The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-08
ruE ASSAULT on JUDGE WARD
His .lssailant Confined in the JaiI Of
Durham County-Jndye Instructed
sheriff That Sentence NaS-That Mr.
Gown be Put i'm the Common Jail
and Not In a Boarding House.

es
-
The Durham Herald contains fol-
lowing in regard TO the assault made
upon Judge George ". Ward by En-
Mayor NJ. E. NcCown, on last Satur-
day evening:
Last evening Judge George W.
Ward, who has been holding court
here since last Monday, was v~iciously
assaulted al his boarding house on
billiard street. Ex-Mayor III. E. Ne
Gown IA the man who assaulted the
judge.
After asking that the sentence be
increased the ex-mayor Of Durham
then asked that if that was all that
could be done that the negro be turn
ed loose and be allowed TO settle the
matter with the friends and relatives
of the dead d The judge spoke
about the viciousness Of manner : n
which it was presented and said mat
he was judge and holding u Nc
Gown, according to the statement OF
the court. then began to abuse ana
curse him, following this up with an
assault that knocked him against the
house,
Immediately after the assault z
bench warrant was issued for the ar
rest Of the ex-mayor.
There was a hearing Of the bench
warrant which directed that the re-
spondent should show cause why ne
should not be attached for contempt
of court, in the superior court room.
The order was made returnable before
his honor at 9 o'clock. but when that
time arrived the attorneys for Nc
Gown asked for time n thirty
minutes was allowed. At the end of
this time the attorneys came into
court and said that they were not
then ready, but Judge Ward would
not hear to a further continuance OF
the matter. 1t vas then agreed that
the Judge allow oral testimony, which
was allowed.
After hearing the argumet of
sci it was directed that the respond
ent in this case pay a fine Of $500 and
spend thirty days in Jail for contempt
of court.
After drawing and signing Of the
order Judge Ward came back to the
court house. It was then after mid
night. He sent for Deputy Sheriff Har-
ward and after asking him if he was
then acting sheriff of the county and
being informed in the affirmative he
had the clerk Of the court to read the
order to him. This was that the de-
PENDANT, M. E. McCown, should spend
thirty days in Jail and in addition pay
a fine of 5000 for contempt of court.
DO you understand that?" said the
Judge, addressing Deputy Sheriff Har-
ward. st means that he must he
taken to the common jail of the coun-
tv and not to any boarding house Jail.
You can give him every comfort, sc
far as that is concerned, bat he must
be kept in the county Jail. The SEN
tence takes effect at once n aOt to-
| morrow After this lecture to the
sheriff Judge Ward asked II he th.r-
oughly understood the order. BENZ
informed that he did, Judge Ward lcit
| the court house in compan! Will
| Clerk of the Court G. B. Green. ,
"From the best information. ana
| from the finding of facts as nleo oy
Judge Ward it is judged that the as
| sault occurred about o:oo ocloch'
| Judge Ward had gone to his ooaralls
house-the Mangum mouse on III
lard strickland he had been thete
| for some time Wueu MI.
and called for i'm.
Judge Ward vas told, so II "dS
learned, that some one n &c
speak to him on b front porch. rs
went down in response to MAJ sta-e.
ment and was met by MT !
is stated that McCOWn spoke 10 nis
honor and told him that he was uhcl'
of |. C. Day, the young mar VINO wa
killed by Allen Haskins, VINO NAG peel
tried end sentenced in the court tina
DAY. He then asked the Judge Il IL
could not increase the sentence u
more than Is months on roaos. jug
Ward told the ex-mayor, so it is sala
that he could not make a change; ina
he had carefully considered the cas-
and had imposed the penalty thaI IL
thought just and right. McCo"h j
tban said To nave replied that rs
member Of his family he would as
that the negro be turned loose an
then he matter could be settled.
~ was here hat Judge Ward re
minded Mr.. McCown that he was talk
ing to a Judge. He sad: 10 ~
know that YOU are talking to a Juds
about 2 court matter?" or words I
that effect. He then asked Mr.. Mo
1 Gown II Iudt WdS LIN ""s
were treated when they came to Drl
ham. At this, said the paper in whlc
the facts were found. Mr.. Meow
began to use vile language and -,
curse the Judge in a manne that caui
ed the judge to turn away and at1enll
to go into the house. 1t was tne
that the assault occurred. McCow
struck Judge Ward on the left ear an
he was knocked against the door Ia
ing. The force Of the blow was sue
that the ear of the judge was oruise
and at the point where his head can
in contact with the u there was
bruise and cut on the side of his hea
!. after being struck by his assai
ant Judge Ward turned and went IN
: the house. leaving McCown on II
z porch Soon after that Judge Wa'
/, 'phoned for Solicitor Brooks and Wne
{ the matter had been laid before nl
: he did not lose any tune In gem
j l. ,5~o ,nd ar nncQ nrlD2ro0 III