The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-10
LIFE SENTENCE
FOR MISDENEANOR
Camden County Farmer
Made Magistrate Angry.
JUSTICE ADMITS MISTAKE
Court Says Commitment Was Due to
the Insulting Conduct of
the Prisoner.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug 10.-With the
help of habeas corpus proceedings VIII
liam Norcross. a county farmer, is free
from prison, to which he was commit
ted for life on the charge OF disorderly
conduct.
William NJ. Williams, the negro Justice
OF the peace who committed him, ad-
mits that there was little mistake
in the commitment" and the irate far
mer vows that some one viii be made TO
suffer for his Imprisonment since Sun
day morning.
One factor that entered very largely
into the drastic action of Williams is
the fact that the compliments against
E-rcross reused him out OF bed about
midnight to take testimony ia the case.
Williams said:
''Riled' a Little.
1T riled me a little to be hauled out
at that time Of night. and when Nor
cross refused TO have anything TO do
with my court l just grabbed a COM
mitment blank and sent him up TO
Camden without filling in any time.
"Of course it was slightly out OF the
technical order OF procedure, but he
could not have been locked up for more
than four days on that charge, no mat
ter what happened"
Williams holds his court IN Snow HILL
a negro settlement a short distance out
of Camden, and he IS one of the three
justices OF the peace allotted TO Center
township. having been elected at the
last election.
No Distinction Made.
yet there is but little distinction made
IN color when the residents of the town
ship seek the aid Of the law to mend
their wounded feelings.
Black and white alike flock 10 VIII
liams' little front parlor, where, with
the judicial dignity due his station. the
Justice deals out his measure of legal
lore, Sometimes the belllgerents are
satisfied; sometimes they carry the case
further UP - ? road to Camden.
A reporter discovered the magistrate
yesterday working on the secOnd-stOry
Of new house which he is erecting at
harrington. BE IS a carpenter and
builder by trade. but stands ready at
all times TO adjourn building operations
In favor Of the majesty of the law.
Never Studied Law.
Asked if he ever studied law. williams
admitted that he had not, in which
particular he is like some of the PhiIa-
deiphia magistrates. but he quickly
added that he was not a stranger to
Blackstone, Kent. and many other COM
mentators on the English common law.
Williams continued:
Mr.. Norci oss may be able TO appeal
and in the end have my commitment
set aside. but in order to prove a false
commitment he viii first have to con.
vince a jury that l acted with malice
in sending him up TO Camden. AS / had
! every authority 10 do this. l am not
amenable to any action he might bring.
Il saw Prosecutor LLOYD today, and
he told me that my commitment was a
| little unusual. ] felt this at the time
l made it. but the insulting manner in
which the man staggered into my
court and then refused TO have any
thing TO do with IL made me angry
enough to do anything with him
He was charged with disturbing q
campmeeting of coloTed persons. ane
/ the little testimony that was Offered
was ample enough to prove the justice
/ of the charge"