Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-08-13
THE COUNTY COURT
First Regular Session of the
st. Lucie Tribunal.
Much Interest Manifested Sew
eral Cases Disposed Of--Some
Visiting Attorneys Present

The first regular term of the St.
Lucie County Court convened Tuesday
morning at the Improvement Club hall
to dispose of number of cases which
appeared on the docket. Judge F. L.
Hemmlngs presided, with Judge Otis
r. Parker, prosecuting attorney, and
Clerk j. e. Fultz and Sheriff d. s.
Carlton In attendance, as well as the
full venire Of jurymen summoned for
the term.
The first case called after organizing
the court was the State Of Florida vs..
Willis Wells, colored, charged with
vagrancy. Being arraigned the pris-
oner plead guilty and the imposed
fine Of s25 and costs or In lieu thereof
to serve 80 days at hard labor 10 the st.
Lucie convict camp, which he is now
Real.
Vhe next case called was THE State
of Florida VS.. Louis Depew, charged
with carrying concealed weapons. The
defendant plead not guilty and the fol-
lowing jury was selected to try the
case H, H. Hancock, j. H. Winter, D,
G. Cox, w. Fl. Lennard, James Britt
and w, ]. Grice. The jury returned q
verdict Of not guilty, and the case Of
assault aud battery against the same
defendant was noll pressed by the State
because the evidence in each case was
the same. Judge Parker prosecuted
and Attorney M. @. Jordan, Of Jackson
willie, defended.
In the case of the State VS.. Wade
Register, charged with dealing In
liquorsin dry county, the defendant
pleaded not guilty and the following
j Jury was selected n. n Hancock,
Dan FutcL,W B, Cross D. b. Sheffield,
D. G. Cox and james Britt. The mem
cries of the States witnesses In this
cose were so defective that they forgot
all the details they had formerly sworn
to and the prosecution was forred to
abandon the case and move for ver-
dict OF acquittal. Two OF these wit
nesses are now in Jail 10 await the ac-
tion Of the grand jury on the charge of
perjury. Judge Geo. A. Morley, of
Miami, defended, while Judge Parker
prosecuted.
When the case of the State VS. Jas.
Holland, colored, charged with dealing
in liquor in dry county, was called,
the prisoner appeared without counsel
and conducted his own defense. ques-
tioning witnesses, etc., and made a
short plea before the jury, which was
composed OF n. H. Hancock, j. H, Win
ter, A. Hallstrom, j. B. Hicks, D. @
Cox and James Britt. After short
dellberation the jury returned verdict
of guilty with recommendation to the
mercy of the court. Attorney G.. X.
Broome was sworn in as assistant to
Prosecuting Attorney Parker in this
case and continued to assist in other
ceses.
The case which created the most
interest and proved to be the hardest
fought battle Of the whole term was
the one against J. E. Moore and G. ".
McNett, charged with the larceny OF q
spark plug from the boat OF Don Pax
ton. An array Of legal talent appeared
on both sides, including Attorneys
Parker. Broome and Jordan for the
prosecution and Attorneys Penney and
Worley for the defense. Securing a
Jury consumed considerable time, both
sides using many challenges, and fually
the following were sworn in; D. @.
Cox, j. B. Hicks, D. B, Sheffield, A.
], Drawdy,' Frank Sherman and Tom
Tyre. The Jury listened to about five
hundreddollars worth Of brilliant ora
tory, wit. humor and sarcasm from
the attorneys on both sides-lasting
through the night session Wednesday,
all Thursday morning and well into the
afternoon session-about spark plug
valued at about five dollars. The jury,
after elaboration, disagreed
Three cases against Dave Roberts
we're continued until next term. There
remains FIVE more cases to be tried,
and these will probably be dispensed
with today, Court will adjourn tonight
or tomorrow morning.