Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1906-08-02
A BRAVE OFFICIAL.

the Superior Court OF Wake county,
that, while we have no comment to
make as to the finding of the jury,
has emphasized the fact that we have
an Insurance Commissioner in this
State who is an honor to the States
manhood-one who has the courage
of his duty, regardless of conse-
quences.
The ase in question was one in
which the defendant was indicted
for the burning of an u~noccupied
house in the country, owned by his
wife, remote from Raleigh, in which
city he and his wife resided, and
which house was insured, the burn
ing being, presumably, to get the
insurance.
The ''facts in the case" being
brought to the attention of Insurance
Commissioner Young, they were
considered by him of such weight
that, under the oath of his Office, he
could not do other than take action;
the law bearing On the question be-
ing section 1919, Revisal of 1905,
which reads as follows:
"It shall be the duty of the insur-
ance commissioner to examine, or
cause examination to be made, into
the cause, circumstances and origin
of all fires occurring within the State
to which his attention has been
called in accordance with the provis-
ions of the next preceding section, or
by interested parties, by which prop
erty is accidentally or unlawfully
burned, destroyed or damaged,
whenever in his judgment the evil
dence is sufficient, and to specially
examine and decide whether the fire
was the result of carelessness or the
act of an incendiary. The commits
sioner shall, in person, by deputy or
otherwise, fully investigate all cir
cumstances surrounding such fire,
and, when in his opinion such pro-
ceedings are necessary, take or cause
to be taken, the testimony on oath
of all persons supposed to be cogniz-
ant of any facts or to have mean of
knowledge in relation to the matters
as to which an examination is herein
required to be made, and shall cause
the same to be reduced to writing;
and if he shall be of the opinion that
there is evidence sufficient to charge
any person with the crime of arson,
or other wilful burning, he shall
cause such person to be arrested and
charged with such ~offense, and pros
ecuted, and shall furnish to the solic-
itor of the district all such evidence,
together with the names of witnesses
and all the information obtained by
him, including a copy of all peril
nent and material testimony taken
in the case.o
The defendant in the case was C
quilted, but not until after the jury
had been in close deliberation of
their verdict for twenty-four hours,
which, of itself, was a strong indi-
cation that Commissioner Young
had not acted inadvisedly in bring
ing the indictment, upon facts given
to him, which, after being given to
the jury from the mouths of wit
nesses, and after argument for the
defendant by learned counsel, were
sufficient to hang that body for
twenty-four hours, before rendering
their verdict of "not guilty."
The ARGUS is not sorry the de-
fendant was acquitted. This paper
has no interest in the matter other
than to defend the right and uphold
the laws of the State; and we are
writing this to place our impress of
approval upon the brave and i'm
partial course pursued by Commits
sioner Young in the premises.
It is not the first time he has had
to prosecute such cases. He has had
many such during his incumbency
of the Office he 80 signally adorns.
There have been other acquittals, but
he has convicted and sent to prison
some eighty in~cendiaries, and his
bold and watchful conduct of his
Office, his known fearlessness, re-
gardless of high influence or per-
sonal position, has been most whole
some in restraining such crime in our
State-and will continue to be.
The ARGUS gives him the fearless
hand of approval. He is the right
man in the right place.
cox,o.orrxr