The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-30
Young Men Sentenced for Illicit Dis
tilling Of Liquor.
Probable End for a Long Time of the
Defiance of Revenue Laws in Wilkes.
a Cnurt Incident That is Probably
Without ParaIlel-Day of Judg-
ment in the Federal COurt-Sen-
'ences Passed by Judge Boyd for
Violations of the Laws
Especial to The Messenger)


Wilkesboro, n c., May 26.-The new
federal court has been established for
W:,kesboro for nearly two years, and
the Judge has been here several terms
and formally opened court, called the
docket and adjourned in a day be-
cause there were no cases to try, except
small submission ones for some breach
of the internal revenue laws. This
weeks term has really been the first
regular session of the court where con-
tinuous work was done, and indict-
ments tried in the regular way, with
hard fought opposition between the
district attorney on one side and law
yers appearing for defendants on the
other before a jury. The result has
been that the fear at one time express
ed that owing to peculiar environments
at Wilkes, a federal court jury would
not convict alleged yiolators of revenue
laws has been completely dispelled for
defendants this week have been tried
and found guilty right and left. United
States District Attorney Holton has
developed into yeritable engine OF
conviction, for the manner in which he
prepares his cases and marshals the,
evidence of the government witnesses.
is really remarkable. A juror here to-
day, after his discharge for the term,
said that every case in which the gov
ernment insisted on trial there was
not a shadow of even reasonable
doubt Of the defendants guilt in the
minds of any jury he was on, after
the evidence On both sides was all in
and before either side had made a
speech.
Wilkes county is known throughout
the state DIS land where the unusual
and original in incidents and individ-
ualities abounds. Here have been rear
ed many of the states most distin-
guished and forceful statesmen, all
stamped with an unique if not erratic
genius for originality, as well as mas
siye strength of purpose and of action.
Famed for honest, Open-handed genial
ity, frank and unconventional hOspi-
tality, the massed citizenship of Wilkes
county has ever made it one peculiar to
itself of the ninety-seyen counties OF
the state, and for generations has
Lorne in consequence Of the aS2re-
gated individuality the distinctive, ap-,
propriate and honorable title of the
'.State of Wilkes
The scenes witnessed in the closing
day of this term Of the court this morn
ing, could perhaps have peen witnessed
nowhere else in North Carolina, if in
the United States, securing for Wilkes
additional renown for doing things
bravely, impulsively, tumultuOusly,
with its heart close to natures soul
full personality, it's head reared back
with determined resistance to further
ScandaliZing wrong, demanding JUS
tice, then shifting with Kaleidoscope
speed and beauty, the head and the
heart Of these people intermingled
and plead at the bar Of stern justice
for mercy. And mercy answered, Be
hold. Gomez And stern justice, with
d glimmer of softness on his awful
front arose in grand majesty, exclaim-
ing deferentiaily, "Come sit beside
me, sister; take these scales, for am
blind and your sweet eyes. l feel, are
better suited for this day"
1t was the day of judgment in the
federal court. Cases which had been
disposed of during the week were cali
ed up by District Attorney Holton for
sentence. There were a great many
defendants, both great and small, at
the bar. ready to hear what was to be
their fate. The court room was over
flowing with people from town and
country, many there as wives, sisters,
mothers, fathers, relatives or warm
friends of those at the bar. others inn
PEELED the motives of public duty or
greed for seeing others suffer.
After disposing of several cases for
'mo0nshining, .'biockading' and
other violations of the internal reve-
nue. by Imprisonment in the county
Jail and fines, and the little jail was
filled, the case against 7. L. Nichols
and L. C. Horton, prominent men in an
outlying township was taken up. 1t
vas shown that this community had
made great strides in educational prog
ress and moral development, but that
the men at the bar. with open persist
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