The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-12
PRiTCHARD is GUILTY
So Says One of The Ablest Lawyers
In the City of Raleigh.
LOOKS LIKE IT HAD BEEN REHfARsED
The Law is Plain and the People Expect the
Solicitor of The fifteenth District and The
Grand Jury Of Buncombs County
TO Do heir Duty.


There is but one sentiment at Raleigh
about the assault upon Mr.. Merritt at
Asheville, and that is that it bears all the
ear-marks of a conspiracy by Radical
politicians for political effect.
The people who believe in fair play
are indignant at the occurrence and look
to the Solicitor of the Fifteenth district
and the Grand Jury of Buncombe county
to prosecute Blackburn, Pritchard and
Cowles for conspiracy If they are
guilty, the spectacle of a United States
Senator, Representative in Congress,
and a Federal Court Clerk working the
roads in Buncombe would be wholesome
one as teaching that North Carolina jus
tice is no respecter of persons.
/ find that most of the lawyers believe
from the report published in Pritchard's
two organs dhe Ashevile Gazette and
the Charlotte Observer) that Pritchard.
Cowles and Blackburn ought to be in
dicted for conspiracy. One Of the ablest
members of the bar-a gentleman who
said he was surprised and shocked at the
action Of Senator Pritchard speaking Of
the matter last night said:
"If the reports Of the Merritt-Blac
burn fight as published in the Charlotte
Observer and Asheville Gazette (both
friendly to Pritchard) are true, Senator
Pritchard is clearly guilty Of assault.
and apparently, he is also guilty of
conspiracy. The first offense is punish
able by a term of thirty days at hard
labor on the roads of Buncombe county:
the second by a term of two years there
on.
THE proof of the first Of these offenses
is clear We are told in the papers
(neither of which would willingly speak
evil of Senator Pritchard) that when
Blackburn attacked Mr. Merritt Senator
Pritchard made it clear that no one must
interfere while Blackburn was doing his
dirty work. In short, he, United States
~Senator, announced that no one should
be allowed to interfere and stop
breach of the peace the fight must be
pulled off" according to the program.
This made Pritchard iagrantly guilty of
assault. This was aiding and abetting
the assault. There is not a judge on
the bench who would not charge that on
, the facts as stated in the Observer and
Gazette Senator Pritchard was guilty
of a breach of the peace. Let him be
prosecuted just as If he we're a private
citizen and not a Senator. His Sena-
toral toga must not be used to cloak
crimes.
! so much fow the first offense. 1t
looks as if he were guilty of still
graver offense. 1t looks as il he, Black
burn and the revenue crowd took advan-
tage of the great influx Of representa-
tives (who come to Asheville to see the
President) and planned to attack Mr..
Merritt They had their crowd all
around and when Blackburn nerved him
self up to attack Mr. Merritt all were
ready, Pritchard apparently master Of
ceremonies 1t looks like it had an been
arranged and rehearsed If it had then
Senator Pritchard, Cowles, Blackburn,
and company are guilty Of misde-
meanor
"a conspiracy is an understanding or
agreement. express or implied between
two or more persons to do an unlawful
act or to do a lawful act in an unlaw-
full manner, and "a conspiracy to commit
| assault and battery is an indictable Of
Tense. Encyclopaedia of Law End. Ed
Vol. 6. Page $50.
'"The law is plain It's violation open
and fragrant. The public expects the
Solicitor Of the Fifteenth district and the
Grand Jury of Buncombe county to do
their duty"