Arthur Jones Convicted of Killing HIs Wife; Other Court Matters, April 13, 19232

Calvert Did Not Propose Probe Any Officer’s Conduct. . . Remarks in Court Misunderstood, Says Judge. Taylor Calls Attention of Discrepancy to The Free Press

“You misapprehended my remarks to the grand jury in so far as you represented me as suggesting investigation of any specific officer of this court,” said Judge Thomas H. Calvert in an interview with a representative of The Free Press Friday morning. Continuing, Judge Calvert reiterated the observations that he enumerated to the grand jury, saying that he had had occasion to walk around a little Sunday afternoon on his arrival here from Raleigh and that his attention had been called to a number of automobiles parked in what was pointed out to him as the vice district, that he had recalled that a number of the inmates of that district were on the docket for trial and that he had called the attention of the grand jury to the fact that they seemed to continue to flagrantly violate the law. He also referred to evidences of drunkenness that he had observed on his visits here and to the failure of the officers to apprehend violators of the prohibition laws who were only operating stills, declaring that the courts could not try stills. In these matters, he was correctly quoted, but in reference to any specific charge to investigate an officer, his meaning in that regard was misconstrued.

Sheriff A.W. Taylor called the attention of The Free Press to the matter Thursday in a statement that he had heard the charge of Judge Calvert but did not recall any such instructions to the jury. In consequence of this, an interview with Judge Calvert was sought Friday morning in order that the matter might be correctly stated for the benefit of the public.

The jury in the case of D.T. Williams, charged with selling liquor brought in a verdict of not guilty. Aaron and Will Rouse, negroes, were on trial in the forenoon on a charge of forgery.

They were found guilty on one count of forgery later in the day, and a second case went to the jury after 4 o’clock. A murder case against Jung Wu Tung was continued for the term.

Arthur George, a negro convicted of wife murder by a jury in Superior Court Thursday, today awaiting sentence from Judge Thomas Calvert, the presiding judge. The degree was manslaughter. The jury recommended the mercy of the court. The killing occurred in a rural section of Lenoir County. George was the second negro to be tried for murder this week, Frank Phillips having been acquitted Thursday following trial on a charge of causing the death of Pinckney Arthur, elderly originator of a famous variety of bright leaf tobacco bearing his name, who was run down and killed by a truck driven by Phillips some months ago.

In Superior Court Thursday Herbert Cole was convicted of driving a car while intoxicated. Sentence was withheld. Eugene Phillips, charged with receiving stolen goods, was acquitted. Claud Jones submitted to a charge of secret assault.

From the front page of the Kinston Daily Free Press, Friday, April 13, 1923 Ar