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Monday, August 28, 2023

Busy Monday in Durham Recorder's Court, Aug. 28, 1923

Large Docket Tried by Graham in Monday’s Extension Session of Recorder’s Court. . . Exhibition of Human Frailties

Tobe Beasley, King Page, Bennie Leathers, and Buddy Walters were given a hearing by Judge P.C. Graham in recorder’s court Monday on the charge of larceny. The negroes were charged with he theft of parts from automobiles of a number of local citizens and the large assortment of parts to be seen in the police department makes it apparent that business was good with them. They were so unthoughless as to take all the wheels off of some of the cars, never stopping to consider that without wheels an automobile cannot run. Speedometers, steering wheels, horns, automobile seats, tires, rims, tools, and many other parts were included in the assortment collected by them. Probable cause was found in the cases against all of them except King Page. The state failed to establish a case against him and he was discharged. Beasley was tried on three counts. In to of them he was given sentences aggregating 12 months on the roads. He appealed and his bond was set at $200. Leathers and Walters were bound over to superior court under bonds of $200 each.

A Congested Docket

An all-day session of court was required Monday to dispose of the large docket of defendants appearing for trial. The crimes or offenses charged were varied with practically the entire category of lesser crimes being represented. Whiskey cases featured the session with several defendants answering to charge of that nature. A good sum in money was realized by the clerk of court in fines and court costs from those men and women who were required to shell out some of their pecuniary wealth for their transgressions.

Vicker’s Case

Ab Vickers fared none too good at the hands of the recorder when he was arraigned before his honor on several charges growing out of a wild ride through the business district of Durham from the Raleigh road and out to Bragtown where he was caught. In the exhilarating ride, Vicker’s car played havoc with several other innocent cars doing considerable damage to one of them. He was charged with driving an automobile while intoxicated, with transporting whiskey and malicious injury to property on two counts. He was fined $100 and the costs for the first offense since it is considered to be a dangerous thing to drive an automobile while liquor is playing through one’s system. He was fined $50 and the costs for transporting whiskey and was let off upon the payment of costs in the two cases charging him with injuring the automobiles of L.D. Hamlin and W.H. Wilkerson. He appealed from the payment of the fine of $50 and his bond was set at $200.

W.C. Blalock, Joe Maynard, George M. Ferrell, and C.L. Hornaday were tried with Vickers on the charge of transporting whiskey. They were in the automobile during the ride and were arrested with Vickers after being apprehended. Maynard was found guilty and fined 025 (??) and the costs but the others in the party were found not guilty.

The car was ordered confiscated.

[Newspaper spelled last name as Vicker and Vickers.]

Other Cases

Frank Pendergrast, Shipe Roberts, Fred Wilkes, Albert Maynard, and Albert Thompson were fined $5 each and the costs for drunkenness. Tom Herndon failed to answer to his name when called to trial for a similar offense.

S.B. Strowd and Edward McPearson were called and failed for violations of the traffic laws. G.M. Ball was taxed with the costs.

Five dollars and costs was assessed James McQueen, who was found guilty of speeding an automobile.

Harry Blackwell was called and failed on a charge of assault and battery while Noah Webster was fined $1 and the costs.

Judgment was suspended in the case against Lawrence Sutton charged with trespass.

Five dollars each and their proportionate part of the costs was assessed Luther Gaskins, B.B. Gunter, Jim Andrews, Ed Wood, Alison Barbee, and T.G. Brogden for gambling.

Five dollars and the costs was assessed Rainey Brown for illegal possession of whiskey.

For Sunday drunks Will Whitaker and Jim Hedgepeth were fined $10 and the costs each while Dallas Bratcher received a like fine with half of the amount remitted.

John Gibson was fined $15 and the costs for speeding an automobile.

For boisterous cursing Otha Williams and Leroy Mitchell were fined $2.50 and the costs each while Mabel Perkins was Fined $5 and the costs. Mabel was fined $2 and the costs for assault with deadly weapon, also.

One dollar and the costs was the fine given John Williams charged with assault with deadly weapon.

Herman Wheeler was found not guilty of vagrancy.

Edith Richardson was fined $5 and the costs for illegal possession of whiskey. Henry Farmer failed to appear for trial for a similar offense.

Judgement was suspended upon payment of the costs in the case against Lee Allen charged with assault and battery.

The case against George Merchison and Lela Clark for illegal possession of whiskey was continued until September 8th.

An appeal was taken by Ellie Veazey against the sentence of 30 days on the roads given him for vagrancy. The prospects of working for the county didn’t appeal to him therefore he entered an appeal and his bond was set at $50.

Fines of $10 each given James Russell and Rosa Boothe tried on Saturday for using a room for immoral purposes was remitted in yesterday’s session of court.

W.L. Speight charged with the larceny of an automobile, waived examination in recorder’s court and his case was carried to superior court. His bond was set at $1,000.

From page 3 of the Durham Morning Herald, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 1923

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