The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-20
THEMERED|TH CASE.
Col. PearsaII States Facts
Connected With the
Reprieve.

A reporter yesterday asked Col. P. NJ.
Fearsall. the Governors Private Secre'
tary about the case of George w. Mere
dith, the Atlantic and North Carolina en-
gineer. who, as reported in the Whining
ION Star. had been suspended and had
at the point of pistol demanded that
Master Machinist Newland reinstate HIM,
how he was arrested and sentenced to
ten days imprisonment by Judge Ferguson
at New Bern. and how his attorneys hac
appeared in court the day the sentence
was to begin and had read reprleve OF
forty days from Governor Aycock.
Colonel Pearsall thought that 1t
was due the Governor, Mr.. Mere
dith and himself-indeed all parties
concerned that the facts and circum-
stances should be clearly stated The
details of the assault are unknown to HIM.
Mr.. Ben Newland is not the master ma
chinist of the Atlantic and North Caro-
lima Railroad, and therefore that part of
the statement contained in the Star Isl
erroneous. MIR. Green, a brother of the
lamented w. H. Green is the master ma
chinist
1t seems that on Tuesday of last week
Mr.. Meredith, through his attorney. Mr..
A. ID. Ward, went into the Superior court
and waived a bill and submitted. The
judge imposed sentence of ten days i'm
prsonment in the county jail as punish
ment for the offence committed. Mr.
Meredith, his counsel and friends were
amazed at the severity OF the punishment
and thought that the judge, while acting
of course honestly, was unreasonably Sc
we're and insisted that it be changed by
taking off the imprisonment The Judge
disagreed with these gentlemen and IN
sisted that the Imprisonment should re-
main. Thereupon they requested thel
Judge to give them time to present the
case to the Governor. This the judge
readily did and deferred the execution
of the sentence until the following Friday,
thereby giving Meredith an opportunity
to present his case to the Governor. BY
this action it is seen that the judge was
at least willing for the Governor to hear
the case; indeed it would appear that the
Judge desired that the Governor hear the
case. for if such was not true he could
have enforced the punishment at once.
Mr. Meredith came to the Governors
office bringing transcript of the record
of the case. as is provided by law. and
petition signed by a very large per cent
of the leading business men of New Bern;
letter from the president and treasurer
of the railroad, and one from MIR. New
land upon whom the assault was COM
mitted asking the Governor to suspend
the Imprisonment by committing or pard-
oning. Mr. Meredith is man OF about
forty-eight or fifty years OF age, has
wife and six children; is a man of hlgn
character. a consistent member of his
church. is commandery Mason, and
though a machnist and a laborlng man,
has a standing as good as that of any
man in his community and IN tine Cover
nor's office has the same consideration
| as tie highest man in the land. The re-
| spite was issued i'll order that the Gov
ernor might have an opportunity to fully
and thoroughly investigate the case, and
if, after such investigation, 1T is his
opinion that the judges sentence is not
unreasonably severe, then he Will go to
jail as first sentenced. If on the other
hand the Governor, III the exercise OF
his power of discretion feels that no good
end will be served by this punishment,
he can and will commute the sentence,
SO that deferring the execution of the
sentence for forty days cannot do the pub
lie an injury. whereas on the other hand,
if action had not been taken and an
/
vestigate the case and upon an investi
cation it was his opinion that this man
ought not to suffer, then it can readily
be seen that Il very great injustice would
| be done Mr. Meredith and no good dCnc
the public.
1t Is the understanding Of Mr.. Pearsall
| that every man has a right IN morals,
! law and under the Constitution to be
| heard in any forum of North Carolina,
and to deny him this right is not war
| ranted under any condtionsHe does not
|. feel that there is q man in North Caro-
| lima so inhuman and cruel as to desire
| that Mr.. Meredith be denied the right to
| appeal to the Governor to save himself,
his wife his children and his friends
from the disgrace and humiliation incl
dent to gong to Jail. and there beng as
| sociated with common criminals anG
| fclons.
When the Governor leaves the office he
| directs his Private Secretary to act IN all
cases of emergency for him under his dl-
recton and in his name. For instance,
| if the lawlcss element OF a city were
| threatening and attempting to burn the
town, he would not hesitate to act
| promptly in the name CT the Governor,
! and direct all the military forces of the
! State to the rescue Oh the Heoplc Oh sucH
community. The same would obtain with
| reference to any mob or other violent
! outbreak of the people. In the same way
was action taken in the matter of this
respectable and humble mechanic in the
lcity of Now Bern. As has been said
and can be readily understood. no final
action is taken in the matter; the dignity
Of the court and Judge Ferguson has not
been nfringed upon; the right of Mr.
Meredith to be heard has been vouchsafed
to him and the dignity of North Carolina
and the majesty Of the law will be en-
| fnrced in the end If It is the onininn oil