Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-02-26


whose confidence in us was almost
child-like. We made the mistake OF
not hiring a lawyer to look after the
interests Of Chris. The accused were
represented by well-known local law
yers. their friends packed the court
room, and even the Squire was a
close friend Of the prisoners families.
Before the case was called, and while
the accused men were within our sight,
I,got my man, unobserved by any one.
to identify the man who dealt him
the injuries. He made a perfect iden-
tification, and my belief that the pris-
oners would be convicted was strength
ened. The case was called, the pre-
1iminaries were gone through. and
then Chris was requested to identify
the man who assaulted him. watched
him nervously. as saw that the man
he wanted had seated himself in a
chair and had buried his head behind
a paper In fact, he was the least
conspicuous person in the room. Chris
glanced around and a look of disap-
pointment overcome his features. Again
he surveyed all present, and to my in
tense astonishmentpointed to man who
somewhat resembled the accused, and
said, There he isv Clark then dropped
the paper from his face. Chris threw
his hands up excitedly andsexclaimed,
My Got, I haf made mistake! It is
he!'
''Then the Squire took hand in
the proceedings. That won't do he
said to Chris. You have upon your
oath identified this man (pointing to
the innocent strangely as your assail-
ant. Now we shall see whether you
have made true identifcation.' At
this point my friend and myself, as
being witnesses in the case, were Or
dered from the courtroom. Not know
ing the law then, and thinking that q
trap had been set for my man, we
refused to go. Whereupon the Squire
gave orders to the constable that if we
remained in the room during the hear
| ing he was to arrest us for contempt
Of court. We decided to retire, but
fully expected to be called as wit
| nesses We left Chris, who could not
understand English, to face hostile
| crowd alone. An interpreter was pro-
vided, but he twisted the replies in the
favor Of the prisoners. The rulings
Of the Squire, too, were such that the
| evidence of my man was declared in
competent.
:Well, We had waited outside for
an hour when Chris appeared with a
very detected countenance. WELL
| said to him. is it our turn now?' He
shrugged his shoulders. It's over.
Made me sign paper know nothing
who robbed me. Gave me $2.7O, but
| my cane gone for ever!' We realized
what they had done. Chris had signed
deposition absolving the prisoners
of any completely in the highway rob-
berry, and he had received a paltry
sum of money to compensate him for
| the amount taken from him. The
Squire, whose duty it was to admins
ter the law justly, had compounded a
felony. A wilful perversion Of justice
what our ignorance Of the law was
partly responsible therefor. The evi-
dence should have been presented for
the consideration of the Grand Jury,
who, had it been sufficient, should have
indicted the two men accused. The
Squire really had no jurisdiction over
the case.
"My man, however, thought that my
friend and were in league with the
others, and all that we did was fol
the purpose Of clearing the men OF
the grave charges Of highway robbery
) and assault with intent to kill. Oul
desire was to befriend Chris. He never
had the same faith in me, and very
| shortly left my service. Wilson be
came prosperous hostelry proprietor
| nearby. AS for Clark, two month";
later he was appointed constable by
the Squire A number of burglaries
! which aroused the neighborhood were
proved to the satisfaction of a few
citizens to have been committed by
/ Clark during, his rounds in the pei
: formance of his duty. They knew
however, that his trial and conviction
were impossible, as his friends were
all-pow werful, and that persecution
would. be theyreward for any action
t they might take with that object i,
$ view. Not long ago Clark, who ha'
4 remained constable, died respected
. citizen, and at his funeral he was eule
q gized as a faithful public officer Bu
V my faith in human justice received
a mighty jar
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