Exceptionally light fines, and no actual road sentences, featured the special term of Durham county criminal court held here during the past week by Judge Henry A. Grady of Clinton. Judge Grady adjourned court at the conclusion of Friday’s session, and left to go to the bed side of his brother, who was reported seriously ill.
The fines of one cent each, and another fine of five cents, plus the court costs, were dished out by Judge Grady during his sojourn here. Lonnie Berry, who figured in an automobile accident several months ago, in which a young woman was injured, was fined one cent and cost in each of the two cases against him charging assault and battery with a deadly weapon, to-wit: an automobile, and speeding and reckless driving.
The fine of five cents and costs was give to W.J. Miles, charged with assault on Charlie Smith. In the case against Mr. Miles, charged with carrying a concealed weapon, judgment was suspended upon payment of the costs. In the majority of the cases tried, judgment was suspended upon payment of the court costs. However, in some cases, Judge Grady imposed road sentences with a clause that the defendants would not to have to serve time on the roads providing they showed good behavior for a period of five years.
The feature of Friday afternoon’s session of court was the trial of Jim Skleris, a local Greek, charged with assaulting his wife with a deadly weapon. The jury, after being out for more than an hour, returned a verdict of not guilty, and Skleris was allowed to go free.
William Garner, white, charged with assault on a 13-year-old female in a local theatre, was also found not guilty by the jury after a short deliberation.
Another case Friday which created considerable interest was that of Herman Jernigan, principal of the east Durham high school, charged with assault and battery on Theodore Lewis, son of J.E. Lewis.
R.P. Reade, attorney for the defendant, submitted to the charge after which Judge Grady asked R.M. Gantt, attorney for the plaintiff, if he wished to argue the case for a sentence. Mr. Gantt informed the court that his client did not wish to argue for a sentence, and Judge Grady ordered that judgment be suspended upon payment of the court costs.
The other cases tried and disposed of at Friday afternoon’s session were as follows:
Henry Trice, negro, charged with reckless driving, acquitted.
The following cases were nol prossed: Sam Merritt, charged with non-support; Rosa Lee Branch, charged with operating a bawdy house; F. Cannady, using a room for immoral purposes; T.J. Crutchfield, charged with manslaughter; J.W. Allen, charged with violating a city ordinance; Vernon Chavie, charged with assault with a deadly weapon; F. Townsend and E. Walker, charged with immoral conduct; and Jule Albright, charged with assault and battery.
From page 2 of the Durham Sun, Sunday morning, May 10, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020732/1925-05-10/ed-1/seq-2/
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