The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-27
Ezekiel Pickens, Upright
Judge, Honest and Peculiar


was found guilty. 1t was the Judges
duty to pass sentence on h pm. Intend
ing to censure the previous Jury for
their verdict in the murder case, in
his delivery he expressed himself thus:
my friend. 1 am sorry for you. You
made a mistake. Instead OF stealing
that little stuff you should have killed
somebody and the jury would have
said you are not guilty You can roam
around and kill as many people as you
wish, and 1t will be all right, but take
care how you put your hand into an
other mans pocket, the jury will get
you sure"
II Judge Dickens could be cognizant
of events now and know OF the car
nival of crime that is terrorizfng and
disgracing Christian civilization, muir
der, rape, robbery, arson kidnapping
emb excitement and every other heard
of species OF crime unheard of, imag>
Unable and unimaginable. the whole
catalogue, he might turn in his grave
and explain with a voice that echoed
along the corridors of the Temple of
Justice, my Godl My God! Did 1 ever
expect to see thislI"
If now a Judge, his charges To Ju-
ries would be loaded with giant powder.
dynamite, nitro glycerine, electricity
and every other high explosive, de-
nunclatiOn ana IulHilHdtioH.
Judge Pickens was holding court
in wilcox County. An important case
was pending and the jury in the box.
The LAWYERS were arguing to the
court some points of law. One OF the
attorneys was very prolix and evil
IDENTIFY boring the court. One OF the
jurors fell asleep under his soporihc
oratopy. The sheriff, slipped quietly to
the unfnterested !, juror. wishing to
tim. innU1fG knOWl-
edge; but the Judges lynx eyes saw
the movement. t"Mr. Sheriff. let him
alone When the gentleman gets to
the point, will have him walked up"
II he was holding court now in Ala
bama. / imagine his charge to the
grand Jury would be in this wise:
Gentlemen. you have been sum-
moned from the body of the county to
Investigate and report all violations of
the criminal code. You are the grand
inquisitors, and you have sworn to
make diligent inquiry and true pre-
sentiments. 1t is your duty to do 1t and
the people look for and expect you to
do It, Otherwise crime grows rampant
and criminals unwhipped of Justice.
You have the whole power OF the State
to summons witnesses etc. Summon
honest. truthful. trustworthy witnesses
that the petit Jurors will believe. For.
n seems that they don't believe these
the more reports the more pay. First,
give attention to these great crimes
and the criminals as of most import
ance Then investigate misdemeanors
petit violations of the law as for Sec
ondary consideration. I do not mean
for you to ignore them, for from VIOLA
lions of the law as to misdemeanors
grow the greater crimes-felonies de-
serving hanging or the penitentiary
To the petit jury. he would say:
"Gentlemen:-You have sworn that
In the case of this defendant you would
render a verdict according to the law
and the evidence. The court WIFI ex-
plain the law and you are judges of
the evidence. Do your duty though the
heavens fall. Let no guilty man es-
cape: the ninety-nine have already es-
capped. In this case ] don't think it
necessary to say II you believe the evil
dence you must convict. You know
your duty. and will do It,"
The last time 1 saw Judge Pickens
was. I think. in 1s49 or 80. He was
returning from New York on one
of our then palatial steamers whittier
he had accompanied some ladies from
Dallas County to hear Jenny Lind
sing
In conversations about his trip. in
Guired how many ladies' he had in
charge ana escorted He slowly and de-
liberatiy counted on his fingers /. 2.
8. 4, 5, g. Z, There were seven of
them" he said. l doubt not some of
those seven ladies survive. hope so.
Soon after this the Railroad fever
broke out as to building of what was
then the Selma, Rome and Dalton Rail-
road Judge Pickens became interested
enthused as he always became in mat
ters his mind took hold OF.
He made speeches encouraging and
advising people to subscribe and take
stock in the road. 1t would be a pay
ing Investment He would guarantee a
dividend and If they became dissatis-
fed. he would take ii off their hands.
Many took stock. Railroads were
then desirable. great developers. a pub
lie pecessity-not as now. preached by
some so called reformers who may have
as grude-demagogues who denounce
them as a nuisance to be suppressed and
put out of business. but are always
willing to accept favors from them
Railroads at that time to be built by
local capital and labor of the country
adjacent and interested. not as now
by great capitalists and syndicates.
Some subscribers became dissatisfied
seeing no dividend in sight and re-
minded the Judge of his promise to re-
deem the stock. Then others insisted
ESQ the story goes) that he redeem
his pledges. The pressure became so
great that he had to leave Dallas Coun-