The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-23
Taking Evidence in This
Case Has Begun.
A FIERCE COMBAT ON
GiIliIand Will Fight to the Last to
DispeI the Cloud Which He Says
Malice Has Flung Over His
Home. Scenes in the Court
Room.
Especial to News aud Observer.)

Especial TO News and Observer
Ashevine, y. c., Nov 22.-The
taking OF evidence in the mandamus
proceedings instituted by Robert Gill
land, of this county, to compel the
county board of education to rein
state his six children in the white
schools of Avery's Greek township,
was begun in Superior Court today,
and many witnesses for the plaintiff
were examined.
Although considerable progress was
made, so many witnesses remain to
be examined that ii is unlikely the
hearing will be concluded before Fri
day or Saturday. 1t is said a hun
dred or more persons have been sum-
moned TO testify.
The sole issue i'm the case is Wheth-
er the six young girls fair-skined
with intelligent faces and long,
straight hair, have in their veins ne
gro blood: and all the evidence intro
duced today was All effCrt to show
that the family had always been re-
garded as white and had mingled So
cially with the respected and respec-
table white people Of their COM
munity. Further testimony win also
be along this line and the plaintiffs
viii endeaVor to show y Toid deeds
ana other paper writings, and the
family Bible Of jeffrey Graham. an
ancestor Of these chldreRt who set
Jled in This country more than Il hum
bred years ago. that moi drop Of
negro blood courses through thci"
veins.
The plaintiffs will further attempt
to show that it was from this same
jeffrey Graham that rumors of negro
descent originated. They VIII. IS
said allege that this man was a
Portuguese, and that it was because
of his dark complexion and foreign
accent that il was alleged that he
was of African descent.
The defendants Ola the other hand
contend that by their mothers SIDE
the children are tainted with negro
blood. for the reason that Mrs. Gill
land was a ,rraham and that re-
mote ancestor Of the Grahams was
Il negro
Among the Witnesses summoned to-
day was Theodore Graham. father o.
Mrs. Gilliland. grandfather of the six
plaintiffs. He testified that he was
white and had always been regarded
as white and offered papers to prove
his statement.
The old man made a notAbe figure
on the stand. He is ScNentN-fOuf
Years of age and has Il rugged face
and strong physical make up. His
skin is clear, his hair. now whitening
through age, Wayy. and his eyes
bright and sparkling. lie has the APP
pearance OF = foreigner and to the
eye Of a casual observer has not the
trace of negro blood.
Robert Glliland. father of the
plaintiffs, also endeaYored 10 eStab-
lish the fact that his children arc
not negroes. On cross examination
he was asked some very embarrassing
questions which he answered without
hesitation. He admitted that his
children had never attended Il white
public school, and that they had at
tended a school especially for chill
dren of Graham blood. He denied
however. that this has ever been re-
garded as a negro school.
The fact was brought out that the
people have attended the white sun
day school and church. Mr.. Gill
land is farmer, a man Of some
means and intends to fight TO the last
TO dispel the clo1l which he says
malice and spite has gathered around
his home.