The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-17
PRAISE FOR JURORS
JUDGE THOMAS COMMENDs THEIR
 RECORD FROM BENCH.
only One Acauittal, and that Negro. pr. Berry Pleads Guilty and Gets Four and Half
 Years.

Jurors who served the past week in the City Court have a record. Of all the cases 4hat went before them for their consideration, only one defend ant was acquitted.
 The whole week was one in which the jurors either convicted or the court took pleas of guilty from the prison CTS. The only person turned loose was negro who was accused of vio- lating the prohibition law. These facts were commented on broadly yesterday by Judge William H. Thomas, presiding over the criminal court, when he discharged the jurors for the week after concluding the days business. Judge Thomas pronounced the juries the best he had ever had in his court.
 He referred especially to the firm adherence to duty displayed by the jurors in conviction, white and black | alike. The color of the skin played no part of the verdicts of the past week. The fact that a person was white amounted to nothing to the ju- ries.
 These jurors who received such a distinct compliment from the court
 J. Guy Mills, c. I" Hinds, E. W. Crenshaw, J. H. McTyiere. J. T. Mills, M. G. Carroll P. Minton, N. P Jackson, W. J. W. Brown, George Barnes. S. T. Rushton. w. M. Snider, Smith, s. M. Collins, J. D. Dean, H. G. Howard. c. c. Seally and J. S. Perry.
 Into the days proceedings Of yes- | terday's court was injected a bit of | human interest when the elderly Dr l w. J. Berry, alias Dr. w. J. Clark, at his own request, appeared before Judge Thomas and solemnly pleaded | guilty to two charges of forgery in the second degree. A vein of human sympathy crept | through the court room when this ap- parently welI-educated man, past his | prime in life, admitted with pathos in l his voice that he had erred feloniously l against the State. Though he had nothing more to say than that he was | guilty, 1t could be discerned from his countenance that he looked for mercy. He desired, it was said. that sem tence should be immediately pro- nounced on him because he didn't wish to be mortified by, being herded in with a lot. of prisoners on sentence day Dr. Berry received @ heavy sem tence, two years in the penitentiary in one case and two and a half years in the other. in all four and a half years.
 
 months. He came to Montgomery a stranger. but through his refined man ners and his ability to make friends, he gained the confidence of number of citizens whose confidence and trust he violated, causing them losses of money and goods.
 Among his victims are Father Dennis Savage. Hugh Gallagher and A. l.. Cassidy. During his incarceration. Dr. Perry has made model prisoner and it is hoped by many who have known him that his age and his excellence of conduct vii secure leniency for him in the penitentiary.
 KilIiam J. Foster, a white man, pleaded guilty to embezzlement. Eos fer is 29 years old. He was formerly employed by the Standard oil Company. and misappropriated $20. Foster was fined $50 and in default of paying same he was committed to jail.
 Other cases disposed of yesterday were:
 Will Hall. unlawfully riding on train, nIeaded guilty and was fined 1 cent.
 Johnnie Jack, Dave Johnson and lake Durham. shooting across public road. each pleaded guilty and each was
 Henry Parker. shooting across pub lie road; pleaded guilty and was fined
 Georgia Thomas, burglary; pleaded
 Sam Troy, vagrancy; found guilty and was fined $l6O.
 Judge Thomas will today hear the | case of J. S. Lamb. charged with vio-