The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-18
PATH||QlS AND FUN
AT WAYNE COURT
Judge Ferguson Makes a
Great Impression.
Judge W. S. OBJ. Robson Caught in
Glass House Throwing Stones
and Solicitor Armistead Jones
Assumes Roll of "Horse
Doctor"
Especial to News and Observer.

Especial to News and observer
Goldsboro, N. c., Sept. 17.-Judgo
Garland S. Ferguson adjourned court
today after one of the busiest sessions
that have been recorded in Wayne
County. The rapid dispatch of bust.
ness, the close attention required, ana
the long hours Of court sessions have
made some impression. and Judge
Ferguson has received the thanks OF
the bar as we'll as the esteem of the
public. No judge has received more
f1attering approval of his actions on
the bench here. Judge Ferguson wilt
preside at Wake County Court week
after next.
This court has presented many
amusing incidents. The seriousnest
of number of charges have been
forgot for a time on account OF tha
amusing situations in some of the
trials.
Solicitor Armistead Jones was abs
sent one day looking after his politi-
cal fences and other important bust
ness in Wake county, and the state
was ably represented by w. b. Jones,
son of the solicitor and his partner
in law. Mr.. Jones made very gooo
impression here as prosecutor anG
during his service as acting solicitor
the bar heard one of the most amusing
incidents of the week.
A negro client of attorney W. L,
>portch had contended vehemently
that he had been libelled by the charge
of assault. The negro was on tho
stand and telling of vile language that
had been cast at him. describing his
character, when Mr.. Jones interrupted,
quickly and in sympathetic strain.
"And then you hit him. didn't your
- \ ,.,,D h..
prompt reply, and Attorney Dortch
went into Mysteries as he called to his
client, "Come down out of that stand,
you're guilty.
In David Harum's Sphere.
But the fun of the week came with
the last case of interest when Judge
w. S. OBJ. Robinson grew so warm
in his argument before the jury thai
he made some caustic unpleasant in
situations against the solicitor and At
torney w. L. Dorth. who were prose
cutting horse trader for perpetrat-
ing on a Wayne county farmer d
rather tricky" DEAL the man being
charged with selling a stolen horse
at one time and a wind-broken one at
another when representing the horst.
ito be solid and sound from the bot
tom of his hoof to the top of his
withers and not a bump nor blemish
to be found on him." Judge Robin
son was interrupted in the course OF
his remarks just after he had said
that even the judge, he suspected, had
at some time bought stolen property
stolen chickens, he explained. When
Mr.. Dortch called the attention of the
court to what Judge Robinson haG
said of the solicitor, Judge Ferguson
brushed the matter aside by saying,
1--WE paid no attention to anythine
hn col ho col tyr lac
ended in a "Gaston and Alphonso''
fashion between the distinguished
counsel.
But Solicitor Jones had posed as a,
horse doctor. He didn't know what O.
horses "withers'' were, but he kner
every form of doctoring that the horse
traders couldn't remember. When he
had concluded the examination of one
of the "swoppers," Judge Robinson.
asked in crOsS-eXamination, "Weii sir
what do you think of the horse doc
tor?" And as the witness left the
stand he left a parting shot to tn
effect that he would hate to risk
horse of his to Mr.. Jones's treat
ment.
Judge Robinsons memory is some.
thing like that Irishman's flea, and
he 'forgets that he is forgetful' and
fails ito remember that he can't re-
member" so when an old time negro
witness was ION that stand and coulti
not give the name of man for whom
he had worked. Judge Robinson scored
him severely
We'll. sir if that don't beat ALL /
want you to tell the jury" said Judge
Robinson in his sdverest tones Il
want you to tell the jury how it is that
you can't remember the name of tho
man who lived next door to the plain
TIT and can't even remember the
name OF the man for whom YOU
worked-yes, sir, not even the nan(
OF the man for whom you WORKED,
and yet, you can remember that Mr.
Mr. Mr." and realizing that he
lived in glass house and was throw
ing stones, the judge appealed to the
bar somebody please tell me the
name of my client"
The whole court appreciated the
situation and the witness was dis
charged.