A special from Spray to the Greensboro News says: R.M. Scott, principal of Stoneville high school, was tried and convicted here today on a charge of unmercifully whipping Millard Rhodenizer, 11-year-old school boy.
The trial was held before Magistrate Hodges and a crowd that taxes the capacity of the court room. The defendant was represented by Judge Brock of Winston-Salem, Glidewell of Reidsville, Sanford of Stoneville, and Dunn of Leaksville. The state was represented by former Senator A.D. Ivie of Leaksville. Practically the entire population of Stoneville turned out to hear the trial and great interest was manifested, the sheriff experiencing great difficulty in maintaining order at time. The jury panel for this trial was exhausted and the sheriff summoned men from the crowd until a jury of six men was obtained, 18 men being called.
The first witness examined by the state was the boy who received the thrashing. He told of it and subsequent events, saying in part, that six or eight switches about the size of his finger were worn out on him, two at a time; that after the whipping, his back and arms were covered with large welts and that the blood was cut from his legs in two places; that he was so sore next morning that he could hardly put on his clothing. He stated that the stripes on his back were visible for one week and exhibited scars on his legs to the court.
He admitted under cross examination that he had smoked cigarettes and used some profane language on the school grounds; that he had been before the principal three times this year for breaking the rules of the school. The second witness was his mother, who testified as to the condition of the boy upon reaching home, stating that he did not sleep well that night, she being called to his room several times by his restlessness. The boy’s teacher, Miss Eula Tuttle, testified that the boy’s character was not bad.
R.T. Stone, Rev. T.J. Glenn, and Deputy Sheriff R.L. Dillon testified that they saw the boy soon after the whipping and corroborated the statement of the boy and his mother as to the condition of his body.
Arguments by the attorneys began at 4:150 and ended at 6:30. Mr. Glidewell spoke first for the defense, followed by A.D. Ivie, who for an hour and three minutes presented the case for the state, at times moving practically the entire audience to tears. Judge Brock closed the arguments in a strong speech contending that the boy had not been seriously or permanently injured.
After a considerable wrangle by the opposing lawyers over points of law, the case was given to the jury which after 30 minutes deliberation returned a verdict of guilty, and the court imposed a fine of $25 and the costs.
Attorneys for the defendant gave notice of appeal, and bond was fixed at $200.
From page 3 of the Reidsville Review, May 14, 1923
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