When Judge Thomas H. Calvert convened Superior Court Monday morning there were quite a number of jurors who wanted leave of absence for one cause or another, but His Honor excused only four or five. The Grand Jury being made, the Judge delivered the charge, which dwelt mainly upon the enforcement of law and punishment for crime. The report of the Grand Jury is given elsewhere in this paper.
From opening court till 2 o’clock Wednesday the time was taken up in the trial of minor cases on the docket. The case of Jim Fuller McLean, charged with entering the sleeping room of white women at night, was set for 2 p.m. Wednesday and was promptly called at that hour. A special venire of 75 men was summoned from which to draw a trial jury. This case is in progress as The News goes to press. It will probably not be concluded before tonight.
The following cases have been disposed of:
Carlie B. Matthews was convicted of assault and battery and given two years, the place of imprisonment to be announced by the Judge, probably at the conclusion of the term. A summary of this case was given last week in a report of proceedings of Recorder’s Court, from whence it was appealed. The case against Ludlow Lee for assaulting his wife resulted in conviction with continued judgment upon payment of costs. The couple are now said to be living together peacefully.
The case against Enoch Wilson for resisting an officer was nol pros. Mr. Wilson is the man whom former Chief of Police Page of Dunn is accused of beating up. Mr. Wilson was then accused of carrying a concealed weapon, but he was adjudged innocent.
Ida Johnson was accused of running a bawdy house in Grove township. The case was nol pros with leave.
W.L. Peebles of Dunn was charged with forcible trespass, upon which he was found guilty and was fined $50 and costs. He appealed.
Vance Ryals, charged with stealing a Ford from a farmer near Kipling, pleaded guilty to the crime and was given nine months on the roads.
Ernest Ennis was found not guilty of the larceny of an automobile.
A white couple, Lula Avery and Sam Guinn, were charged with bigamy. Lula married at 13, separated from her husband, married Guinn, who said he knew nothing of the former marriage being still in vogue, but when he found it out another separation took place. Lula Avery is now living with her parents in Raeford, to which place Judge Calvert remanded her with the order that Guinn pay the costs of the case.
Roy Powell, Carl Powell and Ashby Morgan were found guilty on the charge of stealing meat from the smokehouse of a widow lady, Mrs. Hilliard, who lives up near the Harnett-Wake line. Her husband had been dead only a fortnight when her provisions were taken away from her and the case seemed to be an aggravated one. The young men are in jail and the Judge will pronounce sentence upon them before the conclusion of the term.
Aubrey Register of Dunn was accused of stealing wearing apparel from a pressing club. The jury declared him guilty upon the evidence. His Honor gave Register 12 months on the roads.
G.T. Guy was charged with the same offense as that against Register. He was found guilty. Judgment was continued upon payment of costs in another case. He proved good character and first offense.
It is expected that today and probably a night session will be consumed in the trial of the Jim Fuller McLean case. The case of Watson Page and W.A. West is scheduled first on the docket at the convening of court Friday morning. This will conclude the session of court.
Special venires of 175 men were drawn for these two latter (capital) cases. The proviso holding that no juror be drawn from Lillington, Anderson Creek or Barbecue townships. Sheriff McArtan was compelled to greatly bestir himself to summon so large a number in so short a time. As is the Sheriff’s custom, however, he was there with his money.
From the front page of The Harnett County News, Lillington, N.C., May 25, 1922
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