Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-07-25
HEAVILY FINED.
AssaiIant Of Judge John Dale Receives
Fine and Imprisonment.

1918, on account ol All OTueT lSSlleu Dy
Judge Dale, releasing a man in jail on
his own recognizance, in which case
Smith was interested, came up for hear
ing before Judge Riley j. Wilson, judge
of the Eighth District Court
Smith entered a plea of guilty, to the
charge OF assault and battery, and was
given the full limit of Imprisonment pro-
vided by law, which is three months in
the parish Jail, Smith also sent letter
of apology to Judge Dale, which was
read in open court and made part of
the records of the court in this case;
which apology and the remarks of Judge
Wilson, in passing the sentence, follows:
Apology.
"Hon. John Dale, Vidalia, La.
my Dear Sir-Fully approaching the
fact, that assault and battery that | made
upon you and the language that used
at the time were a gross indignity to
you personally, and to the high Office
which you hold, take this means of
acknowledging that my conduct, on that
occasion, was wrong, and of apologizing
to you and to the people of this judicial
district thereof. Hoping that you will
accept this apology, in thespirit in which
it is offered, am,
Every truly yours,
"W. S. SMITH"
The remarks of Judge Wilson in pass
ing sentence were as follows:
"You stand charged with assault and
battery upon Hon. John Dale, who is
Judge of this court. To this charge you
have entered plea of guilty. | feel that
| am fairly well informed as to all the
facts connected with, and surrounding
this case. If this offense had grown out
of any controversy between you and Judge
Dale, in relation to matters personal to
either or both, or in relation to acts OF
personal or private nature, the case
would not present so many exceptional
and unusual features, but the facts in
this are that the attack was made upon
Judge Dale, on account of his official acts,
in his capacity as judge of this court ;
acts clearly within his powers; common
and usual in the discharge of his duties
as highest executive official in your par
ish and district.
"In your assault upon the judge under
these conditions, you have made page
in the criminal records of this parish, OF
very rare occurrence in this day and time
anywhere; one that from my knowledge
of the population of this parish is Just
as abhorrent to them, as if it would be
to the people of any law abiding commu-
nifty. In addition to violating the laws OF
your state, you have offered direct in
suit to the good people of this parish ;
this judicial district, and of this state, ac-
centuated by the facts, that in the COM
mission of the crime, you had no regard
or respect for the highest and most inn
portaut office in the district.
Respect for legally constituted author
ity, is first essential element of good citi-
zenship, and the only safe basis for law
and order. Obedience to and acquiescene
in the orders, rulings, decisions and judg-
ments of our courts, until reversed OF
set aside by legally constituted powers,
is the very basis upon which our society
and government rests, and is the only
manner in which We can rest secure, in
the protection of our rights, property and
| liberty.
"It is to our courts that the weak must
appeal for protection against the strong;
to which the law abiding citizen must
go for protection against the criminal
any attempt in any manner whatsoever,
to intimidate or hinder the course of ju-
dicisl authority, is crime of the most ser.
ious nature 10 be universally condemned
by any self-respecting community, and
to be met with the fullest measure Of
punishment at the hands Of those charged
with the execution of the law.
1t must he due to the rare occurrence
of crimes of this character, that we have
no statute that would properly cover thi'
offense, and by which adequate punish
ment could be melted out; for an assault
or an attack upon judge on account o
any act of his in performance of his Of
fetal duty is no ordinary crime. 1t is {
felony TO resist the sheriff in the execution
of warrant for arrest and very properly
so, and it should be likewise in case
like this, and it is hoped that the Legis
lature at its next session will remedy thi
defect in its statutes.
''It is not necessary to stop to conside
the question OF whether you appreciate
the gravity of the Offense you were com
hitting as under any circumstances, il
a case presenting such features as thi
one does, would feel it my duty to sent
ence you to the full limit of Imprisonment
under the statute you are charged will
violating"
Rev. w. II. Mcintosh, while here thi
T.