortunes by dispcns
ing 'moonshine'- q dollar of two is =
fortune 10 many south Georgia farm
hand-so he provided himself with ?
bottle of cheap whisky and found 6ttl,
trouble in getting rid of it in coacf
full of negroes off on frolic mt Il
cents Il drink. This in brief was tn,
government ease against July, and thi,
was the story the governments witncsse,
; told.
Judge Boarman cross-examined tn,
, governments witnesses and endeavore,
, to find their weak points with all tn,
ardor of "A young attorney trying his frs
case. But it wouldn't work The wit
nesses stuck TO their story: July had ha,
| the bottle and he had sold the whisky.
1T looks pretty bad for u.s. said Judc
Roarman, counsel for the defendant
Have You got any witnesses Julv?"
I "Yes, sub; dey's here" July replied.
Call the first one" said the court am
Mary Wilson, fat. black negro woman
4 took the stand. The court began the ex
I animation. Mary began to repeat som
\ statement she had heard July make
5 II object" said Mai. Gary.
r State your grounds" said the counSe
for the defense, despite the effort of tn
court to get the best possible from he
in July'S behalf. 1t was the same wa
with the next witnesses. Ii looked ba
4 for July. There was no doubt about tn
q fact hat he had had that liquor and tina
/ he had peddled it. There was no doub
Y about the fact that he had failed TO prt
Il vide himself with an internal reyenu
q license.
e They've got you in tight place." re
~ ! mo pl- L.. u.