The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-05-14
TWELVE ARE GIVEN
SENTENCES TODAY
JUDGMENT DAY" BRINGS TO AN
END TERM OF CRIMINAL
COURT.

Judgment Day." the last day of the
criminal term of the May session OF
the Forrest county circuit court, today
saw exactly a dozen culprits, both
| white and black, have imposed upon
them fines aggregating to $4,000, and
penitentiary and Jail sentences aggre-
eating ten and a third years.
All the criminal cases to be tried
at this term of the court have been
disposed of, the two juries have been
dismissed, and on Monday, the civil
suits will be taken up. 1t is believed
that all of these can be heard within
two weeks.
Announcement was made today that
the grand jury, which took an adjourn
ment the first of the week, will con-
vene again Monday, when a number of
Investigations will be taken up
Among these will be the recent OK
theft case against a negro employed
on the estate of Capt. ]. P. Carter.
There was a big crowd at the court
house this morning to witness the SEN
fencing of the prisoners convicted the
second week of the court.
Jesse Richards, negro, charged
with stealing a belt from the Leaf
River Gravel Pit, and selling it to
Hattiesburg junk dealer, was given a
year in the penitentiary for grand lar
ceny. Richards stoutly denied his
guilt. % ~f,wMi
L. E. Beagle, white man, was given
a fine of $500 and 40 days in Jail on
the charge of retailing. Irby Moffett,
the young white boy who attempted
to crack the safe of the Mississippi
Central Railroads Hattiesburg offices
some months ago, plead guilty and
was sentenced to serve years in the
penitentiary. Four years of this vas
suspended.
Chamblss Is Convicted.
tempting to rob V. Martello, a Hat
tiesburg fruit merchant, and of shoot
ing him, was given a sentence of three
years in the penitentiary. Chambliss
made a strong plea for mercy, declar-
ing that he was innocent of the crime,
but stating that two or three other
men, whose names were not mention
ed had attempted the robbery, and
later had told him of it.
1t is more than likely that the grand
jury will make further investigation
of the Martello robbery when it con-
venes next week.
Mary Olive Fleming, a negro "boot-
logger" was given $500 fine and 60
days in Jail. Lou Vaughn, also charg-
ed with retailing, was fined $50 and
10 days.
Frank Virgins, who made such an
unceremonious departure the other
day, when he succeeded in escaping
from a bailiff who was accompanying
him to the court house where he was
to testify, was given two sentences
during his absence. One was for $500
and 80 days, and the second for $500
and so.
Allie Briggs, one of the most notOri-
Gus of the Hattiesburg tigers" was
fined $500 and given a 60-day SEN
tence. Two hundred and fifty dollars
of the fine was suspended.
Veteran Is Fined.
Less Breeland, 71-year-old white
man, convicted of boot-legging, was
sentenced to $500 and 60 days. Judge
Johnson endeavored to induce the
aged veteran to confess. Tell me to
whom you sold the liquor, an0 make
complete confession to the whole af-
fair" the court said, "and I'll give you
the greatest surprise of your life"
But Breland was firm in his declara-
ton of innocence.
Representative Anderson made an
other plea for Elijah Maggard, on
retailing charge, but it availed him
nothing Maggard, when given a
former light sentence, promised Judge
Johnson that he would return to BOga-
lusa, join his wife, and lead better
life. The court remembered this, and
reminded Maggard of it. He was fined
5000 and given a 60-day sentence.
Willie Mitchell, convicted of boot
| logging, was fined $500 and sentenced
To serve go days in Jail.