Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-20
ANOTHER NO-WORKER
GETS TERM IN JAIL
Prosecutions to Go On Despite
Notice of Fight on Consti-
tutionality Of Act.

Despite the fact that l.. Irving handy
had gwen notice yesterday morning OF =
fight on the constitutionality OF the COM
pulsory work clause in the State Council
of Defence law, the State continued ITS
prosecutions in the afternoon by putting
on trial before Judge Conrad in General
Sessions. Room |. Samuel Flood, one OF
those indicted under the law and convict
ing him. The jury attached to ITS verdict
a recommendation TO the court mercy;
The evidence showed that Flood had
been assigned to job with the Whining
ton Gas Co. as laborer at 40 cents an
hour was found not to have worked and
admitted that he had been drinking, that
he had then been assigned to a Lynch
Construction Co. Job at 50 cents an hour
as bricklaver and had worked for some
days. but with intermittent relspscs,
finally shutting off altogether. Drink
Appeared TO be Floods stumbling block
and the court evidently took into con-
sideration his ability to work If he wanted
Judge Conrad said he had no doubt that
If Flood did not WELD to his desire for
alcohol he ii be good worker. Instead of
imposing the MAXIMUM punishment, rs
in each case so far disposed of he fined
Flood $500 and sentenced hIm 10 two
months Imprisonment, month under
maximum.
Into the severe atmosphere of the court
Yesterday afternoon entered breeze oi
comedy hand In hand with hint of
tragedy, when Osborne ]. Avant, giant
Negro faced Justice for Stabbing Arnetta
Robinson young Negro woman, the
charge being assault with intent to COM
NIT murder. to which he originally plead
ed not guilty, but wished through his
counsel to change the plea to ono of
guilty Of assault only. Philip Garret his
counsel asked the court to be mercliul
and to giant parole in his casa Robinson,
; Mr.. Garrett went on. was North Carolina
farmer. born and reared and could get a
good Job here In fact, Judge Cochran
was in court with client who would he
glad to take him. Robinson, Mr.. Garrett
went on had gone out to make social
call and had gotten into an argument with
Arnettas elderly cousin, Charles Vincent,
as to whether Delaware Is Northern or a
Southern State.
did they decide itr' asked the court,
with q smile, and folks in the court who
knew of part arguments innumerable on
the matter, smiled also. Mr.. Garrett
said the argument had resulted IN Arnetta
whanging at Avant with q shovel and
some other weapon, Vincent getting a
gun after him, and Arnetta getting cut,
although Avant was emphatic he had no
knife Their Attorney General Reinhardt
brought forward Arnetta. She admitted
flinging the shovel but not hitting Avant.
And she showed the scar of the knife
wound. which barely left her iugulsr vein
untouched. That settled it the cour {
refused to grant parole and fined Avant
$50 with the alternative of four months
Max Lesner, indicted for selling cigar
cites TO minor. altered his plea Of not
guilty TO guilty, and wss let of with .
light fine.
Philip Garrett. his counsel said Lcsner
had only sold TO the lad, child of ten
wears, because the boy had said the cigar
cites were for person Older than HIM
self. Since the affair Lesner has sold out
his tobacco business and gone into an
other, where anti-cigarette laws do not
trouble Judge Conrad told Lesner he
was lucky to get off so we'll, az he might be
fined $500 under the statute HeHhen inn
posed sentence of S25 fine and costs. which
Iesncr paid snd then departed.