The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-18
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES REPI-
Triton.


their oaths and become partisans in
the box for the defendants in the
Gattis- Kilgo case, The News and OBJ
server laid down this proposition:
That the two men caught in the
tolls were the least guilty of those
responsible for a humiliating exposure
of efforts which had been made to de-
bauch the jury system of Wake coun-
ty. 1t was stated that the facts estab-
lished left no conclusion for rea-
sonable man but that they were the
tools of more influential parties. The
News and Observer frankly disavowed
it's belief in the theory of the altru-
ism of Mr.. Rogers and the self-sacrl-
ficing friendship which he claimed to
have displayed in behalf of a close
friend who testified that he did not
even know his more than Jealous ad-
vocate and champion. 1t was further
pointed out that the real obligation
was to find the men who had set the
springs in motion. In view of the
silence of the minor CulpritS who had
been caught this paper pointed out
that there was one method and one
alone to be pursued and that was
further prosecution for embracery.
If Rogers and Sorrell would not
talk, then, we ventured to say, they
assumed the entire responsibility,
which no one believed should rest on
their shoulders, and they should suf-
fer as though they had been the ini-
tiators of the disgrace. We trusted,
however that this method would be
productive of loosening the tongues
which to that hour were cleaving to
the roofs of the mouths of the cul-
prits.
Indictments for embracery were
brought and the two men convicted
Their counsel made eloquent pleas in
which they stated that their clients
had been guilty of "indiscretion' and
nothing more: that the whole matter
grew out of friendship and that Mr..
Rogers had ignorantly inveigled his
friend Mr.. Sorrell into a scheme that,
atty but the product of big heart
and noble impulses. Mr.. Rogers then
made a grandstand play by asking
that the sx-months sentence imposed
on Mr.. Sorrell be put on him as he
was the sole original conspirator-
though he did not know he was doing
anything wrong.
Still the defendants were silent and
il seemed that they would take their
medicine and the matter would be
ended for all time.
But then comes Mr. Banks and he
shows that the statements made in
the answers and the statements made
on the authority of the defendant
Rogers. at least, are false. Mr.. Rogers
offered Mr. Banks money. He claimed
that his operations were confined to
Juror King and Mr.. Sorrell.
Whoever knows j. r. Rogers, knows
this, be it said in justice to the man,
that he would not have offered money
unless he had the ability to pay. Ev-
eryone knows that he did not himself
have the money TO put up. Who was
behind Mr. Rogers?
The News and Observer was criti-
on it's trail for the course it took.
Some good people, some eminent law
yers also, thought that the contention
was severe one. Now, however, the
contention has been proven. The trail
ers will probably keep silence; the
people who differed honestly will
change their opinion and admit their
error.
There were in this matter of coun-
tvs disgrace those higher up" That
is shown beyond a reasonable doubt
by yesterdays developments.
AS we have said before: there is
one way to find these worthless and
only one. That is the testimony of
M. Rogers.
There will be still another indict-
ment against him. The sentence next
time, will scarcely be only six months.
1t is for hi;l to :ay what he viii
do about it.
With no personal feeling against
either If the def6nt'ants, we say
again. solemnly, that if through a
bull-headed and wrongly con-
ceived sense of honor" they
remain still silent they must suf-
fer the penalty. The people do
not want Rogers and Sorrell. They
want to know the men who sent them
out. Nobody believes that they acted
on their own responsibility. but if
they persist there is only the one
course left, to take them at their
word, and to punish them in accord
ance with their crimes and not in
response to a plea of mercy.
1t is a serious matter: Rogers and
Sorrell must "squeal," or they must
suffer.