Charlotte, April 11—Tom. P Jimison, former Methodist preacher, labor paper editor and politician, today was unable to “break into jail” here to begin serving a 60-day sentence imposed in city court last week on a charge of violating the national prohibition law.
Jimison, who on Thursday announced that he had withdrawn an appeal to Superior court and today would start serving the sentence, went to the courthouse at noon to surrender to the sheriff, to be sent to the gang.
In the meantime, friends headed by T.L. Kirkpatric and former Governor Cameron Morrison have gotten busy and prevented him from giving himself up at that time. Sheriff Cochran had no commitment papers anyway and couldn’t take him in as a prisoner.
During the afternoon several conferences were held with city officials resulting in a decision to reopen the case next Tuesday morning in city court at which time it is believed here that City Judge Wade H. Williams will change the 60-day sentence to a fine and that the former Methodist minister will be allowed to go free upon payment of a cash penalty.
Jimison left the city late in the afternoon for Spencer to spend the week-end with his wife and son.
Former Governor Morrison, it was said here tonight, was the leader in the move to keep Jimison off the roads and secure a rehearing in the case next Tuesday. Lengthy conferences were held during the day in his office, these resulting on the decision to postpone Jimison’s trip to the roads.
Tonight it was the belief here that the sentence would be changed to a fine and that he would not have an opportunity of improving the highway conditions in Mecklenburg county.
Friends of Jimison said that at noon today he was at the courthouse in readiness to give himself up to the sheriff and start his term on the roads.
Morrison has just returned from New York and knew few of the details. When he learned that Jimison was due on the roads this afternoon, under his announced plan of giving himself up, he immediately busied himself in a successful effort to halt the move. All parties to the latest development in the case were silent concerning the case tonight and are awaiting the next act which will take place in city court on Tuesday morning. In the meantime, Jimison is at Spencer under $200 bond provided by Frank Flowers, local attorney, following his conviction Friday of last week by Judge Williams on a charge of violating the dry laws.
From the front page of The Concord Times, Monday, April 13, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1925-04-13/ed-1/seq-1/#words=APRIL+13%2C+1925
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