The January Term of the Superior Court adjourned late Saturday afternoon after putting in a full week of work. On a docket containing over a hundred cases, half of them were tried or otherwise disposed of, leaving on the docket for the May term exactly 59 cases awaiting trial. Solicitor Williams made the statement that he expected when he left Harnett County after the May term to leave a clean docket without a single criminal case on it, and he is likely to keep his word if there are not many appeals from the Recorder’s Courts in the county to that term.
Juge Sinclair made a very favorable impression as a jurist, and while he was stern in some cases, he was withal, fair and just. His sentences showed that he did not believe in petting criminals and did not intend that they should continue to evade the law. While here he imposed sentences totaling 24 years in the penitentiary and on the roads.
The jury found Geo. T. Jones guilty of a secret assault on Deputy Sheriff Kile Matthews with intent to kill, and Judge Sinclair sentenced him to serve a term of not less than six years and not more than 10 years in the State Prison. The Clerk was instructed to write the Warden of the State Prison requesting that Jones be given a thorough physical examination and to send letters of Drs. O.L. Denning and W.C. Melvin along with his. Jones was allowed to stay in jail until the latter part of this week before being carried to Raleigh in order that he might attend to certain matters of personal interest.
Allen McDougald, Magdaline McDougald and Luke Taylor were found not guilty of larceny of cotton from Mr. Gilbert Campbell’s farm.
Herbert Beasley was found guilty of attempting to pass a forged check and was given a sentence of six months on the roads.
Hosea McDougland, a negro, who ran amuck last November in Upper Little River and who shot up everything in sight, including the well bucket, rooster, his mother-in-law and his sister, plead guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. No notice or ill-feeling being shown and no intent to commit murder, Judge Sinclair was very lenient and imposed a term of two years on the roads for the negro’s brainstorm.
Robert Johnson was given 12 months on the roads for forgery.
John Henry McNeill will also work the roads for forgery, but his term was shortened to six months.
The case of larceny against Jim Matthews was nol prossed.
A mistrial was directed in the case charging W.H. Reardon with passing a bad check.
Hinson Cummings and Arnold Page plead guilty to assault with an automobile. They were taxed with the costs and required to pay Mr. J.R. Patterson, father of the boy who was injured, the sum of $100 to reimburse him for expense he was put to for medicine and medical treatment of his boy.
In spite of being such a star witness, Russell Murchison was unable to satisfy the jury that James Dixon stole about $70 from his person, and James was acquitted.
Leroy Monk pled guilty to larceny and was sentenced to jail for four months, to be hired out by the County Commissioners upon payment of costs. He paid the costs and was freed.
Sam Bolton pled guilty to two charges of larceny and was sentenced to the State Prison for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years. The clerk was directed to write the warden asking him to subject Tolton to a mental examination. Bolton plead guilty to assault on a female, and judgement was continued until such time as he is released from prison.
Pink Thomas, who is not pink but black, plead guilty to having liquor and a pistol one Sunday in Coats just after he returned from church, and for this unusual combination he was permitted to work the roads for the next six months.
Alex Johnson plead guilty to careless and reckless driving and was taxed with the costs. In the meantime he had paid for all damages done.
Jesse Beasley entered plea of nolo contendre to the charge of disposing of mortgaged property, and it being shown to the court that he had made restitution to the property, he was let off with the costs.
The case of false pretense against Newton Williams was nol prossed with leave.
W.H. Parrish, having repaid to the prosecutor the money the jury found he had embezzled, their verdict was set aside and he entered a plea of guilty to trespass. Judgment was continued upon payment of costs to the May term.
Swannie Jones and Hicks Jones, who were found guilty of the larceny of a watch, were given sentences of four months on the roads. They gave bonds for their appearance at the May term to commence the serving of their sentences.
In the case of receiving the stolen watch for which Paul Griffin was found guilty, the prayer for judgement was continued to the May term.
Garfield Bailey pled guilty to forcible trespass and judgement was suspended for 12 months upon payment of the costs, and he is appearing at each term of the court for one year to show that he has been properly conducting himself.
Tony Carter and John McGee failed to appear and stand trial and John McGee failed to appear and stand trial and their cash bonds of $125 were forfeited.
From the front page of the Harnett County News, Thursday, Jan. 14, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84006598/1926-01-14/ed-1/seq-1/
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