The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-10-28
NO POLLUTION" SAYS STATE
CHEMIST, IN WATER SUPPLY OF
BEAUTIFUL HENDERSONVZLLE!
JUDGE JUSTICE
CONNENDS J. 0. BELL

cases coming before Judge JUS
tice at the recent term Of court
was that of Ralph Hudgins, con-
victed of an assault, last Summer,
upon Frank Bell, son Of Mr.. J.
o. Bell, and sentenced to 20 days
in the county Jail.
The boy served only two or
three days of his sentence, when
he was released. He returned
to work in the mill at Green
River. where he has since been
employed.
Judge Justice cleared the court
room of all women, girls and
boys under 16 while certain avi-
dence (the language said to have
been used by the Hudgins 10y to
Frank Bell) was being heard.
His HonOrS remarks were sub
stantially as follows:
THE language used by the
accused is the most detestable [
have ever heard inside or out
side of any court room. Since
licks ensued from the Hudgins
boy he is necessarily guilty and
the trial magistrate could not
have done otherwise than con-
vict him of assault. / do not see
in any aspect of the case wherein
Frank Bell could have been con-
victed of an affray, since all he
did was, to deny the vile charges
made against him by Hudgins by
saying that such charges were
lies. His striking Hudgins was
only in self defence.
There can be no question as
to Justice Ovens right to con-
vict the boy after hearing the
evidence, but | will review the
question of the punishment i'm
posed"
Here counsel for Owens stated
in open court that they had no
objection to this course and that
they were not seeking any fur
ther punishment for the boy but
did desire to have the conduct of
their client, Owens, laid bare to
the court, that both court and
public might have the facts un-
distorted from either side and
form their Judgment therefrom.
The Judge then heard the evil
dence of the witnesses who had
testified before Justice Owens,
that of Frank Bell, Mr.. ]. o.
Bell and the magistrate himself.
The evidence of the defense was
then heard, including that of the
defendent, after which Judge
Justice said that he could have
no criticism whatever to make of
Mr.. J. o. Bell, who had demand
ed the warrant, but that on the
other hand he considered Mr..
Bells action justified in every
respect. He added that Mr..
Bells action since in giving the
boy employment in the mill, with
his brothers and sisters, thereby
them to make a comfort
able living, was most praise
worthy.
Referring to the sentence ina
posed by the trial magistrate his
honor said he considered it
neither excessive nor cruel.
That it might have been severe
but the offense committed was
an aggravated one which needed,
possibly, severe treatment.
Il have now before me these
facts" said Judge Justice.
Here is a son upon whom a |
widowed mother is dependent, |
and since the prosecuting wit
nesses have expressed their |
willingness for the boy to receive
no further punishment will |
take a conrse which will enable
the boy to prove that he is willing
to try and be a good boy from
now on, and will therefore sus-
pend judgment until March term
of court, and require that he
appear then and prove his good
behavior. "
Mrs. Hudgins testified that
Mr.. J. O. Bell had always been
friendly towards her, and that
put for the fact he was now Civ