The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-09-19
SUPERIOR COURT.
Several Important Cases Dispos-
ed of-Grand Jury's Report
Interesting Report on Schools

After a full weeks work, Rob-
eson Superior Court, Judge OH. |
Allen of Kinston presiding, ad-
lou. med Saturday afternoon.
The trial of Eli Switzerland,
colored, for killing his son-in-law
began Thursday afternoon and
Saturday afternoon the jury re-
turned verdict of murder in
the second degree. He was CIV
en- 10 years in the State peniten-
tiary. This was the only hard
fought case during the term.
Col. N. A. Mclean of Lumberton
and Hon. G. B. Patterson ofMax-
ton appeared for the defense and
Messrs. Mclean & higgins of
Maxton assistedSolicitor Sinclair.
MackMcLean, tried on the charge
of shooting Deputy Sheriff T. C.
Barnes at MaXton some months
ago, was found guilty. Motion
for judgment was made and con-
tinued and his appearance bond
was fixed at $10O. Jno. James,
alias Cook, colored, who shot and
killed negro boy near Maxton,
apparently accidentally, plead
guilty of manslaughter and was
given II months on the roads.
Geo. Eaily, who entered E. E.
Pages house near Lumberton
some months ago, plead guilty
of house-breaking and was sent
to the roads 4 years. Sandy Ho-
gan, colored, who killed a negro
boy near Rowland, shooting him
when he asked for a chew of to-
bacco, plead guilty of manslangh-
ter and was sent to the roads for
9 months, it being in evidence
that there was no intent to kill.
Many cases were mol pressed and
several continued.
The grand jury made it's re-
port Thursday evening. 1t passed
upon 3S bills, finding 80 true
bills. The Jail was reported as
being we'll kept and in sanitary
condition, and the prisoners we'll
cared for. The jury recommend
ed two additional hunks for three
cells in the right wing of the jail,
occupied by colored prisoners,
that more blankets be furnished
these cells, as the ones now in
use are not sufficient. and that
the leaks in the roof of the jai
be stopped Immediately in order
to save further damage to the
building. A committee visited
the chain gang and found the
convicts we'll cared for, but with
one exception the tents in which
they are kept are in bad condi
tion and leak. The inmates O:
the county home were found wei
cared for.
The jury recommended that i
the road funds are sufficient a
this time to keep the roads il
good condition the road supervis
ors should be required to at leas
see that the roads are KEEP
shrubbed and the bridges kept il
good repair.
All the records in the differen
offices in the court house wer
found neatly and safely kept an
we'll protected. 1t was recon
mended that the janitor be com
pelled to keen the floors. Wir
dvws and cuspidors in better cor
dition, as they are not in keepin
with the modern court house
and that the bed rooms for il
rors be furnished at once wit
beds, chairs, and other necessar
fixtures to make the rooms con
Portable. The night before tt
report was made the members {
a jury had to sleep as best the
could in the court house, as sui
able places could not be four
for them elsewhere.
REPORT ON SCHOOLS.
Attached to the report Of tt
grand jury was the followir
report on schools, submitted
the request of the jury by Cou
ty Superintendent of Public l
struction J. r. Poole:
I'm order to show the progre
of the schools in this county,
me submit the following repol
For the year 19O5-rural ce
sus, 7O34; rural enrolment, 43z
average attendance, 2857; leng
of term, white schools, A month
value of school property $33, 81
The same report for the we
1910 is as follows-rural Gems,
1916; rural enrolment, 5OO5;
erage attendance, 3279; lene
of term. white schools, 5 mont
and 6 days; average length
term in spscial school distric