The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-05
JUDGE FORT TEMPERS
JUSTICE WITH MERCY
Gives Negro Five-Day SEN
tence on Account of
the Insufficiency of
Evidence

In the second division of the criminal
court Judge William E. Fort disposed
OF large docket of cases that had been
set for trial. Several convictions were Sc
cured as well as numerous pleas Of
guilty.
The cases that were disposed of before
Judge Fort yesterday were what are
known as "jail cases." or of negroes
who have been unable to secure bond.
The charges against the prisoners were
principally violations of the prohibition
law and vagrancy.
Following is the grst of yesterdays
grind:
Belle Billingsley, negro woman
charged with a violation of the prohibit
ton law, sentenced to 30 days in Jail
and costs.
Will Grant, negro. carrying concealed
| weapon sentenced to 20 days the coun-
| ty roads and costs
| lobe Belle, negro, assault and battery,
was given 30 days on roads and costs.
'Tobe." said Judge Fort, you cut up
that niger pretty bad?"
We'll, jedge. lookit what he done to
me-" replied lobe. bowling his head and
| SHOWlHB large scars
| "Ahm, him." from Judge Fort, con
| sidering your injuries, and the time you
! have already spent in jail think about
| 80 days on the roads will about COM
| plete your punishment"
Thank you, jedge'
| Milady Davis, a negro woman, charged
with a violation of the prohibition law,
was next and she got 30 days and costs.
| George Lewis, negro. also a viola
tor of the prohibition law. secured 30
days and costs.
And then Henry Brown came up to be
sentenced. He was an old ante-bellum
negro and the charge of violating the pro-
hibition law had stirred him up consid-
| erably.
! How old are you, Henry" asked Judge
| Fort.
Il don't know, jedge," replied the aged
| negro, but Use reckon, Ah'm bout
Sc years.
You're charged with violating the
prohibition law
"Jedge," said the negro, humbly. soma
| colored man says to me to carry box
| on my team from the Termus station
and I did and got arrested for the fust
! time in nah life. 1 don't know how ter
read or write l was rested on Satur-
| day mawning. and been in Jail ever
| SINCE Nah folks don't know where ah
| am"
well what would you rather have me
! do?" questioned Judge Fort, give you
| 10 days on the roads or investigate your
case and perhaps give you six months IL
| 1 find you guilty"
I'D rather you all turn me loose"
pleased the old negro
| Il cannot do that said Judge Fort,
80 I'll make it 10 days." and the judge
started writing down the sentence. but
paused and said, perhaps five days will
be enough"
Next came Fanny Cunningham. young
| negro woman charged with vagrancy.
She got so days and costs and elected
to pay the costs and take the 80 days.
Nora Lyles. a negro woman, who stated
the folks had Crude against her and
were always swearing out warrants on
her, secured 80 days and costs. She was
charged with vagrancy.
That completed the task of Judge Fort
for the day. as it was 5 o'clock and time
for adjournment.
1 Today Judge Fort has another big
docket of cases set for trial. The most
important of which are that of A. B. Bat
son and Percy Higdon. who are charged
with allowing liquors to prisoners.