It took a Superior Court jury but a short time Saturday afternoon to return a verdict of not guilty against Clayton Sloan, Robert Boland and Sim (Slim?) Dewberry, negro youths, who were charged with a criminal assault upon Cleo Cobb, negro girl of 16 years.
When the verdict was announced an outburst of applause came from the gallery which was crowded to its capacity with negro residents of this city. As a result of their action Judge W.F. Harding took occasion to reprimand them, saying:
“I don’t suppose those who applauded this verdict realize that they were in contempt of court. This is not a theater, nor a political hall. Such an outburst is uncalled for. You belong to a race of enthusiasm, passion and weakness. The only way to lift your race up is to control those passions and when you learn to control yourself, you can control others.”
Judge Harding then told the negro youths, who were acquitted by the jury, to stand up and he imparted advice in full measure to them, stating that they had a close call from possible death. He advised them to shun two things in particular, liquor and women, referring to their desire to satisfy passion in the latter instance.
The case was not a complex one. The state wove its case around the testimony of Cleo Cobb, who stated that she was attacked while she was on her way home and that the three negro youths had improper relations with her, commanding her with a pistol. The defendants denied their attack on the girl and stated that they had been invited to go with her.
A.L. Sapp and Spencer B. Adams represented the defendants while Solicitor J.C. Bowers was assisted in the prosecution by Clifford Frazier.
From the Greensboro Daily News, Dec. 18, 1922
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