The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-17
ANOTHER ALLEGED 5ATTEMPT TO
INFLUENCE JUROR IN CAT
TIS-KILGO CASE.

Elsewhere we publish the affidavit
of one of tho eighteen men summoned
for the special term of court to try
the case of Gattis aeainst Duke and
Kiigo The affidavit speaks for itself
and Mr.. S. L. Marcum swears that
Mr.. ]. p. Sorrell on June 5ths APP
preached him and ''wantcd him to re-
member DIR. KilgO; that Kitso was q
good man and il any of the jurors got
i'm "a hard place and went TO the de-
PENDANTS after the trial they would
make il right with him." He further
made affidavit that Sorrell told him
he had been '.sent by the defendant OF
defendants to see him. @>e @
This charge is along the same line
of the testimony of Juror King that
ex-Sherff Rogers had gone to his
home after he was summoned to APP
pear on the jury and urged him to
stand by DR.. KiIgo.
Judge Moore has cited both these
men. charged with this grave crime,
to appear in Raleigh today.
The jury system is the very founda-
ton of Justice. 1t is the spring from
whence issues the stream of justice. If
ii is polluted, no mans life. no mans
property, no mans reputation is safe.
The supreme duty of the judiciary is
10 preserve the purity of the jury .sys-
tenn. and protect it from improper in
hucnccs. After man has been sum-
moned to appear as juror in term
of court, the attempt to influence him
is crime against justice and deserves
sevcrest punishment. If, in addition
TO seeking to influence a juror, the
suggestion is made that if after the
trial a juror gets in a hard place
the defendants will make it right
with him. adds to the offense. 1t is
i'm fact equivalent to the offer of a
bride contingent upon the verdict. If
there is any worse crime than that,
what is it?
Judge Moore will hear these two
cases today. OF course the accused
will have counsel. Who will represent
the people? The County Commission
go to the bottom and to prosecute to
the finish any party guilty of the
crime charged by Juror King and
Juror Maroon We may be we'll as
sured that the accused and their
friends and others will seek to make
light of this alleged grave offense, and
that unless thesState IS represented by
able counsel, the cause of the people
will have no champion.
The issue between Mr.. Gattis on
one side and Mr.. Duke and DR.. Kilgo
on the other side is Il matter upon
which good men differ. 1t ought to
be settled by a fair and square trial
so that a jury may have all the evil
dence and decide the matter in &C
cordance with the evidence. When
that is done, the people will be salts
fed with the verdict of an honest
dent in comparison with the all-impor-
tant one of whether jurors are to be
tempered with in the interest of liti-
giants.
In all the years of it's long history
it has been the glory of Wake county
that it's people respected law and be-
lieved in justice It's best citizens wish
TO preserve that honor and distinction.
1t cannot be denied that in recent
years there has come a growing lack
OF faith in the administration of JUS
tice in this great county, and 1t is
no uncommon thing to hear good citi-
zens say that IF man has plenty OF
money he nearly always wins" Good
men do not make such statements un-
less there is at least some foundation
for them.
The County Commissioners started
one reform when they increased the
names in the jury box from 1900 to
5000. 1t will be more difficult to 'cul-
tivate" 5000 possible jurors than l.
800. But of. what avail is it to put in
the names of ali good and available
men of proper intelligence and char
acter if men may ply the trade of try
ing to influence them, either by per-
sonaI appeals or by an offer of help
held out to probable jurors? The
County Commissioners should takt
steps to see that parties accused o.