The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-30
COURT CONvENES.
Judge Browns Definition
of Conspiracy.
viii Adams Arraigned for Murder oil
Woman and Her Child. Two of
the JatI Breakers to the
Roads.

Judge George II. Brown convened Wake
Superior Court yesterday morning at ten
O'Clock for two weeks term for the
trial of criminal cases. In charging the
grond jury on the law, he defined con-
sriracy as follows: "a conspiracy is an
agreement or confederation of two or
more persons whereby they conspire to-
getner to do an unlawful act, or to do
some act which is injurious to the per-
sonaI or property rights of another
After the petit jury was sworn the first
thing taken up was the large number of
indictments for failure to list taxes. These
prcsentments were made to the grand jury
last September, after the charge by Judge
PEBBLES. There We're fifty-four in all.
The cases of seven were mol pressed, they
having either paid up or been excused
by the Board of County Commissioners.
In thirty-one cases the Judgment was that
they must pay the taxes and the costs as
well. Sixteen cases were continued, the
parties not being found or for other rea-
sens.
Will Adams, the negro who on January
22nd, killed a negro woman named Mary
Bridgers and her daughter in st. Mat
thews township, and almost killed her lit
tie boy, too, was arraigned to stand trial
for his life He is young, coal black ne
gro of powerful physique and by no means
of prepossessing physiognomy He. was
unable to employ counsel, and the court
assigned Messrs. w. B. Snow, Elmer
Shelter and Charles U. Harris to defend
him.
I'll Is llo,.c
was ordered for Thursday morning at hall
past nine O'Clock, when the case is set
for trial The venire will be taken from
the parts of the county remote from the
neighborhood of the crime.
Phil Beasley, who was concerned in the
ARRAY between Virgil Stone and the Assy-
fall. submitted, and was fined SIS and
costs
Dan Biggs, one of the jail-breakers, was
tried for stealing a coat, pair of shoes
and $500 in cash from J. S. Woodall, of
Harnett county. Bggs conducted his own
case, but was found guilty, and got II
months on the county roads.
John Bethel, another of the iail-break.
ers, was found guilty of breaking into
the tailor shop of Roger e. McAuley on
November 18th, and taking three sack
coats and an overcoat. Fer this he got
Is months OH the roads. He plead guilty
to assault and carrying concealed weap-
on but judgment was suspended in these
cases.
The case against Anderson Jeffreys for
embezzlement was discontinued on account
of the death of the defendant
The case of A. H. Fuller for pistol
totng and Irwin Taylor for larceny and
receiving were mol pressed.
w. T. Poe, who forged check on Sher-
wood Higgs & Co., was called and failed
and his bond of $500 forfeited.
Three men from st. Matthews town
ship, who had voted illegally on the rail
read bond election without paying their
taxes, were discharged on payment of
costs.
Ed. Harvard, the colored driver who
was charged with assaulting Mr.. ]. B.
Wilson with a two-horse wagon near Gar
ner, got off easy upon the recommendation
Of Mr.. Wilson. Judgment was suspended
upon payment of costs. Mr.. Wilson had
charged that Harvard had attempted to
drive over him.
Will McDade was acquitted of Il charge
of carrying concealed weapons.