The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-11
TRIAL OF HAzERS
SET FOR THURSDAY
-Four Carolina Sophomores Under
Indictment OH Charge of
Manslaughter.
CAUSED FRESHMAN'S DEATH
Case Will Be Called in Superior
Court of Orange
County.
CAUSED FREsHMAM's DEATH
ny $. IL. WINTERS. .
tspc cial to rAe rimes-pispatch.

at EilIsboro this morning, the four
sophomores of the University of North
Carolina. under Indictment for man
slaughter, for causing the death OF
Isaac William Rand. of Smithfeld, in
the early morning hours OF September
49, 1912. i'm hazing episode. Will be
called for trial at $3.50 o'clock Thurs
day morning. The four soph ignores
are as follows: Ralph Waldo Oldham.
of Raleigh; Aubrey Carlisle Hatch. of
and William l.. Merriman, of Will
mineton.
This order was given by Judge
PEBBLES to-day at noon TO the clerk
of the court. for entry upon the
docket after lie mentioned a message
which he had received from Attorney
Victor S. Bryant, asking for contin-
uance of the case because OF his de-
tention in Raleigh upon the closing
days of the Legislature. Instantly ex-
Judge J. S. Manning. OF Durham. coun-
SO! for one of the defendants, was on
his feet asking for Il continuance of
the case. He wished IL defer the call
ing OF the trial beyond Thursday
morning. since, he said. that even IL
the Legislature adjourns Wednes-
day, the custom OF previous sessions
of the Legislature call for sitting
of the members OF the body through
the night OF the day before reaching
swer TO this excuse advanced by Mr..
Manning that it was new wrinkle
to him, and he made Ii Enthusiastically
clear that no trlfe of an excuse would
lead him 10 order a continuance of the
case.
Judge Peebles's decisive opposition
to continuance cut short further par
lcyiny by attorneys for the defense,
although several were present.
This being the regular March term
or Orange court. the session began at
10 O'Clock this morning. Judge Pee
bless charge to the jury was one of
simplicity concrete examples of vio-
iations of tho law I'm each OF the larger
classes OF crime being advanced. The
concluding remarks of his charge to
the jury were thrusts at the iustitu-
tion OF hazinr. and he clearly show cd
that he placed all forms of hazing in
u class OF crimes which the law of the
land must deal with. He emphasiz
the point that if ans set Of students
take freshman and force him to do
things against his Will such action is
classed as an assault by the court.
They have no right To make the fresh
man sing or dance. or do anything else
that lie does not want TO do said Judge
PEBBLES. \ violation OF this right he
longing 10 the individual makes each
member of the party OF hazers guilty
of assault
trial. and the amou,to or other bust
ness TO be disposed OF at this term of
court, brought many visiting members
of the legal fraternity here to-day.
Major w. j. Brogdcn, cx-JudEe J. S.
Manning, H. ". sykes and w II. Bau
ham. OF the Durham bar. are here. a.
II. VOLT, of Gastonia; t.. $. Parker. Of
Graham: w. y. stacy, Louis Goodman
and Louis Poison, or Wilmington; l.. r
McLendon and Attorney Noontz. of
Chapel Hin, are all Interested in the
present term of Orange court.
strong Array of Counsel.
To represent the four young men
charged with mauslaughtcr, a bril-
/ liant array of lawyers has been en-
ploycd. each Of the defendants retain
ing separate counsel. Young Merri-
man viii bc represented by Louis
Goodman. Louis Poison. Of Whining
ton. and Stern & Duncan, of Greens
boro: Oldham will be represented by
Victor S. Bryant and -. l.. Wissburg,
of Durham; Styron will he represented
by w. u. Stacy. Of Wilmington. and
| cX- Judge J. s. Manning. Of Durham
Hatch will he represented by Bryant
& Wissburg, Of Durham. Tho prose
cuting attorney, Solicitor S. NJ. Gattis,
will be aided in his fight for tho state
| by the firm Of Justice &; Broadhurst
of Green sboro, and j. ~ Wellons, OF
Smithiield
| 4 recital OF the circumstances lead
| ing up to the tragic death of billy"
| Rand and the subsequent events is
the story of the most humiiiating oc-
currence in the more than 100 years
of history of the University of North
Carolina. 1t rccounts the facts OF how.
on the opening night OF the college
/ year, Freshman Rand and his room
mate, Robert Wellons. were taken
/ from their room about 30 o'clock in
\ . r.,ie .f.1xI
! letic field TO perform ludicrous stunts
| for the amusement of the upper class
men. Young Wellons was first made
! to sing and dance on a barrel within
! the athletic field Enclosure. and fell
/ from the barrel, sustaining r slight
cut on his leg. The young sophomorcs.
not profting by the suggestion of the
| accident, ordered Rand to occupy the
/ improVised stage and sing and dance
I for them. performance of a few
| minutes duration wrought an end to
his performances for the amusement
| of the upper classmcn, when he fell
| from the barrel on which he was
| dancing. and in moment was seen
to be mortally wounded. In his fall
his neck had struck the ragged edges
Of q brokcn-nec bottle by the side
Of the barrel on which he was dancing.
When he was picked up. a cash four
inches long and two inches deep was
B observed WIN the nloOu pouring from
the wound. Though some Of the So
phomores were terrified, and fed, some
| remained with Wellons and aided in
! giving the alarm. The bleeding boy
| in the arms of his roommate and a
member of the hazing party, was car
ricd a distance of 100 yards, and the
college physician was FASTENED after
/ but the young man had gasped his
last before the physician arrived. He
/ died within less time than ten min
utes after the fatal fall from the bar
rel. The cash In his neck had severed
the carotid artery and both the eX-
terror and interior veins.
| Quick detection of the four sophie
mores constituting the party OF hazers
was made possible by the bloodstains
on tile clothes of members of the party
and their lack of effort to shift the
responsibility to others. Consequent
ly. their arrest was effected early or
the morning OF the occurrence OF the
horrible episode. Immediate impan-
cling of coroners jury and the
ordering Of hearing the afternoon