The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-16
WON'T co TO JAIL
Sentences of Gorham and
Ramsey COMMITTED
The Governor Takes Off the Twenty Days I'm
prisonment end Leaves The Fine Of
$50 and Cost.

The Governor yesterday committed the
sentences of ]. A. Gorham and R. A.
Ramsey, of Iredell county, who were
convicted at the May term of Iredell
court of contempt of court in attempting
to influence a juror. The sentence was
twenty days Imprisonment and a fine of
$50 and costs. Governor Aycock now
takes off the twenty days Imprisonment,
committing the sentence to fine of $50
and costs only.
The reasons for this Communication have
been given forth in full by the Governor
as follows:
THE sentence of the respondent, J. 4.
Gorham, is committed to the payment of
a fine of fifty ($50) dollars and the costs
of the contempt proceeding. Since the
respondent was found guilty of contempt
by the court jury has acquitted him
from the crime of embracery. The ver-
dict of the jury amounts to a finding that
there was no corrupt purpose on the
part of the respondent The judge ir
trying the case found him guilty of a
corrupt purpose. 1t is not thought that
but for the finding of corruption the
judge would have sentenced him to Jail
The respondent could have been guilty
OF contempt without corruption, and in
asmuch as the court adiudged him guilty
of contempt the punishment so far as
the fine. is concerned is not interferred
with. The Communication in this case is
recommended by several hundred citizens
of lredell county, representing all classes
of the people. Many of the signers OF
the petition ask for an absolute pardon.
some of whom had before the trial of
embracery signed a petition opposing
even Communication. In the conflict OF
finding between the judge and the jury
am of the opinion that l ought to fol-
low the finding of the jury, who have ac-
quilted respondent of any corrupt intent
The communication is also recommended
by many citizens of Georgia, who knew
the respondent from childhood, by citi-
zens of Charlotte where he lived and by
many citizens of Asheville, where he
now resides"
The following are the reasons given
for the communication of r. A. Ramsey's
sentence:
THE sentence in this case is con-
muted to the payment of a fine of fifty
($50) and costs. The respondent was
found guilty by the judge of attempt 10
corrupt and influence a Juror one " c.
Deaton. The particular manner in
which this attempt was undertaken is
not set forth in the finding of the fact
by the court. The rule against the juror
himself was discharged by the court
with the consent of all the parties Both
the juror and the respondent swore that
respondent did not mention to the juror
the case then under consideration by the
juror. The court must have been CT
opinion that the juror did not talk about
the case under consideration or permit
himself TO be talked to about it. or else
the rule against the juror would not
have been discharged, but he himself
would have been found guilty of con-
tempt
Il am informed that the solicitor has
refused to send bill against the re-
spondent for attempt to corrupt the
juror. Respondent is an old Confederate
soldier and it is thought that the pay
ment of the fine and costs will be sufi-
cient punishment This course is re-
commended by many citizens of IredelI
county. who know the respondent and
who are familiar with the case"