Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-16

Mackey present of $4,000, through its pres
ident, DR.. Davega that be was present at
the interview, and that Judge Mackey posi-.
lively refused the present, and further refused
to allow them to make the purposed present
to Mrs. Mackey.
Another charge is, that he caused the ar
rest of woman here in Columbia on his own
warrant Mr.. Sill, trial justice here in Co.
lumbia, informs me to-day that he issued the
warrant himself and caused the arrest, upon
dispatch which he (SilD now has from
George w. Melton, intendant of the town of
Chester, asking her arrest as witness IN a
burglary case in Chester.
As to the charge of tyranny in dismissing
the grand jury of Lancaster county, l know
that W. L. DePass, ESQ.,, leading member
of the Camden bar, and democrat, who was
present at the time, states that Judge Mackey
was we'll warranted in bis action.
am assured by the most reputable wit
nesses, who are familiar with the other charges,
that they are equally unfounded. They all,
to my mind, bear the marks of the same ea-
ger interest to prejudice the public mind and
accomplish personal ends
The fact is that there has been larceny
from the county treasurer's Office in Chester
of large amount of paid but uncancelled
school teachers pay certificates. By an or
der Of Judge Mackey, committee Of the
grand jury of Chester county have been and
are now engaged in investigating this offense.
A special solicitor, democratic lawyer of
Chester, has been appointed by Judge Mack
ey to advise and assist this committee in
reaching the bottom facts. A great many
facts have already been established respect
ing this larceny which, as I am informed,
point to the guilt and completely of several
parties.
The investigation is still going forward,
and is in vigilant and trustworthy hands. 1t
is even said that member Of Judge Mackey's
family may be involved; but still, under
Judge Mackeys ruling, the investigation goes
on, and the truth is likely soon to be made
known.
Now, / ask, is it not remarkable that at
such moment this movement against Judge
Mackey should be started? No charges we're
made, so far as know, till the lines of this
investigation began to close in around GER
tain parties. Is there any reason to believe
that the grand jury of Chester county will
not do their duty?
/ cannot resist the conviction that the at
tack on Judge Mackey is movement to de-
feat Justice in Chester, and that it ought not
to receive the countenance of any man who
wishes to see justice DONE / am not cham.
pion of Judge Mackey except when think
I see him doing bis duty, and then am his
champion. He is impetuous, and at times er-
ratio in his manner of doing things, but he is
fearless, and 1 believe just in the administra-
tion of his Office; and when l see him pur.
sued by such charges as these, and at time
when he is engaged, through the agencies of
the proper officers of the law, in ferretting
out an audacious conspiracy to carry out and
cover up great crime, I take my place, as in
duty bound, at his side, and deplore and
oppose any movement to arrest his arm or
assai his judicial character. A great effort
was made to prejudice my mind against
Judge Mackey in advance in this matter, and
have waited till the movement developed
itself before holding or expressing any deci-
ded opinion, but l now have such evidences
from many sources as satisfy me that the
charges are grossly unjust and unfounded and
put forward from the worst of motives.
The publication of the above interview i'm
PEELED Mr.. Hamilton to print lengthy card,
addressed to the Governor, in which he excepts
to "intemperate and abusive language of the
Governor, directed to himself, and reiterates
the charges against Judge Mackey as con-
tanned in the circular; with the exception OF
the case of Mahaley DeGrafenreid, whose ar.
rest, he has since learned, was caused by a
warrant issued by trial justice Sill, of Colum-
bia The card of Mr.. Hamilton is strong
argument in support of the charges brought
up against Judge Mackey, and the temper in
which it is conceived can best be judged by
the following paragraphs:
T am member of the bar, practicing my pro-
fession faithfully and honestly, I hope. When
| Judge Mackey was elected to the bench of the
Sixth Circuit from his antecedents, as brought to
us from those who knew him, it was with real ap-
prehenson that the members of the bar COM
| menced the discharge of their duties before him.
| more unfit man could not have been chosen.
He is violent partisan, and has carried this Pc
culiarity into bis administration Of justice, and
| holding such power as Judge does, it has never
been safe that he should be entrusted for one mo-
ment with it. He has overawed the people (par-
ticularly the colored peope) by his arbitrary ex-
ercise Of authority, 80 that may almostsay there
is reign of terror, at least, in Chester county.
He is arrestng magistrate, judge, jury and solic-
| itor, in one. He directs every prosecution from
its inception to landing the accused either in the
penitentiary, or if he happens to take freak for
acquittal to send him forth "unwhpt OF justice"
I have sat by, silent spectator, for more than
three years. and witnessed the tearing down of
all the Safeguards of liberty at the hands of iu
| dicial officer, before whom had to make my
bread. AS the members Of the bar are the mouth
pieces of public opinion, their silence has saved
! Judge Mackey up to this time-not that we have
not freely discussed among ourselves all the
charges which have been put In print. Self-in-
terest has closed our mouths, but have for
long time felt that every day stood by, looked
on and concealed what knew, was loss of self
respect on my part and that of all my brethren of
the bar. have no personal grievances to COM
plain of at his hands; do not remember sim
gle instance where he has ever attempted to treat
me with disrespect although have often heard
him very offensive and tyrannical to other men,
bers of the bar. have been 80 fortunate as to
be very successful with my cases before him.
But as q law abiding citizen, have come to the
conclusion that either Judge Mackey must be re-
moved from Office, or we will have trouble in the
! Sixth Circuit.
In the meantime Judge Mackey's pen has
not been idle He has written and published
in the Columbia papers a lengthy statement
to the public, reviewing a number of his off:
cial acts which form the base of the charges
made against him, and concludes in the fol-
lowing strain:
Time will not permit me to answer the charges
against me in detail. Not one of them that i'm
putes to me corrupt act or motive has any foun>
dation in fact, and the series Is crowned fifty by
the affidavit of Mahaley DeGraffenreid, notorious
prostitute of the city of Columbia, who is now
under recognizancet to answer in the Court of Ses
sons of Chester for the crime Of burglary and lar
ceny. B. G. Yocom seeks to substitute an i'm