The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-08
NEGRO COURT OF
 1. ARBITRATION IS | DOING GREAT WORK
Unique Court Without Le-
 gal Authority Organized to Elevate Standard of the Negro Race
By ETHEL GILLEN

Birminghams newest institution In the dispensing of justice is the negro court of arbitration This court was organized through the efforts of Judge H. 5. Aoer- nethy, of the. Jefferson county court or misdemeanors. It's purpose is to raise the standard both morally and spirit ually. to administer to the needs or the | poor and prisoners, to suppress crime 1 to seek information for the innocent that they may not be punished. to seek co-operation of the law-abiding citizens | by so doing the, crime of one may not i be charged to the whole race-ano to solicit the cooperation of the Whlte race | to aid in the work
 1 So far as can be learned, Birmingham | is the first city in the south to nave such court, and Is one of the few ln | the country.
 l Jim J. Pearson, one of the best known negroes of the city, is president or tnis court. He has lived in Birmingham for more than twenty-five years Judge 1 Abernethy says he has known Jim ever 1 since he has been here and that ne haf | been a great assistance III oiiHsNs nv l groes into court.
 1 Many family ouarrels and other petty offenses among negroes are brought into l court, stated Judge Abernethy, and they I require a great deal of time to near 1 The idea of the court of arbitration oc- cured to him, and he told Jim his plan From it grew the court.
 | While the court has no legal authority l it is doing a great work accoroins to
 number of prominent attorneys When
 cases among negroes of non-support l a abandonment and domestic troubles are ! brought up in the court of misdemeaners Judge Abernethy sends the negroes to see Jim Pearson. He works up the l evidence in the cases and then rules on 1 them. He keeps in constant touch with | the defendants appearing In the court and if they fall to observe his ruling | the case is turned over to Judge Aber- nethy, who, if they are found guilty sends them to the county roads. | According to the records of the court | of arbitration. fifteen negro famiifes l have been reunited through the efforts of Pearson. while large amount oi stolen property has been recovered. 1 Although this negro court or aroflfa- 1 ton was organized some mon.ns aso l few people know anything about it. Fifty-two cases have been handled. Oi
 this number forty cases were sent there ! by Judge Abernethy and twelve came 1 voluntarily One of the best things done bv this court was the recovery of $5o | Liberty bond which had been lost III l Anniston, 1t is stated. The negro findins 1 the bond brought 1t to Jim to sell foi | him. agreeing to give him half of the l proceeds He told Jim that he had l found the bond In Anniston Jim i'm mediately wrote to the banks in tha' l city and to the treasury department i'
 an effort to find the rightful owner Ht | was able to convince the pegro that il 1 would be wrong to keep the bond, ant
 1t was returned to its owner, whit lady, who had lost It en her way to tn, bank,
 Five mass meetings have been helt under the auspices of this court since It was organized, and number of promi nent white men have addressed the ne l groes Among those talking were Jo
 seph R. Tate, county solicitor; Judge H B. Abernethy. J. B. Ivey, Sid J. Bowie Thomas Cannon and others.
 "Jlm deserves lots of credit for tn
 splendid work he has done among tn
 negroes of this city, said Judge Aber
 nethy 'He has been a great help t
 me in Investigating cases in my court
 and when he brings in evidence I knov
 1t is true. He has operated the Battl
 Creek bathrooms for a number of years
 Although he gives much of his time t
 his court work, he does not receive on cents pay He has charity fund iron which he cares for mothers and children
 when they are abandoned by thei
 fathers