The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-02
COURT.
Judge Browns Charge to the Grand
Jury-Speaking at Liilington-Far-
mers' Institute.
Especial to The Messenger.p


Fayetteville. y. G. Angus 2s.-The
Criminal term of Cumberland Superior
court convened at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing, Judge George II. Brow on the
bench, with Hon. G. {. Lyon. solicitor.
There are los cases on the docket. of
which 3.are capital. for murder, criIni-
nal assault and burglary. and nearly
o~ne-fourth Of the total. p. are for ilie-
gal liquor dealing. Judge Browns
charge to the grand jury stamped nam
as a man OF exceptional ab.iisy and
striking intellectually. and especially
his exordium, as il might be called.
OF information was OF great force. Any
attempt 10 give even an out line would
demand too much space. besides doins
an injustice 10 the distinguished turIst:
but some facts which he cited are so
remarkable as TO call for publication
Judge Brown stated that since ne held
his first court here in 1890, the official
record shows that the criminal docket
of Cumberland count has steadily anu
largely Increased In violence and that
this was the case in many sections of
the state. though not in all. In 1880
80 w. IL - ASANfA
cides ard 10. 600 Of crimes OF AL sorts
committed: in 1902 there We're 2S5 homi-
cides committed; $50 in Virginia: 4s1
in New York: 1,0l7 In Texas: singular
10 say Kentucky, the dark and bloody
ground is the one state making a de-
cent showing. In 1902. in the city of
London. with 5000, 600 inhabitants
three times as many as are contained IN
North C~arolina-there were only -
homicides.
He went on 10 say that the ablest Wit
ness of sociology were agreed that unduiy
severe punishment for crime had n ten
dency to increase rather than dimin-
ish it: that this was. shown in the d.
minution Of larceny in England after
the abolition of the death penalty for
theft. and that another reason for less
crime in that country than In the Unit
ed States was certainty Of conviction
there. Judge Brown was exceedingly
interesting in his discussion OF the insti-
tuition OF the grand jury, whch he STAT
ed to be the oldest part in the fabric OF
our criminal Jurisprudence. its origin
being lost in the mists OF antiquity.
and some writers attributlng IL 10 Asia.
but certainly il existed before the birth
Of Christ.
Hon. g.. Il. Patterson passed through
this city today. on his way TO LillIng-
ton, Harnett county. where ne makes
his opening speech II the Congressional
campaign Of this district.
A farmers institute vii! be held at
Little River Academy tomorrow. which
will attract a large crowd from all that
excellen: agricultural section. Profess
sor Burkett. Of the State Agricultural
and Mechanical college wfn speak on
farming, and Professor g M. Wake
land, superintendent Of the Donaldson
Davidson Academy Of This city, will
speak on education.
The mercantile firm Of Charles Haigh.
OF this city has taken the cotton gency
here OF Messrs. James Sprunt & Son,
OF Wilmington.
Miss Daisy Smith. OF Goidsboro. will
arrive this afternoon. 20 visit Misses
Williams on Gillespie street
The following left today for the Ashe-
VILE %reunion in addition TO thoze not
ed in yesterdays Messenger: Captain
J. H. currie. Mr. John W. Carroll;
Misses Augusta Mcclellan. Sarah and
Mamie Brown.
Mrs. d. II. Ray has returned from a
pleasant visit 10 friend in Bladen coun-
~.
Miss Lizzie Lamb eft today for Kan
sas City. No, where she will attend the
Scarrett Bible training school.
Major and Mrs. O.. H Hall passed
through here today from Red Springs,
on their way TO the Asheyllle reunion.