Smyrna times., 1915-09-29
SMYRNA UPHOLDS OFFICERS
BEFORE CLAYTON SQUIRE
~ BRADLEY N ROLE OF "PRos-
ecuToR" FAILS TO HAVE WAY
ATTEMPTS 10 Conduct Hearing of Charge
Against Smvrna Alderman and Po-
Gce-Ohicers Waive Hearing


Sunday. September 18th. James
viney. eolorel. being drunk and dis
orderly on Smyrna streets. was first ad-
nonished snd then arrested by the
town officers. Lee r. Cochran and
William Stanley. He resisted so
violently, attacking the officers. that
Stanley struck him with his club,
eutting small cash in his head. Viney !
was fined s6. with costs, by Alder
man Crow. 4 few days after the |
affair Alderman Crow ard Officers
Cochran and Stanley were served with
summons TO appear before Justice Of
the Peace Hirsm H. Woolford. at
Clayton. on Thursday evening. Sep
timber 23d. the former on a charge
Of imposing a fine without having
given Vinev a hearing. and Officers
Cochran and Stanley on charges of
having made an arrest without suffi-
eient provocation. Stanley was also
summoned 10 answer for 5n assault and
battery on Viney The defendants
appeared tefore jus { ce WOolforj, at
Clayton. Thursday evening. the Office
being packed to the doors. Accom-
panying the alderman and town Of
fcers Of this town were Charles II.
LeFevre. representing the town. and
the following members Of Town
Council; s. j. Reynolds. president:
Harry 8. .Grieves secretary :Couneilms
John P. Hudson. Joseph H. Wright
sld James H. Roberts. The other two
members Of Council were absent at
the time. or they would have attended
also. In opening the case Attorney
LeFevre requested Squire WOolford to
let him see the affidavits upon which
warrants had heen issued. Squire
WOolford replied that the warrants
bad been issued upon oath Of George
" Moore. eolored. and another col
cred man of Smyrna. but that the
osths had not heen reduced 20 writ
ng. the Justice being of the opinion
that an affidavit signed by the prose
cutting witness was not necessary.
LeFevre Valves Hearing for Clients
Mr.. LeFevre waving hearing in the
assault and battery charge against
Policeman Stanley. entered a plea Of
not guilty and a.ked that the defend
ant be held 10 bail for the October
term Of the Court OF General Sessions.
Bail was fixed at $500. which wa.
signed by members Of the SmyEns
Town Council. Mr.. LeFevre then
moved that the charges Of false arrest
and irregUlsrity in imposing a fine,
be dropped. as a town ordinance die
not come under the jurisdiction of ,
justice Of the peace; that instead o.
criminal proceeding. il should be il
the nature Of civil suit against th'
town and its officers proceedings cog
nizsbie only in the Superior Court
At this juncture John l. Bradley o
Clayton. a Republican "leader" il
Duck Creek hundred. protested sgains
the dismissal Of the charges agains
the Smyrna officers. He denouncel
the Smyrna alderman, police fore
and Town Council. stating that tn
way the law was upheld by the tow
officers Of Smyrna was shameful. H
charged that the police force mad
srrests on grounds that would not b
recognized for proper causes anywher
else; that parties were arrested with
out being given hearing and upo
default Of payment Of fine were locke
up; that the Town Council of Smyrn
npneld the officers in whatever the
oid. and il was time that this cOndi
Ton Of things should be stopped. an
mat he was going 10 see what b
could do to stop it. Attorney Ia
feyre. as soon as he could get oppoE
unity to speak. said his motion va
addressed TO the justice of the pesc
ana not to Bradley. He asked tbs
DIS motion to have the charges di
missed. be sustained or overruled.
Squire Woolford Grants Appeal
Squire woOlford. after some hes
auon declined TO prosecute Il
easrEes further at that time. but to
attorney LeFevre that IL he q
FeVrel had misstated his rights
psss upon the matters charged,
"oolfOrd) would have the defendan
summoned for a further hearing.
ssmissing the charges. Squire Woo
io'o remarked: "If we can't z
hese officers this wav. we will fl
smother way to do it. 4" To this =
marx President S. J. Reynolds
smyrna Sr Town Council, who believ
As many Smyrnians. that Smyri
soie to attend to its own affai
~''nout outside interference and III
uSn proceedings as above mention
h only an incentive for further OF
N olssSs Of disorder. replied to squi