The news & observer., 1904-06-05
Judicial Corruption.
(Sentinel, April 2, 1900

The integrity of the Judiciary of
North Carolina was never stained by
even breath OF suspicion until North
ern arms over-ran the State and
Northern money corrupted State Of
ficials. But judicial corruptions have
been common in the North for fifty
years.
1t is now near half a century
since Mr.. Webster delivered one OF his
great speeches before the Senate of
Massachusetts in defense of Judge
Prescott against whom fifteen articles
of Impeachment were preferred. There
is no telling the degree nor the extent
of judicial corruption In North Caro-
lima, for it is very difficult to detect it,
When a judge is seen publicly asso-
ciating with criminals who are to be
tried before him, he should he marked
as depraved and ready to receive
gifts, and to pervert justice. We once
knew Judge Caldwell TO refuse TO re-
ceive a social call at his room from a
gentleman OF high standing in society
because that gentleman was defendant
in a State case to be tried in the court
which the Judge was than holdir.2.
After the trial was over he SeTt the
gentleman an invitation To call on him
and then explained to him why he re-
fused to receive him before.
The Sentinel of February z, 1870,
copies the following article from the
New Bern Journal of Commerce:
Standing Up for the People.
One or two of the so-called con-
servative papers, instead of employing
their space and talents i'm attacking
the corrupt administration OF State
affairs by the radical party, and its
infamous rings, are heaping denuncia-
tions upon our valuable contemporary,
the Sentinel and its editor for his
charging upon and holding response,
BILE the guilty parties for the corrup-
ton and yenality in public places
everywhere To be found throughout
the State"
TO MIR. Turner, of the Sentinel the
people of North Carolina are indebted
more than to any other man for the
exposure OF the many schemes lnau-
gurated in Raleigh for the ruin OF
themselves and the State, and we de-
sire to tender to him, in our own be-
half, and the behalf of the people of
Eastern North Carolina, that high
need of praise eminently due to his
course in this respect.
T.Conservative papers act i'm the in
tefest OF radicalism when they oppose
that course
Should be i'm Jail.
tSentInel, March 10, ISdO.)
The judge has been omnipotent in
Surrv, and it may be that he will be
offended at the omission of his name
in this article, but the Judge will not
look for too much favor from us,
when he remembers having once said,
that Joe Turner should be in Jail,
d-n him."
Another Contempt Case-S;ephen
Slade in Contempt.
(Sentinel. January 13, 1S7O.)
Nancy Powell, a colOred woman of
Caswell, sued Stephen Slade, a colored
man, for work done, and the warrant
was returned before Jimmy Jones,
known in that region as "Holden's
he wanted MAS Tom Harrisons to try
the case"
..Why so?" asked Squire Jones'
because he will do me jus stice,"
said Stephen.
DO you think I will do you injus-
tice?" asked the weeping squire.
81 do" said Stephen.
Jones then told him to make an
affidavit Of it and some other magis-
trate should try the case. The affi-
davit was drawn and sworn to, and
there. for the time, the case rested.
Stephen went home, but during the
night the weeping Squire thought it
a case Of contempt, and entered fire
of 500 against Stephen, and sent and
had him arrested. He was taken to
Yanceyville and delivered TO the
sheriff to be put in Jail.
Judge Kerr was applied to, who
drew up an answer for Stephen. purG-
ing him from contempt and prevailed
on the sheriff TO take him and his
answer back to Squire Jones.
This was done; and the Squire, on
reflection, concluded that Stephen
was Excused, but not acquitted"
Jones was rantanterous Confeder-