The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-27
THE WHEREFORENESs OF Ex-JUDGE
ROBINSON'S REMARKS,

ID
attorneys for the conspirators, went upon
the witness stand to confirm or contradict
another conspiracy attorney, Capt. Day,
or something or other, it does not mat
ter what. In the course OF his testimony
he had occasion to refer to the News and
Observer, and said in substance that cit
makes no difference to me what that pa
per says about anything-myself includ-
ed" That was wholly gratuitous on the
man who heard him was rather surprised
that any lawyer would go out of his way
to cast a slur upon any newspaper while
on the witness stand.
why is II ;" he asked, chat Robinson
showed such venom to the News and OBJ
server" There may be others who, hear
ing the testimony, might be inclined to
ask the same question. OF course there is
a reason for it-and a reason, too that
the people will say does great credit to
the News and Observer.
In the campaign of 1898, about the mid
die of September, Hon. f. M. Simmons,
Chairman of the State Democratic Execu-
tive Committee, requested the editor of
the News and Observer to make a speech
reviewing in detail the crimes and wrongs
of the Re-pop-h-can administration IN
North Carolina. He said that the speak
eYs were asking for the specific instances
Of mal-administration and corruption so
that the concrete facts could be told to
the people on the stump. In pursuance
to that request the editor prepared the
speech with great care. 1t reviewed in
detail the administration under three
heads-executive, legislative and judicial.
The speech was made at Lemon Springs,
Moore county, and was published in full
in the News and Observer of October 1st,
1898 Afterwards it was printed in supple
ment form and sent broadcast over the
State and later State Chairman Simmons
published the major portion of the speech
as a campaign document. More than a
quarter of a million of the speeches were
circulated over the State during the cam
paign 1t was sought everywhere, not be-
cause of any special merit In the speech,
but because it was a complete, full, accur-
ate and plain statement of the most fla
grant crimes against the State and its
n IF I1xr
the negroes and Populists in 1894 and
1896. Under the heading of THE Judi
ciary" several crimes against decency by
Republican Judges were detailed. Among
other indictments, showing how the Jul
dietary had sunk to so low a level as TO
lose the confidence of the people of North
Carolina, certain'conduct OF Judge Rob
inson was recited. From the speech of
Mr.. Josephus Daniels, made at the request
of the State Chairman, the follow extract
is printed today:
"At the spring term of Wayne Superior
Court 5udge Robinson's conduct showed
his partisanship in such bold relief as to
make good citizens indignant In his
charge to the grand jury he laid special
stress on the subject of selling lntoXicat-
ing liquors and cigarettes to minors.
1T so happened that four indictments
were found against one Hiram J. CHM,
two for selling liquor to minors and two
for selling liquor on Sunday. CHM insist
ed on a trial and the jury rendered YER
dict of guilty in less than five minutes In
one case. CHM Immediately plead guilty
in the other three cases. All these OF
lenses were committed on Sunday within
a. stones throw of Presbyterian church
on the outskirts of Goldsboro, where
there is no police protection. When the
Judge heard the evidence and the verdict
was rendered, he showed great indigna-
ton and pointing his finger with theatre
cal air at CHM, said: II will not trust
myself to sentence you now, Sir lot L
don't know what | would do if | were to
meet man in the road that had sold one
of my boys liquor, especially on Sunday.
| will pass sentence on you later. All
of which sounded very fine and the tenn
perance people felt TO commend such
righteous indignation. In considering
how much punishment to luIct, Judge
Robinson learned that CHM was fuislon-
| list and worked to put his gang i'll power
! That settled it. Judgment was suspended.
There was another case Whlch showed
| that the politics of the defendant deter
mined the judges action. A man by the
name of Hatch, the leading RepuDhcan OF
Wayne county outside of Goldsboro, ind
who was made Mayor of Dudley by the
Legislature of 1897, owns and runs a pub
| lie gin. A true bill was found against
him for false pretense IN SUBSTITUTING
sand for lint cotton in the cotton Oh cuSN
toner and he plead guilty IN open court.
Judge Robinson directed the clerk OF the
court to strike out the submission ana
enter a plea of nolo contenderc ana sus-
pended Judgment on payment OF costs.
That's the way he sentences law-oreaK-
ers who helped to put him IN oVice ana
disgrace the State. How was IL "nen
Democrats were before him Tor violating
law? A young white man democrat
and the only son of widowed mother.
was found guilty of knocking man down
with beer bottle. He was sentenced by
Judge Robinson to four months lmpfison-
ment in the county Jail Ii tne young
man deserved this sentence anu II may
not have been excessives the two Fusion