The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-10-27
JUSTICE TEMPERED WITH
MERCY IN FEDERAL COURT
Greenville Piedmont.

but they grind exceeding fine.
The particular mill in mind is the
mill of the Goddess of Justice, repre-
sented by a lady with cloth over
her eyes, holding the scales of JUS
tice-olind justice, it is. sometimes
called. Officially known as The Uni
ted States District court for the
Western District of South Carolina,
Judge II H. Watkins. presiding.
A big room smelling of musk and
the sweat of human bodies, low voic-
es, movement to and fro, men and
women sitting in tense expectancy;
curious, strained, frightened looks on
sad faces-ani in front of the little
oak rail, the mills grinding, grinding.
The miller-to carry on the slmlie
Judge Watkins. A kindly man,
studious of face, voice moduiated
by culture. an ineffable sadness in his
eyes. No wonder, he sees so much OF
human frailty; so much Of tragedy.
He leans over ths bench-really his
desk. called a bench, though, for
centuries. About his shoulders is the
black silk gown Of his Office. Below
him the clerk, busy with the files that
contain hundreds of indictments;
making notes for the journal of the
proceedings, and the marshal; the
stenogrspher to the right, just below
the witness chair.
TIE grinding starts
Luther Jones, a negro, comes for
ward. The clerk reads the charge
violation of the national prohibition
law. The defendant valves arraign-
ment and pleads guilty. The judge
asks questions, talks for moment
with the arresting officer. Sentence
will be imposed later.
Then comes J. O. Prince and David
Weathers. Young men from Laurens
represented by an able lawyer. They
have a petition from several officers
at Laurens asking the court to be
light on them. They were caught with
FIVE pints of whiskey, returning from
a pleasure trip to the mountains.
They both plead guilty.
Youngsters, they are, very badly
frightened; ashamed, awed by the
strange surroundings, standing on
one foot, twisting their hats in their
hands. Major Bowen, federal pro-
hibition director, comes forward. He
has good word to say for the boys.
He arrested them, in the car with
three elderly gentle len, they took
the responsibility in order that the
elder gentlemen might not be arrest
ed. They were going to drink some
of the liquor; one quart of it they
were carrying to lady who was dy-
ing with tuberculosis.
The Judge talked to them kindly,
as father would talk to a wayward
soz. He.told them how sacred should
be the law Of the land; briefly, but
with scintillating clearness he out
lined the fundamental principles Of
law and government. He was sorry
for them.
t.It is with regret that the court
imposes sentence on you. The SEN
.snce of the court is that you shall
pay fine of $50 each, or '5e Nconfin-
ed in the Spartanburg county jail I'm
til it IS paid, OF. other disposition
made of your case
Fifteen minutes have been taken
up with the judges talk. Slowly, the
mills grind on. From somewhere IN
the rear baby wakens, a plaintiff
little vail echoes back against the
statue of the lady holding the scales.
Before che bar of the court stands
a young man named Norris. He is
standing at attention. his shoulders
straight, his hands by his side, heels
together-he does not need to tell
YOU he has been a soldier. His face
is tanned; the blond hair, cropped
short in military fashion. He speaks
in a respectful voice, clear, incisive,
straight to the point. Nothing legal,
but soldierly. He does not address
the Judge as s''Your Honor" but says
s'Sir," like soldier addressing his
superior officer.
"Sir,'' he said, 81 did not know at
the time that the money order l ac-
cepted was not all right. Some OF
the men on-the transport were gamo-
ling. / won. One Of the losers paid
me with this money order, already
endorsed. ! cashed it." No unneces-
sary words; clpn .5reast Of it. The
postofice Inspector says good word
for him. He stands ard books the