Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-10-07
Mercy OF Court Is Asked
By Jury In Its Verdict
Judge Burgwyn Says Defendant Had Great
Provocation But Not justification In KILLING
Hunter Coggslale Three Weeks Ago.

details of the case that had not been
brought out
me minimum sentence permitted
IN manslaughter cases is four months
ana the maximum is twenty years.
Mother Weeps Bitterly.
Roberson's father and mother, who
had sat with him throughout the
trial, were at his side when the YER
dict was brought in and also when
sentence was passed. Mrs. Robertson
Wept bitterly when the court an
nounced the sentence and left the
court room crying The defendants
wife, was not at his side at the time,
and had not been during much of
the trial, but was in the court room,
came up and embraced him after the
sentence, but showed very little emo
ton. Robertson maintained his COM
posture throughout the trial and after
the verdict and the sentencing.
The case was started Wednesday
afternoon with the calling Of the jury
which consumed the entire afternoon.
Self Defense Was Plea.
Testfying in his own behalf, Rob-
erson claimed self-defense in the
shooting, which occurred in the cafe
pool room where Coggsdale worked.
He claimed he saw Coggsdale with
pistol in his hand and fired He
said he had repeatedly demonstrated
with the man for being familiar with
his wife, and had appealed to Of
ficers of the law to take a hand, but
that he persisted His wife testified
she had been with Coggsdale several
times, and was with him the night
before the killing. She also said that
on one occasion when she was with
him, Robertson approached them and
told Coggsdale to desist. She said
COggsdale had threatened to kill her
husband.
The case attracted wide attention
in the city and county. The court
room was filled for the trial, includ-
ing many women and a number of
young people.
With the passing Of sentence, the
October term of superior court for
trial Of criminal cases came to an
end
Judge BurgWyn and Solicitor Tyler
left for their homes early in the
evening. Judge Burgwyn held the
weeks term by exchange with Judge
c. E. Thompson who went to Colum-
bia, for a week of court in Tyrrell
county. He comes here Monday to
preside over the regular October term
Of civil court.
Several cases were disposed by by
the court, after the jury had re-
ceived the Robertson case.
Marvin c.. Hight, ordered into GUS
tody Monday when it was shown he
had failed to comply with the orders
of the court, was brought before the
court, and Judge BurgWyn continued
action against Hight until the Janu-
ary term The continuance was made
by the Judge who held he should not
pass Judgment upon man he con
victed when he was solicitor in this
district.
A bastardy charge against Law
YER Gooch, Negro was quashed.
Jesse Jones, Lucus Evans and
Burwell Ayscue were charged with
breaking and entering and larceny
and receiving
Evans and Jones were not guilty.
Ayscue was found guilty and given
one to three years, suspended upon
payment of S23O1 into the office
of the Clerk of Superior court for
the benefit of Giles benson. He is to
be on probation and must show good
behavior for the next five years, and
remain sober.
Emmett Stanley, Jr., pleaded gull
ty to larceny, and was given SIX
months on the roads.