The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-04-01
.ASSAILANT OF
SAUNDERS GETS
JAIL SENTENCE
Sentence Suspended Upon Con-
dition That Defendant Be-
have Himself

with DR.. Howard J. Combs, III
the Carolina Bank Bldg. in this
city was convicted of assault
and battery on W. O. Saunders,
editor Of this newspaper. III
the County Court "Wednesday
morning.
Tho court ordered Mass To pay
fine of $40 and. the court costs and
sentenced him to 20 days in the
county iail. the iail sentence being
suspended conditional upon Mass
keeping the peace for Il period OF
two years.
The trouble between the editor
of This newspaper and the chemist
originated over IL printing account.
Mass had Il considerable amount of
printing done at the plant of the
IndepfndCrlt, it being understood
tllHI IL WIS fuSu iiHiiH'N' 'i''''
Mass took the work. according to
;hc evidence. and not only failed 70
nav for il but became diScourteOuS
when payment was requested. MI
Saunders turned the account over
TO Il. u. LaS<cll. collection agent
and requested Mr.. Lassell to con-,
vert the account into judgement
against Mass.
Thcrcupon Mass called up Mr.
Saunders on the telephone and de-
mandcd to know why ne was taking
such action against him. Il am
taking this action. Saunders trStl'
fled i'm court. that hr told Mass.
"BccauSe I purpose to advertise
the judgement and put this COM
munity on guartl against you
"Do you think Il judgement
against me will be worth any
,hins:" Mass asked.
II don't think it will be worth a
cent" Saunders says he replied
"But | will have the satisfaction
Of rendering the community Scrv-
lee hy putting other trades people
on their guard against you. In
reply to further questions from
Mass. Mr.. Saunders told him he
! Thought he was a dead beat.
Following that telephone convcr-
SatiOn Mass made numerous public
threats of violence against Saund-
crs. Accosting Mr.. Saunders on the
street Monday morning he said:
| "You called me thief on the tclr-
phone and I demand IL retraction.
! Mr.. Saunders replied: Il did not
call you thief; YOU know exactly
what | did say 10 YOU and have
nothing t0 rctract; | do not care
! TO have any argument with you.
Mr.. Saunders walked off and
Mass followed him demanding that
! he remove MS SlaSScS
Mass followed Mr.. Saunders into
the Apothccary shop, insisting that
/ Mr.. Saunders remove his glasses.
Saunders told him that hr did not
have TO remove his glasses and
layain advised Mass quietly TO dis
continue his abusive language.
Mass struck the glasses from
Saunders face. blows were quickly
exchanged. The comhatantS were
separated by byStandcrS before Scrl-
onS damage was dGnc.
1t was brought out at the trial
, "Wednesday morning that Mass. not
| satisfied with this assault, had con-
tinucd to make violent threats
iarainSt Mr. Saunders. even threaten
ing il was said to Use nitric acid
as weapon of assault.
Asked by Prosecuting Attorney
Leroy as 70 his opinion of MASS
and the seriousness of his threats
Mr. Saunders on the witness stand
under oath. said:
IL consider Mass violent and
dangerous man: he imprcsScs me as
n fit subject for Il lunacy commits
sion and | say to this court very
frankly that I am afraid of him.
None of the evidence in the case
was rpbuttcd. Mass made a move
to fake the witness stand in his
own behalf. but when cautioned by
Judge Sawyer that he would have
TO testify under oath and submit
to questions by the prosecuting wit
ness. Mass laid the court bible down
and declined to take the witness
stand.
Judge Sawyer. in passing sentence
on Mass. said that he WAS not 50
much concerned with the serious
ness of the assault. as with the per-
sistcnt threats made by the defend
ant. "To avert more serious trou'
bic in future" said Judge Sawyer
Il am imposing this Jail sentence
upon the defendant under suspend
cd judgement. the Jail sentence to
he carried ont if Mr.. Mass attempts
to carry out his threats against the
plaintiff. If the defendant behaves
himself the Jail sentence will NOT
Imran anything TO him.
Mass promised TO behave himself