In last week’s session of Criminal court for Columbus county several records were broken, not the least of which was the volume of work transacted during the week’s time. The number of actual witnesses in attendance, the time consumed by the grand jury, and the number of convictions drawing chain gang sentences were also noticeable. From the time when it convened early Monday morning, until it was dismissed shortly before noon Saturday, the grand jury was in continuous session and hundreds of witnesses were examine the true bills returned against offenders.
From the time when Judge Calvert convened court early Monday morning until he adjourned it at noon Saturday, there was not a single recess of even a few minutes duration, aside from those taken for dinner. Court opened at 8:30 each morning and adjourned at dark. When the jury would bring in a verdict, after being out on a case, they invariably found another jury and court officials busy on the next case in line.
On receiving the verdicts, Judge Calvert would depart from the usual procedure and instead of sentencing the prisoner, if he was guilty, he promptly remanded him into the custody of the sheriff. One result of this procedure was that the end of the session of court found the jail overflowing with convicted men who had not received sentences. These were called up in a body Saturday morning and sentence was passed upon them. It is remarkable that out of the entire number of convictions secured, not one of the guilty parties got off with a fine. It was a chain gang sentence for all. In one or two cases, short terms on the chain gang were imposed, and a small fine and the costs added.
Fifteen white men and seven negroes received chain gang sentences. One white woman was sent to the New Hanover county farm for one year. The road sentences aggregate 26 years and four months, and this gives each of the convicted men an average of something over a year to serve. Following is each case, in which conviction was secured, and the sentence.
Von Watts, operating automobile while intoxicated, six months on the roads.
Von Watts, false pretense, six months on the roads.
G.W. Spivey, fornication and adultery, 18 months on the roads, appealed to supreme court, appeal bond fixed at $1,500.
Elbert Watts, assault with deadly weapon, 30 days on roads and costs.
L.J. Duncan, aiding in assault with deadly weapon, 18 months on roads.
Bud Norris assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill, 18 months on the roads.
Roy Carter, driving automobile while intoxicated and without lights, 9 months on the road, if county physician advises his health will permit, otherwise to work out sentence at county home, appealed to supreme court and appeal bond fixed at $1,500.
Lillie Norris, fornication and adultery, 12 months in New Hanover county farm.
H.B. Clark, retailing, six months on roads.
James Norris, assault with deadly weapon, 3 months on roads.
Reader Arp, manufacturing, 6 month son roads.
Joe Watts, manufacturing, 6 months on roads.
Reader Arp, retailing, 6 months on roads.
T.M. Smith, retailing, 6 months on roads.
Joe Watts, retailing, 6 months on roads.
John Weatherford, transporting, 18 months on roads.
John Clinton, assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill, 6 months on roads.
Waitus Carter, assault on female, 12 months on roads, appealed and appeal bond fixed at $1,500.
Levi Hilburn, assault on female, 12 months on roads, appealed and bond fixed at $1,500.
J.A. Hemmingway, assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill, 2 years and 6 months on roads.
Kelly Shaw, murder, nor more than six years and not less than four years on roads. (This negro shot and killed another negro in Bug Hill township during the holidays. Magistrate Cox before whom the case came up, acquitted him on the grounds of it being an accident. Residents of the neighborhood did not agree with the magistrate and the negro was re-arrested and held for trial.)
Luther Hardee, forgery, 6 months on roads.
George Faircloth, having liquor, 3 months on roads, appealed to supreme court and appeal bond fixed at $500. (This defendant was convicted in the recorder’s court and fined $10 and costs. Not satisfied with that, he appealed to superior court and got 3 months. The outcome of his second appeal is yet to be determined.)
Alex Page, retailing, 9 months on roads.
Adolphus Coleman, retailing, 9 months on roads.
Adolphus Coleman, carrying concealed weapons, 2 months on roads.
Adolphus Coleman, resisting officer, 4 months on roads.
Luther Hardee, bigamy, 24 months on roads.
Six of the above cases were appealed from the county court and carried to this. It is worthy of remark to state that the sentence of the lower court was upheld in each instance. In one case the defendant got three months on the roads in place of the $10 fine imposed in the county court.
From the front page of The Whiteville News Reporter, “For the County of Columbus and Her People,” Thursday, Feb. 7, 1924
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