The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-18
JAIL GAPING FOR
KILGO'S HELPERS"
Judge Moore Imposes Sentence of Thirty Days and
Fifty Dollars Fine On J. R. Rogers and
J. P. SorreII.

Duke.
G. That said Rogers told said King
that his friends had got into a little
trouble in the Kilgo and Gattis case,
that Gattis had sued Kilgo and got
him into trouble, and that he (Rog-
ers) would be glad if he (King) would
help him (<ilgo) out if he could.
7. That after some conversation
said Rogers and Sorrell left and be-
fore leaving, he asked said King not
to say anything about what they had
been talking about.
s. That said Rogers, at the time he
approached said King, and attempted
to persuade and influence him rs
above stated, he knew that said King
was a juror. and that said Sorrell in
the conversation which took place
privately between Rogers and King re-
ferred to the fact that King and one
Maroon were jurors.
3. That the date of this occurrence
as nearly as the court can fix it, was
on Friday, June 2, 1905, just ten days
before the court convened
10. That said case of Gattis VS.
Kilgo and Duke was tried at this
term and resulted in a non-sut.
II. That said King attended as
juror, but was challenged as a juror,
and the challenge was allowed.
II. That the conduct of the re-
spondent Rogers tended to defeat, inn
pair, impede and to prejudice the
rights and remedies of the plaintiff
L. j. Gattis iii said action of Gattis
VS.. kilgo and Duke pending in court
at the time for trial, and has since
been tried as above stated.
Is. That the object and purpose of
said j. r, Rogers in doing the acts.
above set forth were to defeat, impair
and to prejudice the rights and RENE
dies of said ThoS. j. Gattis, the plain
tiff in said action of Gattis VS.. Kilgo
and Duke.
Upon the foregoing facts the court
is of the opinion that the acts of the
respondent, j. r. Rogers, constituted
an unlawful interference with the pro-
ccedings in the said action of Gattis
VS.. kilgo and Duke, and tended to
defeat, impair, impede and to preju-
dice the rights and remedies of said
Gattis in said action of Gattis VS..
kiigo and Duke. Upon said facts the
court is also of the opinion that said
j. Rowan Rogers is guilty of an Of
Tense which can be punished in a
proceeding as for contempt
1t is therefore ordered and adjudged
by the court that said j. Rowan Rog-
ers is guilty as for a contempt of this
court in the acts set forth in the fore
going finding of facts, and that he be
imprisoned in the county Jail of Wake
for the term of thirty days. and pay a
fine of $50 and the costs of this pro-
ceeding to be taxed by the clerk of this
court.
(Signed)
FREDERICK MOORE.
Judge Presiding.
When court convened. Judge Wo-
mack arose and stated that he repre-
scented the respondent Rogers and had
dictated his answer but that il had not
Vet been prepared. He also stated that
he had been telephoned to and asked
TO represent Mr.. Sorrell. but did not
yet know whether or not he would do
So He suggested postponement un-
til III O'Clock, which was finally agreed
to.
At the hour of re ?convening both
the respondents were in court with
their counsel. ex-Judge r. b. Womack
and j. c. l.. Harris. Esq, and also ell
the local attorneys for the defense in
the Gattis- Kilgo suit.
Ex-chief Justice Shepherd and OK
Judge a. w. Graham were present to
assist the judge. Both of these gen
tlemen had been requested by the
county authorities and the court to as
sist the court in the examination.
was agreed that the cases should
ing all the evidence and rendering
judgment in each case as though the
respondents had been separately heard.
IhlS was agreed upon after state
ment by Judge Graham that since
the adjournment OF court thew had
learned that the respondent ,Sorrel
was present with Mr.. Rogers on the
occasion testified to by the Juror. r.
III. King.
Judge Womack then read the an
swera of the respondents as follows
The text Of the answers of the re-
spondents, J. f. Rogers and ]. p.
Sorrell is respectively as follows:
y. Rowan Rodgers for answer to
the rule to show cause why he should
not be punished for contempt of cour;
in unlawfully interfering with the pro-
1eedingG in the action of Thomas j
Gattis against John C. kilgo ct al. in
The matter set out in said rule respect
fully says TO the court:
That on the occasion referred to
by the juror, j. M. King. that he, the
had been to the home of
Iohn P. Sorrell with view and in
-ention of procuring a horse. That
The said Sorrell got into his buggy
"lth respondent, for the purpose of
SONG to his mail box which was about
4 mile from his house, and that he
went rs far as the church to show the
respondent a near way home And as
-hey reached church on the high |
way. a very short distance from the
residence of said King, the respond
mt inquired if there was any good
wafer 1T the church. That Sorrell re-
pied that there was good water down |
II King s, from one 20 two hundred |
Yards away. That at that time respon.
lent and Sorrol1 had heop diccIIccipo
he scarcity Of hands and farm labor
ers. and sorrell remarked that King
had all the hands he wanted and
aniI tod to the Gold ,rhern AID