The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-11
NORRIS INQUIRIES
INTO BOARDS ACT
He Asks Mr.. BeckWith Cues.
tons AS To Paying Expenses
Colloquy in Court Thursday
That Starts Investigation
Into Commissioners Recent
Order.

Solicitor n. f.. Norris Thursday
morning precipitated an Investigation
INTO the recent act Of the county com
m~issioners in ordering an a~nnropria-
tion In the Nippur and Johnson cases
LOT the purpose OF carrying the CON
wet whipping cases to the Supreme
Court.
n coiloQuy between Mr.. Norris
and County Attorney Il. {. Beckwith
rough out some interesting matters.
NO suggestion of proceedings agains,
the commissioners had vet been made.
Hf. MOTIFS was calling over the dock
ct and observed that the bonds Of
Nippur and Johnson had not been re-
neWed. He had them carried out and
their failure recorded.
At this juncture Mr.. Beckwith arose
M asked that Judge Cooke allow the
n renewed within five or ten DAYS
after court, the defendants not being
present at this term. MI. Norris
came to his feet. DO YOU represent
these ~defendants?" Mr.. Norris asked.
MIR. Beckwith replied that he was no
attorney of record, out that he was
doing this out of courtesy to the men
vine were their counsel Mr.. Norris
wanted to know if he were represent
ing the men or the commissioners.
Judge Cooke then took notice. H
said he had observed in the paper:
statements that the county commits
SlOners are paying thee OStS of carry
ing these cases up n the attorneys
fees. This is your county, Mr.. SO
licitor, and this matter ought to b
investigated Judge Cooke said. Nj
| NnrrIC Oid ui1l I,
your Honor"
Mr.. Beckwith was asked if it is tru
that the county intends to pay tn
t expenses Of the trial and the appes
; with the attorneys fees. Mr.. Beck
with replied that the men had bee
advised to do what they had dom
and as they had been advised to d
this, it was nothing but right tia
those advising them stand by ther
!, Il am not authorized to speak for tn
board, but l think it probabl 1 thu
. the board will assist them. You
Honor will recall that o desired tn
J case carried up" he said.
Judge Cooke retorted: Il neve
asked that it be carried up. | chars
ed that il was against the law TO viii
convicts and it us the law. What
did suggest was that an amendmeI
: be submitted to the General Assembl
e at it's special session covering the d.
sired changes
Mr.. Beckwith replied: 81 agree wit
your Honor as to the law. ! thin
when the case is submitted to tf
! Supreme Court it will affirm yol
Honor"
Then. if you think that, now cou
: you, Mr.. Beckwith, consistently az
: wise the commissioners to spend 81
600 to $500 Of the peoples none
: for expenses for the defendants j
fighting the case through the courts
Mr.. Norris fairly roared.
1t was the first time, lawyers Sd
= that Mr.. Beckwith has stood speech
: less. But it was a good place f
Z silence. He made no reply.
q Attorney j.. w. Bum announce
4 that be had never advised. as counse
+ the carrying Of this case to the high
4 court. His curse would have bee
= payment of the very small fine. Viii
some horrible testimony was broug1
. out in the trial Of the guards foHoS
4 ing the death Of a Gallagher. wi
= had been whipped, Judge Cook d
not severely punish the guards wi
n were a part Of the old system
q handling prisoners.
n Attorneys Fees.
# The order of the commissioners do
e not specify that the costs OF the
: cases shall be paid by the county
y 1t does not say who will pay the,
k however, but treats the matter thu
:. Upon motion, it is ordered that u
county reimburse its employees for g
IS penses up 10 this date in connecti'
d with their litigation in the Grimm
/: action lately IN now pending
le Wake court relative to the treatfne
- of conyicts, and hat the attorneys
h said employees be instructed to Pc
is feet and prosecute at the expense
the county their appeal 10 the )
IL preme Court now pending. Noti'
" ave Mr.. Chairman, Messrs. Beddin
ID field. Chambiee, Franklin and Lynr
" Another order preScribes the pa
= ment of half the fees for atiorne.
1915, these expenditures being suble
to the approval of h county audit'
10 This action publishes b fact II
the fees Of Messrs. Il n StmTi
I'd Armsteaa Jones and Son and J.
no D,1o for his defense were. 81 L