Wilmington journal., 1874-07-24
ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF HAv
ING A TYRANT FOR "A JUDGE.

Some six months since Mr.. Edward
+. Stokes was imprisoned by Judge
Cooke, in tho Jail at Greenville, for
an alleged contempt IN refusing to an
swer certain questions rropounded to
him while occupying the stand as n
witness. He has been lying in Jail
ever since, and IS reported to be Ill a
very precarious condition, indeed, not
expected to survive the summermOnths
unless released. Mr.. Stokes is gen
tlemen of culture, high moral instincts,
and very tenacious of his opinions /;
so much so as to be considered q mon
omaniac i'll this respect. This is the
man whoheaded the straight-Out DEM
Ocracy in this State against the Gree
ley movement in the last Presidential
election, and in his devotion to princi-
pie he should call the blush of shame
to the cheeks of those who have been
practising so many tricks and feats of
legerdemain in politics-instead of ad
yocating white consolidation, making
it white supremacy nothing.
The sufferings of Mr.. Stokes called
out recently the following temperate
letter which was published i'll the
Greenville Daily Ne1rs
EDWARD F. STOKES.
Edward L. Stokes is still in jail He
has been there more than six months;
he is in bed all the time, and has not
spoken a word in three months. His
hair is long and almost white; he looks
pale and is very thin; it is doubtful if
he can pass the summer over i'll such
hot rooms He has two widowed Sis
ters and number of friends who
think he has suffered sufficiently. Can
there be no limit to his punishment?
He has perhaps done wrong, insulted
the Court; but he has been in prison
long enough for that act, and we hope
he will be pardoned out. as he is now
dragging out a miserable existence.
He was asked a few days ago for his
"fiag," that he has carried all over
the United States: it was wanted for
the 4th of July celebration, but he
told them no, it was soon to be his
winding sheet. We oil do wrong; it is
human to err; none of us are perfect,
and it seems to me that this prisoner
has suffered long enough for the crime
committed, and [ ask for the sake of
his family and humanity, if the au-
thorities will not release him? He is
Z,
believe he will make all things salts
factory to his creditors if allowed to
come ont of jail There can be no
good acc ,mplished by keeping him in
prison. Therefore, under all circum-
stances, taking into consideration his
feeble health and worry of mind, we
b. g the authorities to turn him loose
and let him fully regain his health.
PINK"
The author of this letter, Mr.. t. B.
Ferguson, highly esteemed citizen of
Greenville. has been ruled to show
cause why he should not be punished
for contempt for such expression of
sympathy. The editor Of the Green
Vile Neus very properly expresses his
Willingness to shoulder all the respOn-
sibility for the publication of the let
ter, and we tender him orr support.
Hitherto we have refraine1 from COM
menting on the acts OF our Judges, for
we fondly imagined they We're less cor
| rupt, less partizan than the other Off
GERS of the State but it Is high time
they should be re,uked for sucli petty
tyranny. This indi crimnate ruling
OF individuals for alleged contempt
has become disgusting and alarming.
| Our Judges should be made to under
stand that while they will be supported
in a legitimate exercises of theil
duties, at the same time, the Press is
TO-. the people, and will denounce nj
such acts as the one we chronicle, as
mean and unworthy the ermine.
The punishmento of Edward F. Stokes
who is no doubt slightly deranged
whose hair is white with fifty winters
and whose character is unsullied, has
teen Eexcessiye, cruel and barbarous
Under the old regime Judge cQnlt
not be treated with contempt; he wa'
above and beyond it; he could not SCI
it: there was no such thing. 1t onl.
remains for the little men of thes'
times to think every one contemn
them because guilty conscience
needs no accuser er.-Edgetetd, y. e
Advertiser.