The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1924-11-28
COUNTY COURT
IN new HANDS
New County Officers To Take
Over Duties Monday
Morning

.\itcr having held the office
al Judge oi the County Court
since December 1910. George
!. Spence is To hold his last
session ui this court Saturday
oi this week. and Phil. e.. Saw
yer. iur three wears proSccut-
inw attorney. will assume the
duties oi Judge. Mr.. Spence
did not seek tho office again
this wear.
\ steady imrrnr> in III" hiSi-
Hess nr county court over the past
few months. has been noted during
October aud November, a"r"rdihG
iu The records. Judge Spence says
an increase in the business "f III"
court j. GENERALLY mntictnhlr during
periods of idlrur>S. ar less pr -l"r.
uII> >cuSuII~.
When Judge Spence lock over Ill"
,ITirr. uuc nr the first ulTrnd"rS was
lot Swindrll. up twir" IN "lr week
for hni<trrullS conduct. Anulhrr Oi
the first Offenders tn come before
the court was II bnyh""d friend oi
the ludsr During the first ihr""
months. there was II total "i IL?
EASES, with -, defendants not
guilty. Fines amounted I" NN'l.
,.n>,> S22I.I? and fees SI.Nn for the
three munth>.
Cnmpnri>nnS with more recent
months arr interesting. Ia October
ln1:.. there were ~ offenders. fines
Amounted iu S2li, costs SlWiW.
Ia Nnvrmi"r i?2:;. thrr" w"gc ~ "f.
Tenders. und fines, fees niIl costs
Amounted /" S526Gi. In December
There were. :? offenders AMI fines
and costs amounted I" &:5o1.
Court Heavy Recently
purim. the summer of 1871. ""un.
IL court business decreased consider
ably. Durin. orlnl"r just passed
miscellaneous offenders y II II
fines and ru>i> nmnllntln. I"
ST5S.gn for the month. More than
~ EASES hnd appeared before th"
court durim. the month "f N"'ru-
hrr up 10 "Wednesday "f this week.
almost IL many H. appeared during
rh,. entire month last year
~ the time Judge Spence went ~
nlrirr. there WAS nn prosecuting NJ
rnrE"y. Few defendants hnd law
wears 1" appear for them. AMI lew
eases wrrr appealed.
Nnhn III" business "f III" court
has increased. it j. the opinion "i
judge Spence that prnp'" are gel
lin. better. Few serious crimes
unw come before the court. when
ne went In office. pr"hihit'"n wn>
not brimg tried. AMI there were lew
tmfrir regulations and liiil" nr'd
fer them. Nlo>l of tn" eases to come
hrrnr,. th,, court NOW ar" eases III
ynlvin: violations of numerous irai'
rir laws. with nov nmd then II ease
ur drunkenness. retailing liquor "r
r,diu. II hiryrlr "n the sidewalk
Our drplnrahlr fact j. Ill" great
uumhrr uf y"un. mru rhnrg'd WIN
petty gambling.
Duriu- his career ~ iu'l." al III"
County Court. Mr.. Spence hnh l"lh
especial attention I" rnr"lIr,i:lh@ 'h'
reconciliation of couples wli"Nr
family differences brim= ih"m III
court. Oncr th" cNcit"mrn, "i -H'
lin. iuIn court has Sil'>id"l. Jni:"
Sprn,,, has found little trouble W
-rtriu. these couples 10 take II S''''
sih!r viewpoint 0r their diiIir''I'hS
,ud iry life over again. Most "i
the eases al ihlS hiII"' NV W"
suit 81 ID, Interference Of relatives
Mr.. Swn"r >lalcs, and advises "l'
vnun= couples to get n h"m" "i 'h'lr
own.
Other Changes
Sheriff Charles Reid will "hd MS
rur,rr uS sheriff Of the county Tor
the past 22 years. nnd Charles car
mime. will assume III" duties oi Inc
,nirr. !. G.. Spnr" will succeed
Geo. W. I;rOlhcrS nS Register "i
Deeds. and ]. Henry l"lioy. lr.
vii SII,rqad l.. e.. Sawyer ~ ''l'h'
~ Prosecuting Attorney. Til" one
,,hrr u,w. officer will H. H. u.
E,lnry. commissioner from Nrw'ahd