The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-05
PUNISHED FOR TWO CASES OF CONTEMPT. W. R. Miree in Dallas Suffers
 the Penalty HAPPY WEDDING IN SELMA Miss Blanche Meyer and Mir. Berrard Yaretzky Uhited-Police Begin
 Crusade On Negro
 Dives.
 

Selma, October 4-(Special) )-W. R. Mi rec who yesterday was fined BIO by Judge Miller of the circuit court for contempt. in that a witness for state had been sent threatening message, was this morning sentenced by Judge Miller to twenty-four hours in jail for another contempt, the offense in this case being the whipping of negro who had testified in the con tempt proceedings of yesterday.
 Last night a telephone message reached Acting Solicitor Reese, stating that w. R. Miree had met Will Andrews, the negro witness in the contempt proceedings of the morning, in the road near Manila and had whipped him with buggy whip. Thereupon Mr Reese laid the matter be- fore Judge Miller and attachments were ordered issued summoning MT. Miree to appear before the court, the writs being made returnable for 7:30 this morning. Deputy Sheriffs Townsend and Doherty went up to Burnsville and returned with MT Ntiree this morning. also summoning Will Andrews and Andrew King to be in court at the appointed hour
 At 7:30 Mr. Miree appeared in court, represented by Judge Daniel Partridge as attorney. The latter offered a plea in abatement in which it was shown that the alleged contempt consisted of the defend- ant having used personal violence and having spoken to Will Andrews in regard to testimony given by said Andrews in the contempt proceedings, and that at the time of the alleged contempt Andrews had been discharged from attendance upon the court and was not an officer of the court and not in the presence or within the purlieus of the court. the alleged of fense having been committed about seven and one-half miles from Selma. The plea prayed the judgment of the court whether it had jurisdiction in the cause.
 Solicitor Reese demurred to the plea and the demurrer was sustained, whereupon Judge Partridge asked permission of the court to retire as he was in the case only to present the legal aspect of the case to the court. He was excused.
 The facts in the case were not disputed. It seems that MT. Miree met Andrews near Manila and asked him what he meant by telling a lie on him. The negro made some reply and MT. Miree wore buggy whip out on him.
 Mir Miree, when Judge Miller began summing up the case, was greatly affect ed and broke down completely as the judge in voice filled with emotion, point ed out the gravity of the offense, and stated that If such a state of affairs was allowed to go unpunished 1t would not be long before the court itself would be attacked. But l want to say" declared the judge with emphasis. that so long as sit upon the bench in this circuit that shall do my duty despite every circum- stance"
 Judge Miller stated that owing to the manner that the defendant had conducted himself since being brought into the court and his evident regret. that he would make the punishment as light as his con- science would permit and instead of giv- ing the limit of five days in jail and fine of $50 that he would sentence him to jail for twenty-four hours. MT. Miree was turned over to the sheriff and court adjourned.