The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-27

That harsh treatment Of Judge
PEBBLES toward those in the court was
the common talk of the people in
attendance thereof.
That afiiant heard Judge PEBBLES
say that he had tried to get the jury
in a case, State '. Walter to return q
verdict OF mot guilty" when the jury
had found the party guilty.
(Signed.) A ID. WEST.
w. l.. StanIey's Affidavit.
w. T. Stanley, being duly sworn, de-
poses and says:
That at March term of Lenoir SUI
perior Court 1903 Judge r. r.
PEBBLES presided, and at said term of
said court the case of II. d. Stanley
VS.. w. Q. Raspberry was pending and
tried by said Judge and jury. That
this attiant was a witness in said case,
and was frequently in the court house
during said term of said court. That
during the trial OF said case and while
this afiant was on the stand as a
| witness and explaining from the books
! the consideration of the note sued
upon, dated January 9th, 1892, His
Honor asked the witness to let him
| see the books and this afIiant handed
the books to His Honor to examine.
His Honor discovered some calcula-
lions made at the bottom of the ac-
count in pencil. His Honor then ask
ed witness what those calculations in
pencil meant-this aftiant stated that
they were simply calculations which
had been made by plaintiff his son,
while the defendant was being exam
med. That thereupon His Honor
stated to the witness that you have
been tampering with these books
since / saw them last: that / will not
allow any Juggling with these books
while the trial is going on, and then
/ 4 n n
feet on the floor, and stated to the
counsel for the defendant that he
might plead the Statute of Limita-
tons.
That this affiant was again offered
| by plaintiffs counsel during the trial
! to make some corrections in his
| statement which he previously made
: after he had refreshed his memory,
as to the consideration of the note.
| His Honor stated that he would not
allow the witness to be introduced and
| that ne would not allow this affiant to
| fore-swear himself.
| That it appeared to this affiant that
! Judge PEBBLES took sides in almost
every case that this afiiant heard tried.
and the fact of his partially and bias
was the subject of general comment
by the people; that it seemed to this
f, affiant that the Judge wanted to be
both judge and jury.
That this affiant is a resident Of Le-
nOir county, North Carolina, and has
been a resident of said county for
about IL years, and is now an acting
justice of the peace for said county,
has been mayor Of the town of Kin
Ston twice and several times on the
board of aldermen of said town. That
he was q lieutenant in the Confederate
service during the Civil War, in Com
pany G., doth n. G. Regiment Heavy
Artillery.
(signed.) w. r. STANLEY.
Several afidavits showing the good
character of Mr.. Stanley were filed.
AfGdavit OF j. j. West.
That affiant was a regular juror at
February term, 1903, of Duplin Supe-
rior court, and served on the jury
until Thursday morning of the first
week Judge r. e. PEBBLES presiding.
That Judge PEBBLES was harsh, rude
and discourteous in his treatment of
witnesses, suitors, jurors and attor-
neys attending on said court and in
the opinion of affiant took one side
or the other of almost every import
ant case. which came before him,
while affiant was serving as juror
That affiant recalls case tried at
said term in which one Walker was on
trial and convicted; that after his con-
viction Henry l.. Stevens, Esq, attor-
ney at law, who had appeared for
Walker moved to set the verdict aside.
That Judge PEBBLES replied Ito Mr..
Stevens) Mr.. Stevens, / did all in my
power to keep the jury from convict
ing your man, but they would do 81,
and now ] will not interfere with the
verdict" And the verdict was allow
ed to stand, Judgment being imposed.
That affiant was one of the jurors
who tried at said term Robert Hicks,
on the charge Of perjury, and return
ed verdict of mot guilty" That
affiant returned said verdict because
under the evidence and the law as he
understood it, and under his oath, he
could conscientiously return no other
verdict.
That because this affiant and the
other jurors returned said verdict
Judge PEBBLES. rudely and with display
Of much anger, discharged the entire
jury, telling them, among other things.
that they We're not fit to sit and try
causes in the county of Duplin.
That affiant is informed and be-
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