Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1907-03-14
Governments Charges Tai'
Down Completely
M LAW HAS BEEN VIOLATED
Counsel for the United States Throws
Up the Sponge in the Presecu'io.
Of the Charlotte Mill Men Charged
With a. Violation of the Statu'es
Forbidding Importation OF Al'en
Labor.

Greensboro. N. c., Special.-Nevef
has there been a more Impressive
scene in Judge Boyd's court than
was enacted at 6 o'clock Thursday
evening when counsel for the gov
eminent in the penalty suits against
Tho Charlotte mill men, Edward A.
Smith and Sumner B. Sargent, ask
nd the court to instruct the jury 10
bring in a verdict in the defendants
favor in the ease ON trial, n TO
make entries of a nonsult III 'ne
other eases and a mol pros IN the case
for conspiracy. Thus suddenly and
unexpectedly was brought. to a close
a case that has attracted the atten-
ton of the cotton manufacturers III
every section of the United States,
after nearly two weeks has been spent
in the trial.
After the day had been spent IN
examining a number OF witnesses,
for the government. court Adjourned
several for the defendants and a few
at 4:3O O'Clock Thursday afternoon.
At 6 O'Clock counsel for the govern
ment Informed the judge that after
a conference they had agreed to sub
nit to a verdict in favor OF the de-
PENDANTS and asked that court be con-
vened for this purpose. The jury, de-
fedants and defendants counsel were
accordingly summoned and a lew
minutes later the court was opened.
Assistant Attorney General Cooley,
whose frank and candid manner has
won for him the friendship Of every
one who has met him since coming to
Greensboro, spoke for the govern
ment. In a few words he told the
court that the counsel had held a
conference and decided that the
course they were taking was the prop
er thing 10 do. He expressed the opln-
ion that the government was not en-
titled to recover and asked that his
honor instruct the jury to find in the
defendants favor. Mr.. Cooley's re
marks were very timely and expires
sive of the feelings he entertained.
Judge Boyd Complimentary.
Judge Boyd spoke briefly. He salt
that he thought that the government
had taken the proper course in tn
matter. 1t was their duty as publ
officers to investigate the immigra
ton of the laborers and to bring tn
suits if they thought the clrcumstan
ces warranted such action, but tina
they displayed the true spirit IN tn
course they took. He compliments
the attorneys appearing i'll the cas-
and expressed his approval Of tt
manner in which the case had bee
brought to an end. The judge IL
structed that the following be el
tered as the verdict Of the Jur,
"The jury finds for the defendan
and for a verdict say that the plai
tiff is not entitled to GOV up'
any Of the cause Of the action allie
ed in the complaint
District Attorney Holton then a
nounced that he would take a mol pl
in the other case. in which Edwa
A. Smith, Sumner B. Sargent, E.!
Dwelle and Thomas M. Costello Z
the defendants, the government sui
for $4,000 as penalties for the
legged violations of the immigrant
law in importing alien labor. He
SO took a mol pros III the case agal
the four men, charging them W
conspiracy to violate the immigrat
laws. Judge Boyd instructed that
proper entries be made.