The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-10-25
THE CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE
PEYTON.

THE CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE
PEYTON.
We had somewhat to say last
week concerning the rumors afioat
about Judge Peyton, and expressed
the opinion then that the whole af-
fair was but an 0lectioneering
scheme, designed to produce an cx-
element and prejudice which should
last until after election, and unduly
bias voters to the disadvantage of
Judge Peyton. Since then the
Democratic organ of this city has
given circumstantial certainty to
the charges, by an article which
will be found in our advertising
columns. These circumstantial
averments do not change the look
of matters-for they were made
public so close to the election as 10
prevent q thorough investigation
before that time. For the promote
OF this scheme for the defeat of the
regular Republican nominee for
Judge, and the election of his Dem
ocratic opponent, have publicly
averred since the publication of the
article in our Democratic cotempe-
rary, that they have known of the
facts therein charged for nearly two
years. AS the case thus stands,
these Reformers, upon their own
showing, have known of the exist
ence of facts which, If made public,
would have sufiiced to discredit Mr..
Peyton as q man and attorney, and
effectually dispose of his chances
for the Judgeship, and yet during
all this time they have held their
peace, have associated with him at
the bar on terms of friendship and
confidence, have recommended him
by word of mouth and in writing
as an able lawyer and an honorable
man, have seen him elected to the
Office Of Probate Judge of this
county, and in every way have en-
souraged the belief in his eminent
Atness for positions of public trust
and confidence. But now, just on
the eve OF election, their heretofore
dormant consciences have received
sudden quickening, and the man
they have honorably commended is
not 1T for the association of gentle
men, is a forger, a disgrace to the
bar, and totally unfit for Judge !
And the aid of a midnight session
of our District court in the absence
of Mr.. Peyton, and without notice
to him, is sought to give effect
70 those charges. When we con-
slider the source from which these
charges emanates the time and
manner of their PRONUNCIATION, and
tho utter want of principle which
those making them confess to, we
are fully warranted in our conclu-
sion that upon the face of the trans
action there Is apparent trickery
and fraud.
During tho over four years that
Mr.. Peyton has resided in the coun-
~ he has born an unsullied charac-
ter with both friend and foe, and
has enjoyed the fullest measure of
public confidence as shown by his
large and constantly increasing
practice at the bar, his choice to re-
sponsible positions, and his unani-
nous endorsement for the position
to which he now aspires.
But we are not left to conjecture
10 the suspicion which naturally at
taches to the midnight ISLANDERS set
afoat by an enemy, grown desper-
ate through contemplation of in
evitAble defeat; or the guarantees
furnished by the irreproachable
character of q life time, for a full
and complete refutation of the at
tempt to blacken Judge Peyton's
character. In another column will
DO found letter from S. c. Thomp-
son, clerk OF the circuit court of
clay county, Indiana, upon whose
certificate Judge Poyton was admit
ted to practice in the District court |
Of Lyon county, accompanied by |
the certificate of Major w. w. Car
tor and 8. d. Coffee, two attorneys
OF Clay county, to the truth of
Thompson's letter. The fact that
Thompson was clerk of tho Circuit
court of Clay county in 1868 is
shown by the affidayit of Mr.. Green
lee, q well KIN own citizen of this
county. and tho signature and char
acter of Major Carter are verified
by the affidavit of j. NJ. Griffith, a
prominent merchant of this place.
Aajer Carter was the Republican
candidate for Congress in his Dis
trict two years ago, running against
ID. w. VOORHEES,. The letter of the
Clerk shows that he himself made
the certificate ON which Peyton was
admitted to practice here; that he
had known Peyton as practitioner
for ten or fifteen years, and that the
records OF that county had been
burned, 20 that the precise date of
Poyton's admission could not be
shown. We understand, from per-
sons familiar with tho laws of Indi-
ana, that any'person may be admit
ted to practice in the courts of that
State upon motion, and without any
previous examination or study, and
without reference to qualifications.
The matter of admission being a
mere matter OF form, the record of
Il 10 OF no consequence-the fact of
being q practicing attorney there
and having q genuine certificate
here, covering the whole ground
and disposing OF the entire calumny.
RULH OR RuIN.-The merchants
Of the South have addressed a cir
.Dlar To the merchants of ST. Louis