Judge Bis Ray
Censures Jury
Hendersonville, March 12, 19020—“Breeders of lynch law” was Judge
J. Bis. Ray’s characterization of the Connell Talley jury verdict of not guilty
when he peremptorily discharged the jury and told its members they could never
again serve under him.
Judge Ray said in his address to the jury that their verdict
of not guilty was a flagrant miscarriage of justice, that a verdict of first
degree murder was predicted on the evidence, and that by their failure to
return such verdict they had shown themselves to be moral cowards that they had
been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
“Such blunders as yours in this case cause shot guns to roar
in the hands of the angry mob and lonely trees to groan beneath their gruesome
burden.” Judge Ray said: “I would not be performing my duty did I not publicly censure
you for this verdict.” He reminded them that he could not tell them what verdict
to return but he had cautioned them to consider all the facts and return a
verdict in accordance with these facts. He said he had no apologies to make for
his remarks. Judge Ray is being generally condemned here for his censure of the
jury.
Connell Talley, 17-year-old white boy, confessed to
complicity in the murder of Will Erwin on December 31, his alleged partner, Jim
Thomas, colored, has not yet been tried.
No comments:
Post a Comment