Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-04-09

came (for purpose of obtaining an intel
view and he talked freely to me. Ais
on Feb. 18th in the office of the Sheriff {
Richmond county had an interview wit
]. Kent Greer, first telling him who wa
and for what purpose was talking. HI
like Robert Greer, talked freely, and
had reference to their interviews in m
articles.
Here again l have given the state
ments of the defense.
AS regards the paragraph in the issus
OF Feb. 18th concerning the alleged thief
OF cars from Greensboro, the item wa,
secured from letter received by Chic
OF Police S. E. Covington from the Greens
boro Chief of Police, and which letter
stated as fact, not as as alleged fact
that the Greers were wanted there fol
the theft of two Ford cars.
Again in my endeavor and purpose to
be fair, gave on the front page of the
March 25th issue the large 18-point head
ing
GREER NOT GUILTY"
of the White Slavery charge as tried in
Federal Court at Laurinburg" This was
given on front page, big heading type.
Had any purpose or desire to be unfair
or cover anything up, | could easily have
omitted the verdict and certainly could
have given it less prominence.
"Iowal DIS the latter part of March |
wrote to Mr.. Leonidas Williams attorney
tor the Greers, at High Point and in
formed him that if they so desired
would gladly publish the pictures of the
TWO Greers in my paper, SO that the peo-
pie OF the county could see for them
selves just how these young men look.
In reply, Mr., Williams thanked me most
courteously for suggesting the publica-
ton OF the pictures, but said that he had
mentioned it to the Greers and that they
had decided they would prefer that it be
not done. However, said Mr.. Williams
in his letter, personally see no objection
to it.
Il am the Rockingham correspondent
tor the Raleigh News & Observer; the
Charlotte Observer, the Greensboro Daily
News, and the High Point Enterprise.
sent long articles to each of those papers
about the affair." and these were publish
ed on the front pages, with four deck
headlines. These accounts we're in sub
stance the same as wrote and published
in the PoST-DISPATCH. The main head.
line Of Charlotte Daily Observer on the
morning of February 18th was
"HIGHWAYMEN CAUGHT
ONE KILLED"
Il firmly believe the Greers can get a
falr and impartial trial in Richmond
county; and that the paper has been i'm
partial"
(Signed) Isaac S. London.
Duly sworn to and subscribed before
me, this 9th day of April, 1920.
W.N. Everett, Jr.
Notary Bubble.
But back to the case proper.
Jury Selected.
The selection of the jury be-
gan at 3 o'clock. SO jurors were
before the twelve men
were formally accepted. Of the
SO, the State excused Is and the
defense Sc. The State used three
peremptory challenges, the de-
Tense six.
The eligibility of each juror
was closely contested. Don
Phillips conducted the question
ing for the State, w. R. Jones
for the defense. Finally just at
SIX o'clock, the IL were selected;
they were sworn in, and Court
until $50 Friday morn
ing, at which time the State
would begin its evidence.
The jurors as finally accepted
o pass upon the case, there are
.hree Smiths on it,, were:
Fred H. Smith
R. L. Kirby
M. L. Altman
W. Ralph Smith
Reuben Kendall
A. D. Dumas
]. R.Dawkins
W. E. Garris
West Jenkins
P, G. Webb
B. F. Parsons
Cecil Smith
Trial Ends.
When Court convened Friday
corning this morning) it was
t once observable that some
hing was on foot. And pretty
Don the plea of guilty was made,
nd result announced, as stated
4 the first part of this article.
After the defendants entered
heir plea of guilt, Solicitor Brock