The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-12-03
HALIFAX SUPERIOR COURT.
Small Criminal Docket.
JUDGE COOKE PREs1DEs.

Monday with Judge G. M. Cooke on
the bench. Solicitor Daniel was in
place and ready for his usual vigorous
prosecution of law-breakers.
The following persons were drawn as
grand jurors:
P. A. Sprnill, foreman, A. G. John
ston, J. J. Draper, w. HI. Shearin, J.
A. Barden, P. S, Bellamy, T. A. Bcze-
man, w. w. Newsome, J. M. Powell,
E. E. Stallings, VIM Wood, T. II.
Neville, J. r. Lisle, J. H. Overstreet,
Lucius King, PreAsly s. Williams, ].
T. Miles, J. R. Matthews.
JUDGE COOKIES CHARGE.
Judge Cookies charge to the grand
jury was pronounced by those compe-
tent to say as one of the finest charges
delivered in the old court house for
long time.
We did not hear the first half OF the
charge, but the part that we did hear
was strong and Impressive.
Speaking of the press OF the state
in the part it has played against crime,
he said in part
Though it has not been adequately
paid for its services, the public press OF
North Carolina has done more for the
State than any other single force. It
has fought manfully as an aggressive
force and Las also been strong In it's
resistance to wrong"
The charge was particularly pro-
nounced against carrying concealed
weapons. He said that with the GUS
tom o! carrying concealed weapons
prevailing as it does, he could not con-
ceive OF eighteen men sitting together
on jury none OF whom had carried
pistol during the past eighteen months.
He said, however, that he would relieve
the jury from any disturbing thoughts
about it by assuring them that they
were not required to present them
selves.
He said that the world is growing
better, Notwithstanding some say other
wise. Mems livers are growing worse
by reason OF bad habits, and some men
who have bad livers think the world Is
growing worse, especially if prohibit
ton election is on hand,
No man, declared Judge Cooke. can
put his finger at any verse in the New
Testament and find Scripture which
will justify the carrying OF concealed
weapon. Men who call themselves
gentlemen go armed with pistols in
their pockets. A poor negro steals a
peck Of corn and is sent to the peni-
tertiary, and sometimes the very man
who prosecutes him has carried pis-
toll whole year-has been violating
the law 365 days in year. This is
great inequality of the law and until
these things are adjusted we need not
expect the proper respect for the law.
Concerning illicit distil!eries Judge
Cooke said that they are great
menace to the public safety. He said
he had spent considerable time holding
courts in counties in the Piedmont
section of the State where you cannot
buy liquor, and these counties, in point
Of prosperity, are far ahead OF many
eastern counties where liquor is sold
and which formerly were the more
prosperous. He declared that no wiser
law has been enacted In this State
than that which limits distllling and
the liquor traffic. Said he:
at all the groans and tears called
from widows in consequence of this
illegal traffic could be bottled up and
turned LOOSEN this court room, it
would be more awful than Dante's
description OF hell"
Touching the drink habit, he said
that a young man may free himself
from almost any other habit, but when
| in the clutches of this habit he often
cannot do it.
Judge Cooke concluded his able
charge by saying somewhat facetlously
that twenty. five years ago he was in
Halifax court in different capacity
| in the capacity of solicitor for the DIS
trict-and he had always thought that
juries here were rather liberal in their
estimate OF mems privilege to fight.
The charge was strong and forceful,
and Judge Cooke made fine impress
sion on all In court.