The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-17
The Great Libel Suit.
STATE OF SoUTn CAROLINA,
; County OF ORANGEBURG,
COMMON PLEAS,

| COUNTY OF FORANGEBURG, }
IN THE COMMON PLEAS.
PRELUDE.
| Barnabns Williamson, Plaintiff, rs.
I Alonzo Webster and Eugene a.
Webster, defendants.
The plaintiff, complaining Of the
defendants alleges:
First, For First cause IF 1Action !.
j. That the plaintiff, prior TO Tie
time of the commission Of the gricv-
ances hereinafter mentioned, had
been engaged in business in the town
and County Of Orangcburg in the
said State MS clerk in the Office oil
john L. Iumbcrt, who was then the
Country Treasurer for the County
rs aforesaid.
III. That at the time Of the COM
mission of the said grievances, the
plaintiff was engaged in business in
the said town and county, as clerk in
the Office Of John IL. Livingston,
Esq, who was then, aud still is, tile
County Treasurer for The county
aforesaid.
| III. That until the commission OF
the said grievances, the plaintiff had
always maintaiued II good reputation
for honesty and integrity, and had
not been guilty OF any Of The offences
charged against him in the libel here
matter set forth.
w. That the success of the plant
if in his business :,s 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 proprie-
tor, and the defendant, AloEzo Web
ster, was the publisher Of the Free
Citizen, a newspaper published i'll the
town Of Orangeburg, in the county
and State aforesaid.
[FIRST VERSE.l
vi. That on the thirteenth day Of
January, A. d. 1875, the defendants
maliciously composed and published,
concerning the plaintiff, in the said
newspaper, q certain article, contain
ing the false and defamitory matter
following, to wit:
"An inexperienced young man
4 (meaning tliesaid John l.. Ilumhcrt,
sswas appointed througbaJudgc An
: z7ttteifeWss ,neanfng 'ffnsnJeus G. a"
Z tlrcWs, then and now State Senate
for said county ,sto The responsible,
,,potition Of treasurer (neailinf
County Treasurer for Orangeb,ir!
County,) "blr. Williamson (mcan
ing the plaintifD "wlo had served i,
that capacity for Judge Andrew. wa.
Humhert's chief clerk, and held !
key to the safe," (mcaring the satt
of the County Treasurer for suit
county.) No person in the Office
(mcaning the said County Tressssr
er's oflice) ''could better know of It's
management than Mr.. Williamson
| If anything was wrong to his kpowl
edge, he was in q position to info; II
5Jndge Andrews, who could have tic
treasurer removed at pleasure. BIZ
the internal workings of the office arr
kept carefully concealed, until fund,
! have escaped from it's carefully
3fguarded vaults 10 the amount 8
$24, 900" (neaniDg that there WI:
stolen from tile safe aforesaid of tlit
2 said County Treasurer the SUN o
twenty-fOur thousand dullars.) 'rhci
when tile facis are forced upon lh-
public, they are asked To believe tia
I no one guilty but the nntortunnt,
young man, (mcaning the said Jo!,
4 q. uumberl) who has been lalSins
his official lessons under tbs guard
|ianship Of experienced tutors" Cnean
ling The plaintiff and The said ThAd
deus G. Anirews.) "Ilumhert has
been promised exemption from pun.