The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-03-23
PICKENS G. H., S. c.:
Thursday. March 28, 1876
Editorial Correspondence

COLUMBIA, .. u, March II, 1875.
Dear Sentinel: In my last letter l
spoke Of the charges against the Off
DIAL conduct of Judge Mackey, as we'll
as his reply to them. On Saturday
last resolution looking to an inves-
tigation was introduced, but was in.
definitely postponed by very largo
majority. The following extract from
the journal of the House explains the
position l held on the questions:
"Mr. Bradley stated that on account
OF Illness he was absent from the
House on Saturday last when the vote
on tho question of indefinitely post
ponng the resolution to investigate
the official conduct Of Judge #. J.
Mackey was taken, but had he boon
present he would have voted "no."
All tho other Conservatives present,
except Ferguson of GreenviIle, voted
in favor Of indefinite postponemont.
They doubtless acted consccntiousy,
and as they thought for the best in
terest of the State, but I disagreed
with them, and still think his course
on che bench should receive the clos
-ost and most thorough investigation.
His excessive anxiety to provont in
vostigation is, in my opinion, strong
evidence of his guilt. The cry was
that tho charges had been brought by
criminals and other parties who de-
sired to prevent a judicial invcstlga-
tion of their official conduct, tho one
for revenge and the other for protec-
tion. This, think, very weak and
insufficient defense, when the fact is
taken into consideration that many
of tho most honorable and worthy CIT.
iHens in his Circuit were among the
Snost active and determined of his
accusers. A delegation of prominent
gentlemen from Lancaster County,
appointed at an Indignation meeting
heid TO consider lis action in discharg.
ing tho Grand Jury of the County,
because they would not find u bill ac>
cording to his dictation, arrived in
Columbia the othor day, and on
Thursday last met most of the Con-
eervative members at tho Columbia
Hotel, in order to acquaint them fully
of oil the facts in the case. His ac-
tion in discharging the Grand Jury
is certainly most tyrannical and un.
precodentod one, but there arc others
OF more grave and damaging char
actor, one Of which [ will here relate.
which it is asserted, is susceptible of
proof, as an illustration of tho charac>
ter of many Of the charges brought
against him. At recent term of
COURT Tor Lancaster County, two ne
grocs were tried for some criminal
offense, the testimony sufficiently
strong to convict, but Mackey pers
emptorially ordered the jury to find
verdict of "not guilty" Tho Jury
retired, but not returning as carly as
he thought they should, he instructed
tho Sheriff to go to tho room and as
certain what was tho matter. The
foreman informed him that there was
some difference Of opinion amongst
thom. Tho Shcriff reported tho fact
to the Judge, who directed that tho
foreman be brought before him. The
foreman appeared before his Honor
who directed him to return to the
jury room, and bring verdict of not
guilty, and if any membor of the jury
refused to sign it, to report him and
ho would send him to jail. lie then
ordered tho prisoners to stand up, and
discharged them before the verdict of
tho jury had been rendered. This
action, ] am informed, by good law.
yers, is unprecedented in tho history
of any judicial proceedings, and is