The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
University Sophomores
Sentenced to Four
Months in Jail.
VERDICT is CAUSE
OF NO SURPRISE
Young Men Will Be Hired Out
by County Commissioners to
Their Fathcrs-Case, Grow
ing Out of Freshman Rand's
Death, Without Precedent
in North Carolina.
Especial to The Tim es-Dispatch.

Hillsboro. y. c.. March 15--Estab-
fishing a precedent In the annals OF the
state a verdict OF guilty OF man
slaughter was returned this afternoon
BY the jury in the trial OF Ralph w
Oldham. of Raleigh; william L. Merri-
man. OF Wilmington. and Aubrey C.
Hatch. Of Mount Olive the three Uni
versity Of North Carolina students In
dicted in connection with tho death
OF Isaac william Rand. in a hazing es-
capade at Chapel Hill. y. e.. September
IL. 1912 There is no record of a haz-
ing controversy being threshed out
previously in the courts OF this State.
The twelve Orange County farmers
sitting In the case gave the practice
OF hazing stunning blow when at
2:io o'clock this afternoon they re-
turned verdict OF manslaughter
against the three sophomores.
The announcement of the verdict by
the foreman of the jury came At the
end OF three hours deliberation, and
the decision arrived at by the twelve
men who had sat patiently on the case
since Thursday was the cause OF no
surprise. Even tho fathers OF the
boys had displayed nervous anxiety
over the welfare of their sons after
Judge Peebles's charge to the jury at
1885 o'clock in the morning. and the
father OF one of the sons who had
watched every step in the progress of
the trial. eNinced extreme nervousness
during the morning session and broke
down In tears at the noon recess OF
court.
Intcnsc silence Prevails.
NO less anxious were some Of the
courtroom spectators in the announce
inent OF the verdict. fearing the worse
for the three boys at the bar. and when
the jury filed Into the room. signifyinE
readiness to announce verdict, In
tense silence hung over the little court
room with its ancient bearings on
the announcement OF the verdict. at
torneys for tho defense and the par
ents of the boys retired TO an adjoin-
ing room for consultation.
Judge r. p. PEBBLES. without any
undue ceremonies, passed sentence upon
the three young men. giving them the
minimum penalty exacted in the case of
manslaughtcr He pronounced SEN
tence in these terms:
That each of the defendants shall
he imprisoned in the county jail OF
Orange for four months. beginning the
sth day OF April 1913. In the mean
time each defendant shall give a bond
I'm the sum OF 800 for his appearance
before the sheriff OF Orange County, at
Hillsboro. y. c., 10 obey the order of
the county commissioners. who shall
I'm their discretion. hire them out To
whomsoever they please in this State
The defendants arc TO be taxed with
tho cost of this action"
On behalf OF the defendants and theiri
parents. Victor s. Bryant, of Durham
arose and in few words thanked the
Judge for the humane attitude which
he had assumed towards the young
men.
Judge PEBBLES replied to the EXPIRES
sion OF thanks from the attorney, as
follows: IT hope this will be the last
nf hp III
versity In North Carolina. 1t is incom-
prehensible to me that hoy, brought
up these boys have been. should go
TO a poor freshmans room and take
him out OF his room. pour bla clSing on
him and have fun at his expense
am glad OF an opportunity to show
these young men that have no incll-
nation to be severe. l only want to
make an example sof this case un-
derstand that another boy has been
blacked at the university since this
case began, If had the boys that did
that here 7 certainly would put them
on the roads"
Actual Punishment Light.
Although the conviction of man
slaughter carries with it lasting
stigma and deprives man OF citizen
ship the actual punishment meted out
to Oldham, Hatch and Merriman by the
court is exceedingly light The pay
ment Of the costs in the case and the
VI
sums up, in its last analysis, the pun
fshment administered 1t WAS posi-
lively indicated this afternoon that this
will be the method of procedure ap-
proved of by the County Commissions
ers when the appointed day comes for
hiring them out.
The fathers OF the boys convicted
though weighed down with grief at
the unfortunate affaii. at its best, In
that 1t will place an unerasable stigma
on boys once OF such youthful prom
ise, gave expression to their gladness
that the last chapter In the horrible
tragedy was written this afternoon In
the minimum penalty. George Old
ham. Of Raleigh. father OF young Old
ham, gave expression to his satisfac-
tion of the verdict. l.. j. Merriman
of Wilmington. burdened with deep
grief, offered no rebellious complaint
and likewise Mr.. Hatch is taking 1t
as phiiosophically as possible. II
there is such a thing as n happy Gull
mination of such difficult tragedy
as the death OF BILLY" Rand and it's
subsequent events. this is doubtless an
illustration.
The elimination of the celebrated
trial this afternoon In many respects
writes the finishing chapter to one of
the most unfortunate tragedies in the
history OF the State, and marks the
end Of one Of the most notew orthy
cases conducted in courtroom in the
State within a century. The. setting
OF the unique trial was story within
itself The courtroom dates back to
tho year of 1859, when King George
Ill presented to tho town OF Hills,
boro the clock now In It's tower. Since
the calling of the trial on Thursday
morning, every bit OF available space
has been taken by the throhgs that
have noted each step OF progress in