The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-05-19
The Plight of Judge PEBBLES.
News.

Charlotte News
North Carolina is making history |
this wear in the matter OF It's ludiclai
proceedings. The conspiracy charges
AGAINST McBee and Finch in the mat
ter of the Receivership made red |
line in our history and marked one
way in which the State Corporations
can assert their independence OF the
United States Courts, with the long
delays that are characteristic OF
cases before those courts that can be
appealed to the United States Su-
preme Court.
The other matter is Of more than
local interest, the Judge PEBBLES case.
1t shows that lawyers have some
rights before Judge and that a!udge
| will be bound to respect them or run
| the risk OF finding himself in the pre-
dcament of Judge PEBBLES today,
since there are lawyers who, knowing
| their rights. dare maintain them.
! A celebrated case was tried during
the year, that OF Ernest Haywood
for the murder of Ludlow Skinner.
| The official conduct of Judge PEBBLES
! in that case, his acts OF discourtesy
to the counsel for the prosecution,
and his partially to the cause OF the
defence, we're severely criticised by
practically all the leading papers OF
the State, a formidable list OF them
being given in the affidavits OF the
lLumberton bar, made yesterday.
! Not long ago the Smithfield Herald
came out with an editorial scoring
nameless Judge for drunkenness while
conducting the court in Smlthfield.
The papers of the State attempted to
prod the Heradinto naming the man,
but the Herald would go no further
in the matter.
When the Lumberton bar met to
make up the docket for the term OF
court to be held by Judge PEBBLES,
they discussed the matter at some
length. and as two Of their own num-
Der had suffered what they believed
to be discOurtesy and as the rumOrs
: of his drunkenness and general un-
judicial temperament had come to
their ears. they decided not to make
up a docket at all but to continue the
cases until another term. The matter
got into the newspapers and Judge
: PEBBLES took it up, finally issuing 6
4 rule under which the Lumberton law
+ vers are alleged to be guilty OF con
tempt.
e The News does not go into the lega
q technicalities of the casefurther thai
to say that the Judge made what il
believed to be fatal mistake for hi
cause in sitting as Judge in the tria
l. of the case while at the same tim
j. having lawyers making motions OF
his side and thereby making himsel
a party to the case. But the develop
ments of the defense, and especial.
the affidavits brought forward shoN
that whatever the issue OF the case
+ there is ample ground for appeal t.
" the Supreme Court, and that tn
10 affair itself can hardly stop shor
II now of an impeachment of Judg
4 PEBBLES on the grave charge OF intoS
70 ication while conducting court.
10 Among the atfidavits offered by tn
respondents is one from the editor {
q; the Smithfield Herald stating tina
r Judge PEBBLES was the Judge tina
: was in mind when the editorial wa
a | written. There are several other att
70 davits alleging that Judge Feeble
- was drunk at Smithfield and at CliI
is ton, while holding court.
40 SO it would seem that the matte
~ must end in the impeachment {
:, Judge PEBBLES. We had hoped tina
al the action of the Lumberton bar
~ refusing to conduct their cases befol
Il him would have been sufficient. "
al begged him to keep the matter ''undt
At advisement' indefinitely. With tha
70 rebuke he might have turned over
q new leaf and gone on to the end I
Of his term. Probably sympathy woul
he have gone over to his side. But |
90 has persisted in his attitude
t. threatening dire punishment unit
ts the affair has come to this presel
on pass. If the charges are sustaine
as set forth in those affidavits, it on
remains to be said, that it is too la
in the history of civilization in Mort
~. Carolina for any Judge to be tole
~ ated who is guilty of drunkenness.
Il, ,'e WE understand the report whi'
NY was made at Nashville in favor
En- better educational and religio
on n, training of the negroes of the Sou
LIZ came in rather a colorless docume1
with the tacit understanding that
,u- was not to be discussed This We
ad fact that it was not best to discu
zen it, is suggestive that it could W
ad have been cut out altogether. VIII
ire | the negro needs is to be let alone, al
SO let him IN his own way work out
lge salvation.-Raleigh Times.
no