Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-06-09
From the New York Atlas.
THE GEORGIA LOTTERIES OF 8. SWAN & co.

Considerable excitement has been created
during the past two days, by the announcement
that Mayor Tiemann had succeeded in obtaining
the indictment of Benjamin Wood, of our city
by special jury, at Augusta, Georgia, as one
Of the owners of the Sparta Academy Lottery"
&With question Of the legality, or otherwise,
Of the "Sparta Academy Lottery" as it exists
in Georgia, We don't propose to meddle; but,
when one of our rather prominent citizens is in
dicted for o criminal offense, we as public jour-
nalists, deem it our duty to lay such facts or
allegations as bear upon his case, before our
readers.
From statesments made to us, and of the cor
rectness of which We are satisfied, it appears
that the State Of Georgia granted to the "spar-
to Academy" in the year 1926, the right to
raise five thousand dollars by lottery, for edu-
cational purposes. This grant lay for many
years inert and useless for the purpose intended,
in consequence Of the inability Of its corporaors
to carry out the object contemplated.
Some time ago Mr.. Wood, in connection with
parties in Georgia, purchased from the existing
trustees the privilege of drawing this lottery,
and contracted to pay the "Sparta Academy"
the amount designated by the act, in certain
equal annual installments. These installments
have been punctually paid, and it is further
stated that all Of the prizes which were drawn
by any purchaser Of tickets, from time to time,
have been promptly met, and the parties con-
cerned as owners and managers are entirely re-
sponsible Thus much Of our information.
A pcrlsal of the act Of incorporation certainly
shows that the "trllstees" or their successors
in Office" had a right 10 raise the sum Of FIVE
thousand dollars by lottery, and the question as
to whether subsequent change IF the State
Constitution, declaring all lotteries illegal, could
destroy vested right, is one which the Courts
alone can decide. 1t certainly seems to us, that
our worthy Mayor is adopting the "largest lib
erty" idea, in extending bis investigation Of
Statutory and Constitutional provisions into
other bailiwicks than his own. We are prepared
to cooperate heartily with him in all home re-
forms which he may attempt, if they be stop
pages of leaks at the bung rather than the spig-
rot; but we honestly think he has oil lie can
do here, in suppressing the vice which is so rife
in our midst, without going to Georgia to reform
its abuses.
There's deal Of humbus in this world hidden
under the mask of reform, and we are some
times inclined to think that even lottery schemes
are no worse than stock brokering, or any one
of the thousand speculatons into which men en-
ter for the chances of making money.
Welearn that this "Sparta Academy Lottery"
is still drawing, notwithstanding the indict-
ment, and that its legality is to be tested before
the courts. Instead of breaking up the lottery
concern, we think the measure taken to effect
that object, will only serve to increase the sale
of tickets; and we doubt if $4,000 invested
in the advertising, would have conduced so much
to the interest of the managers as the publicity
which has been given to the fact of their indict-
ment. People who spend their money in lo:te-
ry tickets, don't much care whether the game
is legalized or outlawed. All gambling is Illegal
aud yet gambling is passion that will seek
qualification in defiance of all laws. The atten-
ton of the whole "sporting" world is now d.
rccted to Swan & Co.'s lotteries, through the
free advertising which they have obtained from
the movements Of Mayor Tiemann to suppress
them.
From what we have read, there certainly ap-
pears to be two sides to the matter, which will
give rise to nice questions of law, notwithstand-
ing the summary action of the Georgia jury.
Mr.. Wood has published card which we in
sert in Justice to him, that he may have the
benefit of his own version of this matter.
A CARp.-My attention has beon called to q
correspondence between mayor liemanp, Howell
Cobb, and the authorities Of Georgia, upon the
subject of the Sparta Academy Lottery. My
name is mentioned as one of the owners of the
Lottery. I am one Of the owners, have paid
the franchise, and the Lottery has been created
and sanctioned by the Legislature Of Georgia,
and is legal. Allny transactions with refer
ence to the said Lottery are consequently legit-
innate, and the money has been promptly paid
to the trustees Of the Sparta Academy, who
are well-known, honorable men. The Mayor
of this city, in his mistaken zeal to reform tue
morals of the people of Georgia, and inform
them that they do not know what laws are
binding and in force in their State, despatched
as his agent for that purpose, convicted thief,
who had been on the tread-mill in England,
and, as his associate in the embassy, man who
refused to answer the question as to whether
he had been accused Of crime in Boston and
by giving them the sanction Of bis name, the