The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-04-25

Day morning lost. ~ VIA. generally
known that the, grand jury had summon.
ed the editors of the american before |
them. to testify OF the base sllnders |
which they uttered concerning the pupils
OF the Eastern Female High School, and
iously expected. The Hons Judge GIL.
upon the calling of the grand jury, James
Judge Gilmor q report, Of which the fol-
lowing is the substance:
A series OF newspaper articles, invoiv.
ing both the chastity Of the popils Of the
Eastern Femsle High School and the
faithfulness aid efficiency of the mem
bers OF the grand jury, have excited such
demand from tho public voice for oor-
rect information upon these important
questions, that the grand jury has deter
mined to raise the veil vi secrecy wh!oh
usually screens it's Investigations from
the outside world. and communicate
what information it possesses to your
honor, and through you to the public, in
such form as you may think proper to
adopt. In the Baltimore American, Of.
March 18th, on editorial appeared, enti.
tied Something of General Interest,""
in which it was alleged Chat in the most
numerously attended female schools in
the Eastern section Of the city. pupils
receive, from noted PROGRESSES, many
invitations. which, if complied with, as
they sometimes are, prove the first steps
towards degradation and infamy;" and,
again. "that it is not 30 hidden subject
but that every member OF the grand jury
knows it. Let them take it into con-
sideration; they know where TO find wit
nesses." Mr.. Fulton, its author, in an-
swer to the most searching inquiries,
Confessed that his accusations were based
enterely. on the faith of public rumor.
He admitted his inability to prefer a
single charge against the chastity OF even
one young lady attending the female
schools in tbe Eastern section of the city,
or to Indicate one name to which anv
suspicion of dishonor attaches. Falling
entirely in his accusations, and with o
full confession Of his inability to sustain
them, he rendered the grand jury an ac-
ceptable apology for the injustice of the
attack. aud, furthermore, promised to
make an editorial retraction of the
charge. With this, he promptly COM
piled in the issue of the American of the
25th of March. The grand jury induIged
the hope that this would bo the last of
|
tunate and damaging publication. In
In the American Of April 81, in an article
entitled "The Scandal of the Day." it is
alleged "that We abate not one jot or
little of the allegations which appear in
these columns. We believe them to be
true, and having seen no reason to change
our views, we re.affirm them now." The
grand jury again summoned the editors
OF that paper to testify before it, suppos.
Ing that they had in the meantime COL
looted the necessary facts to sustain their
accusations. For the sake of the honor
aud virtue OF the pupils attending the
Eastern Female High School, against
which the charge is narrowed down,
am glad to say that the second exami-
nation before the grand jury resulted
like the first, in a complete vindication
OF the female purity of the school.
| The reading Of the report was listened
to with profound and absorbing interest
A pins weight touching the floor might
have been heard. A wilful and out.
rageous effort had been made to blacken
the fame of portion Of our purest and
fairest, and painfully intense was the
anxiety to hear the result. The silence
was at length broken by Judge Gilmor,
who, evidently impressed with the gra.
vity and moment of the occasion, in clear
and loud voice, said:
Your report must certainly have the
effect of completely relieving the public
mind OF an impression of q very painful
character, excited principally, and may
say exclusively, by the newspaper arti.
c!es which have appeared in the quarter
referred to, and which have naturally
attracted and compelled your notice.
And tho care you have expended in get
ting at the truth Of this matter, and by
that means allaying the anxiety of our
citizons, has not been in vain, if for no
other reason. Aspersions upon the
6del: y of teachers, and the morals of
Scholars in the schools throughout the
city. in 80 vital point as female purity,
could only be justified upon tho dearest
grounds of evidence. And yet you find,
after prompt aud searching inquiries of
the originators Of the charge. that they
are without the slightest ability to sub
stantiate it, and cannot furnish the
grand, jury with the name OF single wit
ness"
A manifest sense of reliof at once re-
"calcd Itself upon every oountenance.
Where before was depicted sadness and
anHpenSa apoi1o onooaoJ,1 ,,o;Jo of