The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-01
NO DECISION
George Judge Trial Con-
Guided Yesterday
Afternoon
PECULIAR CASE
the Evidence i'm the Case Purely
Observation-Disclosures ArOusing Con-
siderable Interest-Number of PeO-
nde Do Not Think Judge Guilty
Many Peculiar Circumstances Con-
nected With the Case-Justice
Fowler Reserved His Decision I'm
til 10 O'clock This Morning.

ahe trial of George Judge. who was
inflicted for arson. was concluded yes
.terday at 10 o'clock, but Justice Fowl
Ter reserved his decision until this
morning at 10 o'clock. 1t is hard to
tai what Justice Fowler's decision Will
opinion in regard to the case, but the
majorfty of those who heard it seem
to think that the evidence is not suf-
fcfent to justify the binding Of the
prisoner over to court.
The first witness placed pom the
stand yesterday morning was John
Meier, who works at PAGES pool room.
Ills testimony was that he saw Judge
about 2 o'clock playing pool with sew
erni other men that he CMeier) went
To dinner a few minutes after 2 o'clock
and returned about 3 o'clock. Could
net say whether Judge was there or
net when ne returned. Saw Judge
playing pool about 4 o'clock.
Lester G.. King, who works at the
Wilmington cotton, mills saw Judge
dbEne out of back door of PAGES pool
oom about 4 o'clock. House Of DR..
Durham was then burning. Did not
know where Judge was before that
time.
8. o. Brock. an electrician, testified
that he was in C pool room about
twenty Or thirty minutes before fire
IN Durham residence started and that
Iadge came into the pool room and
spoke to him..
Chief Schnibben was called to the
stand again to learn the exact time
that h alarms Were turned in. He
said the Gilbert fire was about 8
o'clock. the Register fire at 4 and the
Durham fire at AIS.
j. c. Springer, of the W. E. Springer
hardware company. testified that ne
had a conversation with Judge the
szsaening of the fires. Judge said that Il
, fire Was going on at DR.. Durhams.
That .1kdge bought a box of 80 calibrs
cartridges, but in a short time brought
them back. saying they were too small
thai he wanted 38 calibre. Said he
wanted cartridges for a friend at Del
gado.
The point about the cartridges was
brought out because there was a So
calfbre pistol missing from the room
where the fire was in the Durham
residence.
Mr.. Springer said Judge left the
store by the back o which led into
the Purcell alley and that the Register
boarding house could be reached from
the alley. The witness also testified
that the Eagle Steam Laundry was on
the same alley and that it was the
nearest way to reach the aundry
Mrs. Gilbert. who keeps one Oh the
boarding houses which caught on lire.
was the next witness to TAX the stand
She said that a short time before the
fire Judge came to her house to collect a
laundry bill. That h first time sne
saw him he-was in the front nall put
q few minutes later h came a
-nunning against him on the ground
floor OF the house. Judge said he mao
rot confused in trying TO find his way
out of the house.
Young James Gilbert testified that ne
also saw Judge when he was In the
house and that he remarked TO MIN
n he was confused
Mr.. r. E. Grafton. who has a room IL
Dr Durham's and who was
the room that was burned. stated ina
sc the time Of the fre ne was II
Seoreda- Had never seen Judge oe-
fAre the trial. Sent aundr to VII
xnineton steam Laundry. That wher
ne went to Georgia he left a IS canOf'
rssto, In the room and when he re
turned it was gone.
Mr. Martin who occupied the sam
r,om as Mr.. Grafton, said he was a
~, OT+on hotel when he first heart
OF the fire. Knew a pistol. was missin'
from the room. Had a Qansactlo'
NICE with Judge in regaV 10 SOLE
laundry.
Chief Schnibben was again recat'e
to the stand and testified that ne eF
amined the Gilbert and Durham nre
closely and that in his opinion the
were both of incendiary origin.
r. G. Litgen who stays at Inc orto
bar. said that Judge bought a drin
from him about 4 O'Clock Sslurua
evening and gave him S5.e. -,
Judge took stand TO eNplall -
transaction He said he went 10 II
0rton to collect a laundry bill from M
homas Shepherd and that MIR. Shel
herd gave him a five dollar Dill. r
~ouId not change the bill and carried
To the saloon to get the change. a
bartender would o give him q
change and he bought a drink 10 con
mel him to'do so. =,
Mr.. Shepherd c~orroborated N
Judges statement in regard 10 I
transaction.
Ar b G.. Empie. whq> represen
-fndga made a irons plea IN MS q
Tense.
Messrs. Herbert McClammy ana
Reuamv representing h state ma
brief speeches pointing out the plih
naJ circumstances that Woulo go
prove Judge's guilt.