The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-20
Especial to The Messenger.)

Raleigh, N c., June 17.-Interest Nas
keen today in the hearing of the
charges against ex-Sheriff Rowan Rog-
ers and J. P. Sorrell. of contempt Ut
court and emDarcery, in approach
ing jurors R. NJ. Kinf and S. P.
Marcum, of the superior court in favor
of Kilgo and Duke, defendants in the
noted Gattis-Kilgo libel damage suit.
Rogers and Sorrell filed afidavits de-
nying any guilt.
The first witness examined was \.
NJ King, who swore he had been reg
ularly drawn as juror in the case and
was at work on his farm ten mues
from Raleigh when Rogers and Sor-
rell drove up, Rogers saying that bis
friends had got into trouble and he
wanted King to help them out II he
could do so. King replied he would 90
so if he could. and asked who the
they were Kilgo and Duke, whereupon
they were Kilgo and Duke, and Kl,so
would be ruined if the case went
against him and he hoped if King cot
on the jury he would do what he could
| to help Kilgo out. Sorrell told King
lsomething about the matter. AS they
were departing Rogers and Sorrell ask
ed King to keep the matter quiet
! Juror Marcum swore that Sor.ell
went to his house in the country call
| ell him out and told him he wanted
him to stand by his friends, Kilgo and
Duke, defendants in the Gattis-kiigo
flight, and added that if DR.. kilgo, who
was a great preacher and head OF Trim
ity College lost the suit it would ruin
him and he would have to leave the
state: that Marcum asked Sorrell who
sent him, and Sorrell said that kilgo
and Duke had done so, and il he $1,000
by them and got IN any bad place after
the trial was over. Kilgo and Duke
would straighten the matter out. Mar
cum said he was asked to say nothlne
about the matter He asked II Sorrel
had seen any of the others, and Sorrel
said King had Deen seen and he
; thought he was all right Marcun
said he at once told his brother /wha'
Sorrell had told him and when th'
Jury met he told it's members.
Several witnesses gave evidence a:
to the character of the accused msI
and of the jurors; Sheriff M. W. PaS'
and County Treasurer B. P. William
son swearing that King and Marcun
were men of good character, while otn
ers gave testimony that Rogers ant
Sorrell were also of good character.
DR.. L. P. Sorrell swore that he Die
Rogers on the highway and asked VIVA
he was doing eleCtioneering, as 1t wa
not campaign year, Rogers said
was trying to correct sentiment aga'ns
Kilgo.
Counsel for Rogers endeavored {
show that what he said was in jest 4
reply to what he thought was DR.. Sor
9 reII's testing remark. All lawyers
e defendants Kilgo and Duke were the
g nut on the witness stand. all sWor'
Il and so did Kilgo and Duke themselve:
that they had employed no one 10
Is such work and knew nothing about IN
matter.
n J. C.. L. Harris was sworn and c.
Le MED that he was employed in seiec'
20 ing the jury. There was lot or ur
important evidence
Judge Moore said he regarded RI
evidence as conclusively showing IL
guilt of Rogers and Sorrell and fine
'e them each $50, with thirty days
u jail. Counsel for the county or Naf
in this proceeding were Shepherd an
Shepherd. while Augustus W. Grana
y represented the court. 7. b. Womas
er and J. C. L. Harris appeared for Rog7
e, and Sorrell. Womack said that boz
e oen were poor and said il the I'm
n were remitted they were willing
L serve the Jail sentence without appes
as Graham said he sympathized with Ro
IS ers, who had been his school mate ar
vs. would not object to the remission
~ fine. Judge Moore said the punishme
g by Imprisonment was really better tns
Us by fine, that the evidence against bo
- men showed that they were guilty: tn
v il there were only fine 1t Nigh.
az said some one was paying, while Il
ar. Imprisonment could not be vicario,
lie hut must be suffered by the m
o. themselves. He then remitted the III
o and placed the MN in the sheriff's 81
=. tody at nine O'Clock. and in a few mi
utes they were In Jail.