The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-07
JUDGE PEBBLES AND THE ROBE S0N
BAR.

Our Lumberton correspondent last week
wired this paper that the bar OF Robson
county chad unanimously declined to set
the calendar and agreed to continue the
docket" The correspondent also added:
This action was taken by reason OF re-
rorts received from other counties, in
which this judge has held court, of his
ldiscourtesy to counsel, unfairness and par
tiality, a notable instance being the Hay
wood case. Lawyers here are unwilling to
|arpear before him in any capacity"
In Tuesdays paper, from the same re-
liable and trustworthy correspondent, it
was printed that before adjourning court
Judge PEBBLES denied the charges made
against him and notified the bar that he
was too conscious of his duty in the mat
ter to let such proceedings pass I'M
noticed"
In yesterdays paper the full text of
Judge PEBBLES statement at Lumberton
was printed in which he said that con-
tempt proceedings would be instituted. In
the course of his remarks, Judge PEBBLES
So i'd
II took no notice of the attacks made
upon my trial of the Haywood case for
the reason they were vague and indefinite,
and were aimed at me and not at my
ctfice. and for the further reason that
felt satisfied that all intelligent. unpreju-
diced lawyers, who read the proceedings
of the case. would sustain my rulings.
After the Haywood trial the criticisms
of Judge PEBBLES in the press were very
general and very severe, and many were
SUI prised that the Judge took No official
notice of it. Until his remarks at Lum-
berton he had made no public reference
to the criticisms. He now says he per-
nitted them to pass because they were
vague and indefinite" were "aimed at
me and not at my Office" and Il felt
satisfied that all intelligent, unprecedented
lawyers, who read the proceedings OF the
case, would sustain my rulings The
Tarboro Southerner at the time made the
wise and sensible suggestion that the
State Bar Association at its next meeting
should TAX, up the criticisms, made by
investigations If Judge PEBBLES was guilty
of the favoritism and improper rulings
char ged. the State Bar Association ought
to condemn him. If the charges We're
no. we'll founded, and if ''all intelligent,
unprejudiced lawyers" who read the pro-
cccdngs of the court would sustain the
rulings such report by the State Bar AS
soc;ation would give to Judge PEBBLES the
exoneration most dear TO a lawyer and
Judge. 1t had been the purpose OF this
paper, before the Robson county Incl
dent, to refer again to the suggestion Oh
the Tarboro Southerner and commend 1t
to the consideration of the State Bar AS
ISOLATION at their meeting in June. They
owe it to the exalted profession, to the
judiciary of the State, and to Judge Pee
blcs to make a full investigation OF the
whole matter and to spread the result OF
tEeir investigation on the minutes OF the
Bar Association. 1t is for such important
matters as this and to raise the ethics CT
the legal profession that the Bar Asso-
citation was organized. If it does not I'M
dcrtake and conscientiously perform
duty so delicate and so important, alike
to the public and to the judge, 1t is tail
inC to measure up to the need OF the
State and the profession.
Ii may be that the contempt proceed
iEgs, which Judge PEBBLES says will be
Instituted will bring out all the crltl-
ciems and answers to the same. If so, 1t
will mako the work of the State Bar AS
soc:stion easier. In view Of the criticisms
of the press and in view of the action OF
the Robson county bar, and the action
of Judge Pccbles in announcing that con-
tempt proceedings will be instituted, the
puhlic will look for full and impartial
yestigation of the whole matter.