Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-09-19
SHORT Term OF U. S.
COURT OPENS HERE;
HALF DOZEN TRIALS
Whole Staff Of Officials Pres
ent AT Opening.

Judge w. E. Baker, of Elkips.
opened the regular September term
of United States Court this morn
ing, with the full staff of federal
officials present. The criminal AMI
civil dockets were called and it
was found that comparatively little
business was ready for action.
Adjournment was taken before
noon until this afternoon when
the first OF the half-dozen criminal
trials, all involving alleged viola
tons of the prohibition laws, viii
be called. The criminal cSlendar
will also take up at least portion
of tomorrow but will be completed.
it is expected. before evening. A
few civil cases were called. but
only one or two gave promise OF
reaching the trial stage
Assistant District Attorney How
ard d. Mathews, of Parkersburg.
presented the cases fer the gov
eminent this morning.
Wanted To "Trade" On Plea
The case of Charles Whip. of
Hedgesville, Mineral county, was
called this morning and the de.
tendant first entered a plea OF not
guilty. Later he asked the district
attorneys office TO call up the case
again and it was assumed that he
wished to change his plea TO gull
~. When it was called up the Off
Gals announced that he wished TO
change his plea and on that as.
sumption the Court proceeded to
make some inquiry as to his as
cts with view to determining
the penalty. In the course of the
inquiry, however, i developed that
Whip did not desire TO plead gull
~, and the Court promptly sent
him back TO await trial. Whip.
however. showed disposition to
barter in the matter. but his 1uea-
ton as 10 what would be the pen
atty II he did plead guilty brought
a sharp reminder from the Court
that his plea was matter entire
~ his own and had nothing to do
with the sentence. He was in the
end sent back TO await a jury hear
ing. Whip claims he knew nothing
Of the situation with which the
government accuses him. but gov
eminent agents declare he was in
the act of denying the charge while
they were searching his property
when his wife rushed into the
house and began to destroy the ey-
idence.
George Anderson, Of Mineral
county. changed his original plea
of not guilty to one of guilty when
called second time this morning
He is a Lithuanian and the serv-
ices Of an Interpreter had to be
utilized in order TO settle the case.
The Court fined him 800 and costs
and sent him to the Mineral coun.
ty jail until the fine was paid, but
Anderson said he promised to pay
promptly. To the courts warning
that he would be dealt with Sc
yerely if he ever appeared in court
again on a similar charge, Ander-
son assured him that he wouldn't
see him again. Anderson was rep
resented by Attorney r. A. Welch,
of Keyser, well known here.
No Grand Jury Called
No grand jury was called this
morning, but a petit jury was on
hand. The Court assured the jur-
ors it would do everything possible
to expedite the court work and re,
lease them as soon as it was pos
sible and gave any one an oppor-
tunity to ask to be excused who
thought it absolutely necessary.
The Court remarked that jury ser
vice was both a necessity and
honor that the litigants in court
had right to the judgment Of the
best men whom the law could sum
mon and that they were called be-
cause they were able men as iur-
ors. Answering some pleas for ex-
cuses made earlier Judge Baker
reminded them that the jurors nat.
urally must undergo financial
sacrifice in their service because