The commonwealth., 1908-12-03
HALIFAX COURT.
The Iasinuati0n that Commissioners
"PiChad" the Jurors StiPS Up For
nets Nest.

Halifax Superior Court convened
at Halifax Monday for the trial OF
the criminal and civil docSets, Judge
C. N Cooke presiding. The Grand
Jury, consisting Of L. ". Brown,
foreman. w. C. Dickens, ". D. Leg
get Lafayette Powell, G. c. Nevil,
G. C. Howell, r. II. Daniels, S. B.
Butts, J. K. Fitzpatrick, A. w.
S!edge, W. D. Knight, E. A.: Lilly,
c, E McGwigan, F. NJ. Taylor, W.
w. keeter, Ii. W. Nixon, F. P.
Sledge, E. 7. Adcock, were swcrn in.
Eugene Hannah was made officer of
the Grand Jury.
The Judge then proceeded to de-
liver q a strong and forcible charge
to the jury which was concluded
about lis o'clock when adjourn
ment was taken for dinner until
2:30 o'clock.
Judge Cook delivered a strong
charge to the jury in which he clear
Iy aud forcibly defined the different
classes and degrees Of the law and
was listened to with intense inter
est.
He went after the offenders of the
law with gloves off and said he
would d2 his duty because Of his
oath as a Judge and because the
majority Of his days had been spent
He discussed at length the different
degrees Of murder and manslaugh-
ter, laying especial stress on what
is termed involuntary manslaughter.
He stated that the heavy damages
against railroads had not checked
the occurrence Of accidents because
in SO many cases the parties really
responsible for accidents escaped all
responsibility whatever. Whenever
a man is paid to perform duty and
is intrusted with the performance Of
that duty, and a death occurs
through his criminal negligence, then
he is guilty of manslaughter and
should be held responsible.
He took up the temperance ques-
tion and strongly urged upon the Of
ficers their duty in properly enforc-
lag this law.
He also spoke Of lynchings and the
naturalization Incident to them.
He referred to the charge that
there was irregularity in the count
ing of the votes in some townships
in the county during the recent
election. 1T must be investigated -
said he, "and, if true, the guilty
ones punished, if untrue, it must be
established. The people are on
trial.
Something Of 3 sensation was
was caused when Judge Cooke said
that he had been Informed that the
Commissioners had "picked the
juror" that when a man not their
kind" was drawn his name was
thrown back and they continued thus
until the ones wanted were drawn
and if it was true-and he couldn't
believe that it vast should be Sc
verely prosecuted and if untrue they
should be indicated.
After adjournment many of the
county officers and those prominent
III county affairs vehemently de
nounced it as an unqualified lie. The
Judge was informed of this and he
stated from the bench that he wa:
then satisfied that it was untrue
Mr.. Travis addressed His Honor anc
stated that such a fragrant slandel
Of these good men could not gc
without being vindicated and asked
the author of the charge. Judge
Cooke declined to give the name OF
his informant but stated that he was
from another county. Mr.. Travis
insisted that bill be drawn and the
matter be made record, and tha
the grand jury investigate and re
port to the Court. This course wa.
adopted.
There are about 81 cases on tn;
criminal docket and only six Or eigh
on the civil. The Judges charge
l was pointed and delivered in his owl
characteristic way and it was evi
dent that transgressors of the Law
have rough road ahead.