Bud Abernathy, negro chain gang trusty, had his share in the interesting events of the police court Monday morning when he was brought up on enough charges to keep him breaking rocks until he goes stone blind. Resisting an officer, assault and drunkenness were some of them.
According to the evidence in the case, Abernathy was sentenced to the roads for nine years seven annums ago after conviction of highway robbery. A worthless brass stick pin had been taken from him by Officer Paxton at the time of his arrest. He had never forgotten it. Receiving permission to come to town Saturday, he in some manner got drunk and looked Officer Paxton up at the ball game Saturday.
A quick fight ensued, in which the negro had almost succeeded in snatching Officer Paxton’s pistol from his holster when Officers Bradley and Riley came to the rescue. Abernathy had been accompanied to the ball park by his two brothers, Joe and Hale, and another negro, Jean Connor. This “gang” began to close in on the officers when they were leaving the park, and pistols had to be drawn on them to keep them back.
The most interesting part of the case, however, was revealed in court. It was disclosed that Abernathy was a trusty on the chain gang—and yet had attempted 20 times to escape since he went there seven years ago. “Sometimes I runs and sometimes I don’t,” he explained to the court.
When it was disclosed that he had held up the ball game for five minutes by his conduct, Judge Jones showed keen interest. “I’ll give him 60 days,” he said.
And it took several minutes for the applause of the court room to die away.
From The Charlotte News, Monday, June 27, 1921
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