The Robesonian., 1918-05-27
LUMBERToN CAROLINA MONDAY NAY p 1918
NlLKTKS-B BRANCH TRIAL.

Ira J. Wilkins Bound to Court on
Charge ,of Aiding and Abetting in
Manufacture and Sale of Liquor
J. J. Branch Released.
Ira J. Wilkins was bound over to
the Superior court Saturday by Re-
corder E. M. Britt on the charge of
aiding and abetting in the manufac-
ture and sale Of spirituous liquors
letter j. Branch was found not guilty
OF the same charge. Wilkins made
bond in the sum of 5000.
Wilkins and Branch were arrested
at o'clock or the night of May Is
near Pembroke when whiskey still
was found loaded upon an automobile
in which they were riding. According
to the evidence, the still belonged to
Bethel Chavis, Indian, VINO ran into
the woods and made his escape at the
time the above-named defendants were
arrested.
: Rural Policeman A. H. Prevatt was
the first witness examined by the
State. He testified that he passed
through Pembroke on the night of
May 18th and that Herbert Lowrey,
Indian, told him the still was in the
loft of Bear Swamp Indian church,
near Pembroke. He 'phoned Sheriff
Lewis to get a warrant for Chavis,
who also was charged with stealing
gun from another Indian, and to as
sist him in the raid. Sheriff Lewis
was soon on the scene and he and Mr..
Prevatt, in company with Lowrey,
started for the church. When near the
church they saw an automobile COM
! ing. When they were nearing the
auto the lights were cut off and the
auto was driven to one side of the
road and stopped. The officers stop
ped and threw a flash light on the
men in the car. Wilkins and Branch
were in the car. The officers told
them that they were looking for Beth
el Chavis. wilkins and Branch ad-
vised them that Chavis was back Of
their auto. When they went to look
for him he was gone. Branch advised
the officers not to follow Chavis, tell
ing them he had gun and would kill
them. Upon searching the auto driv-
en- by Wilkins the still was found on
the back seat wrapped up in robe.
Two breech-loading guns and some
bed quilts were also on the back of
II
clared they did not know the still was
things on the car in the dark and they
could not tell what he put on Branch
! told the officers that he only went
along with Wilkins at his request for
company. Wilkins told the officers
that Chavis had paid him IS to go
with him after his wife and some
clothes and take them to the Bellamy
section. Prevatt also said that he
found 38 Smith & Wesson revolver
in the front Of wilkins auto.
Sheriff Lewis corroborated Mr.
, Prevatt's testimony
Mr.. J. p townsend testified that
, he sold Wilkins some gasoline anc
oil about IL O'Clock on the night Of
; the arrest. He also testified that
when he asked Wilkins what he was
doing out so late at night he intinat
ed that he was going to Cumberland
county to get some whiskey.
+ The defense first put on number
= Of character witnesses, all of whom
! said the character OF Branch wa:
;, coed, while most Of them testified
;. that that of Wilkins was not so good
wilkins testified that Chavis frs
+ tried to hire him to go to Pembroke
: and get his wife and some clothe
> early in the afternoon Of May Is. 81
:, refused to go with him and Chavi
went to his home just before nigh
and again tried to get him to g
with him after his wife and tn
+ would not make the trip for anything
! : less than s5. Chavis pulled out S
;, - and handed it to him. After tha
= Branch came up and he asked him t
, go along for company. Branch sal
% :. he could not go, but decided to go at
!, ter he told him they would get bac
! by bedtime. They went as directed b
\ Chavis and when they reached som
i point Chavis told him to stop the aut
~ and he would get his things. Chavi
stepped off and made two or thre
trips getting his "things" to the ca
= while he and Branch sat in the car an
- waited. After he loaded his thing
~ on the car Chavis told him to driv
down the road a short distance
where his wife was. Before react
H. ing that point and just before the
y, ~ met the officers Chavis told him
y stop the car and Chavis got out {
the car He went into the woods whe
+ the officers stopped.
L. Branch testified that Wilkins asl
ed him to make the trip and he to-
him that he could not go. He aske
- Wilkins after he insisted that he s
when he would get back. He sa
+ they would get back by bedtime al
IN he agreed to go. He corroborats
=" the testimony Of Wilkins in regal
It. to Chavis loading the things on Il
car and said he did not know tt
e. still was on the car until the Office
A. found it.
ey Mr.. w. Lennon, solicitor OF t
nd recorders court, represented t
ay State in the prosecution and Mr..
he McIntvre appeared for Wilkins al
IN, Branch.
NJ There was much interest in t
nd trial and many people from the b
ed lamy section, where Wilkins a
lp- Branch live, attended,
lit Wade M'White was given heari