Bigamy, Other Cases Settled in Cleveland Superior Court, July 28, 1926

Many Old Charges in Superior Court. . . Many Defendants Still Missing

The court in its opening grind devoted quite a bit of time to the formality of keeping old counts on the docket, meaning that charges of other years are entered on the new dockets each court, and if the defendants ever show up, prosecution will follow.

It is interesting in that connection to note that first entry on the new docket is the same that has graced the first page of all court dockets for over a decade: “State vs. Russell Williams, alias Sam Smith, murder.” The crime was committed years ago and the defendant made his escape. Year after year it is shifted to the new docket. Williams may return to the county, bent and aged in the years to come, but the law never forgets and to his name will be the murder charge.

Judging from the number of entries reading, “Alias capias,” many defendants not here at former terms are still at large.

Among the cases disposed of by trial to date are the following:

--State vs. Wash Harloe, manufacturing liquor; defendant pleads guilty.

--State vs. Thurman Tessenear, embezzlement; called and failed. Scia-fa and capias.

--State vs. Will Carpenter, operating motor car for hire without license; not guilty by jury trial.

--State vs. J. H. Frady, A and B and drunkenness; $20 and costs. To show good behavior for 18 months under $200 bond.

--State vs. Hill Boyles, B. & E. and larceny; pleads guilty.

--State vs. Chief Craig and Arthur Chambers, A.D.W.; Chambers pleaded guilty and was fined $50 and the costs. Craig was found guilty by the jury and fined $25 and the costs.

--State vs. Horace Barrett, setting fire to woods; not guilty by jury. The verdict was returned within five minutes.

4 Months for Bigamy

--State vs. John Cothran and Dora Bell, alias Novell Floyd, bigamy, plead guilty. Prayer for judgment continued for Dora Bell Floyd, capias to issue. Four months on No. 6 roads for Cothran. Judgment was suspended on an F. & A. count against both.

Editor's Note: scire facias--notify him or his bondsman that he failed to appear

capias--order the sheriff to arrest him

alias capias--he didn't show up again; go arrest him

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Wednesday, July 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-07-28/ed-1/seq-1/