Attempted Arson Case Drags On, 1900

"James Drake Brought to Jail" from the Lenoir Topic, as published in the Watauga Democrat May 10, 1900

 

James Drake, one of the parties who were tried here two years ago for attempting to burn a store house in Hickory, was brought here from Spartanburg last Thursday night by Sheriff Boyd and lodged in jail. The former trial resulted in a miss trial, the parties gave bail, and the trial has been postponed for one cause or another ever since.

At the last term of the Criminal Court, James Drake did not appear, but sent a statement from a physician to the effect that he was unable to be here. The certificate was not in due form, however and his bond was forfeited. This being the case Solicitor Jones wrote Governor Russell on the 21st of April for a requisition on the Governor of South Carolina for Drake. On Tuesday evening of last week Sheriff Boyd went to Columbia, the requisition was honored, and Thursday night Drake was safely landed inside our new Pauly Jail. So he will be here next week, and the Solicitor hopes to dispose of the case which has already dragged along for over three years.