The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1910-03-31
our new COURT HOUSE.
Tbs First Case Tried in Halifax COunty'S
New Temple OF Justice.

New Temple Of Justice.
The following article appeared in
the Raleigh News and Observer of
Wednesday, March 23rd, and as it
relates to some history of the new
court house, we reproduce it:
Scotland Neck, N. c., March %.
The new and magnificent court
house in Halifax is so near compile
ton that the March term of Superior
Court is being held in it this week.
Judge George w. Ward opened the
court yesterday at 10 o'clock in this
new and imposing temple of justice.
After the calling of the grand
jury and Judge Wards able charge
to the jury the docket, with So cases,
of which three are murder cases, was
called, and the first case for trial in
the new court house was the State of
North Carolina against John John
ston and Frank Sledge for engaging
in an affray. The first witness whose
voice was heard in the new court
house was Sam Birdsong, bright
little boy of eleven years. His man.
ly and honest face and his strong,
clear voice attracted the attention of
the great audience which had filled
the spacious court room, and the
clear, unvarnished truth IN his story
bespoke the hope that swelled upon
the breast of many loyal citizens of
the county, that in the new and great
temple of justice the goddess of
truth may for many generations to
come, hold firmly the balance of
justice approving and defending the
right and condemning and punish
ing the wrong.
The defendants pleaded guilty
and the first sentence pronounced in
the new court building was a fine
against the defendant of $40 90 and
costs.
1.-The first case that was given to a
jury in the court house was against
a colored man named Allen, for car
rying a pistol The first argument
made to a jury in the new court
house was by Mr.. ]. P. Pippin, of
Littleton, whose opening sentence
was as follows: Please your honor,
and you, gentlemen of the jury.
feel inclined to use the few moments
which l shall take in congratulating
myself on having the opportunity of
making the first argument in this
beautiful court room, and in speak
ing of the splendid new temple of
justice.
1T was said in Halifax yesterday
by Judge Ward that he had seen few
as complete court houses in North
Carolina as the one in which he had
the opportunity Of holding the first
court. The building is "a feet and
4 inches by Is feet and 4 inches. 1t
is 70 feet from the base to the TOP
Of the tower. In the tower is a mag
nifcent time piece, an eight day Seth
Thomas clock, whose weight is 1,2O(
pounds, the weight of the bell being
700 lbs, and it's strokes being heard
some times three miles. The new
building is altogether on modern
plan, there being two rooms in the
basement, ten rooms on the first floor
two of which are record rooms ano
two in suits. On the second f1ool
there are eight rooms besides The
court room and gallery, and the seat
ing capacity of the court room ant
gallery is 600. The building, costing
$40, 900, is beautiful in construction
| and finish, and the contractor sait
yesterday that if he had no hindrance
in the work he will turn it over t.
. the county commissioners fully com
pleted on the first Monday in April
1t is truly beautiful and magniticen
building, of which any county in tn
State might be proud