The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-17
The Great Libel Suit.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, !
COUNTY OF OKANGEBUkG, !

| COUNTY OE N'haNGEBlR1s
IN THE COMMON PLEAS.
| [pRELUDE.1
Barnabas Williamson, Plaintiff, Us.
Alouzo Webster and Eugene y.
Webster, defendants
lie piainlili, complaining of the
defendants alleges:
First, For q First cause IF 41ction
|. That the plaintiff, prior TO ,i.c
time OF the commission of tic sricv-
ances hereinafter mentioned, liad
been engaged in business III the town
and County Of Orangchurg in the
said State rs clerk III the uilice Of
JOHN l.. iIumbcrt, who was then the
Country Treasurer for Lie County
rs aforesaid.
III. That at the time OF the uuui-
mission of the said grievances, the
plaintiff was engaged in business in
The said TOWN and county, rs clerk in
the o!lice Of JOHN IL. Livingston.
ESQ. who was thea, aud still is, Tie
County Treasurer for The county
aforesaid.
III. That until the commission Of
The said grievances, the plaintiff had
always maintained II good reputation
for honesty and integrity, and had
not been guilty oi any Of The Offences
charged against him i'll ihc lihcl here
matter set forth.
w. That tie success Of the plant
if in his business as clerk as arorc
said depended on his good reputation
and credit. and on The confidence Of
the public in his honesty and intcg-
rity.
That at the time hereinafter men
toned, The defendant, Eugene A.
Webster was the editor and propric-
tor. and The defendant, AloEzo Web
ster, was the publisher Of the Free
Citizen, q newspaper published in tue
town Of Orangeburg, in The county
and State aforesaid.
[FIRSr VERSE.
vi. That on the thirteenth day OF
January, a. d. 1875, the defendants
maliciously composed and published,
concerning the plaintiff, in the said
newspaper, certain article, contain
ing tile false AMI dcfamitory matter
following, to wit:
IAN inexperienced young man"
| (mcaning tlic said john l., uumhcyl)
"was. appointed through Judge An
7 crews" f(mcarttfg .fnaiTGeJI5 c. AZ,
crcMs, ;lten nnd now State Senator
for said county, ITO The responsive
position Of treasurer" (incaniDg
County Treasurer for Orange'nirn
County,) MIR. Williamson (nlran-
ing the plaintiH) "who had served il.
that capacity for Judge Andrew. was
iIumhert's chief clerk, ard held Il
key TO .hc safe (mcaning The sait.
Of the County Treasurer for said
county, No person in The Office,
| (meaning the said County Treas,u-
er's oillce) ''cuuid better know uf it's
management than Mr.. Williamson
If anything was wron. to his lilowl-
edge, he WAS IN q position to i,lfo ~
juuYe Andrews, WHO could have ih..
treasurer removed at pleasure. Bill
the internal workings OF Tic office arc
kept carefully concealed, until tuM,
have escaped from its carefully
guarded vaults 10 the amount ot
I S24,O0O." (,neaniug that there wa,
stolen from the safe aforesaid of lhy
I said County Treasurer the sum ul
twenty -tonr thousand dollars .lnri
when the facts are forced upon lh,
public, they are asked To believe lllu'
no one guilty bul The nniritunn,,
young man, (pcaning the said Join
l.. tlumberl) who has been taking
his official lessons under The guard
innship Of experienced tutors" (ynean.
ing The plaintiff aud the said rhad
deus G. Andrcws.) "Il,mi,eit has
\ |.