The January term of Cabarrus County Superior Court convened in the court house here this morning, with Judge James L. Webb of Shelby presiding. Court opened shortly after 10 o’clock, and the morning session was consumed with the Judge’s charge to the grand jury and a number of submission cases.
Zebulon Long of Statesville, assumed his duties as solicitor of this district at the opening of court here this morning. Mr. Long was elected to the solicitorship at the November election, and was sworn in last Monday at his home, Statesville. Mr. Long is no stranger to Concord. He is recognized as an able lawyer, an especially fine speaker and a Christian gentleman who believes in law enforcement. A successful record as solicitor is predicted for him.
The greatest interest in this term of court centers in the case of O.G. (Red) Thomas, who was recently granted a new trial by the Supreme Court after being convicted of second degree murder last January and sentenced to serve 18 years in the State penitentiary, for the killing of A.J. Allen in Kannapolis.
This case probably will come before the court this afternoon or tomorrow morning, and as soon as the defendant is formally arraigned again for the murder of Allen, his attorneys are expected to ask Judge Webb for a change of venue, arguing their request on the grounds that prejudice int his county against Thomas makes it impossible for him to get a fair trial here. It is known that Thomas’ attorneys for the State also have prepared a number of affidavits, though these reports have not been substantiated by the State’s attorneys.
Attorney Hayden Clement of Salisbury has been retained by the State to help in the prosecution of Thomas, it has been learned here. Mr. Clement was solicitor of this district when Thomas was first tried, and his ability as a lawyer and familiarity with the case probably account for his retention by the State.
Maness, Armfield & Sherrin, John M. Oglesby and J. Lee Crowell of Concord and J.J. Parker and E.T. Cansler of Charlotte will appear again for the defendant. The State will be represented by H.S. Williams and L.T. Hartsell of Concord, Solicitor Zeb Long of Statesville, and Mr. Clement. Other attorneys may also be employed, one member of the Allen family stated this morning.
While the great interest that was shown in the case during the first trial is not expected to develop during the second hearing of the case, the case is of unusual interest nevertheless.
Before beginning is charge to the grand jury Judge Webb spoke briefly on the improvements he has noted in Concord in recent years, expressed the hope that people lived up to the fine name given the city years ago by the early settlers, and added a word of unstinted praise for the Stonewall Jackson Training School.
Since his last visit here, Judge Webb stated, Concord has made vast improvements, and he congratulated the city for the progressive steps it has taken. He also stated that no city in the country has a finer name, and he advised his hearers to live up to this name. “It takes concord in all things to make a success,” he stated, “and this applies to the church, the city, the county and the State.”
There is no institution in the State dong greater work than the Jackson Training School, in his opinion, Judge Webb declared. “The boys are receiving a training there,” he said, “and that is just what they need. Some of the boys being trained there now will make useful, hard-working, prosperous, prominent citizens if they live,” he added, “and they will be worth more than many boys who now run the streets and are given all the money they want to spend.”
Training at home is what is needed in this country above all things, and Judge Webb expressed the belief that there are many mothers and fathers in North Carolina who are not capable of rearing and caring for the children they have. “I hope the State will see fit to give this institution all the money it needs for its proper management and enlargement,” Judge Webb said in conclusion.
From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Jan. 8, 1923
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