The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-03-22

money" The money was lent. He
had on two other occasions lbnt
tho Judge money in n similar way
and his Honor had always protected
him. When he was "raled" about
the money III question ho answered,
"The money is subject to tho order
of court and tho court has tho
money" Flo had mover heard any
thing further of the rule. John w
Rice, clerk of court for I.aurens
county, stated that the Judge up.
piled to him for loan of money,
mt he cfusod on the gronnd chat
all tho mohey in his haMds was of
his official deposit, Tho Judge
then insisted on having certain
sum, saying that no would pro-
tect tho clerk by passing no orders
for tho disbursement of the funds
till tho borrowed sum should be
returned, This witness also stated
that in q certain transaction tho
Judge Borrowed $500, but witness
held him accountable for but S175.
Flo went on to say that tho Judge
having stated thnt thero wero somo
ovorchargos in tho his account as
clerk, ho ''gooe tie J"dye tho 1875 to
lct TIC matter ste'ul| Jesse G.
Smith, treasurer Of Ncwberry, made
similar statement about the
Judges request for loan> accom-
panied with tho assurance that no
order Should be passed for the pay
ing onl Of tho fun ds till tho debt
was paid Other witnesses tosti-
fled TO similar transactions. Upon
tho rloso Of tho evidence on tho part
Of the managers tho accused asked
timo to prepare his defence, and
upon tho refusal of that request, his
counsel rotircl--as will be noticed
in our synopsis of Legislative pro
cocdings. This leaves tho senate to
net upon the evidence as presented
ny the managers only.
1T is very unfortunate that trial
of SO much gravity should bo per
mittod to so by default on tho part
of tho defence. Judge Moses will
Of course maintain TINT he has not
had fair trial, -and That he could
have proven lis innocence. This is
tho Wow taken by his counsel when
they withdrew from tho court. But
such ploa, however strong from Il
technical standpoint, will not avail
Judge Moses before the bar of pub
lie opinion. Tho statements Of the
several Witnesses, remaining uncon-
tradictcd, must TO tnkon rs coucl,,
sive evidence of his guilty participa-
ton i'll the acts described. We can
not believe that u number of mon
would combine to injurc tho Judge,
would combine to mako false state
monts, similar in their general scope,
and would commit wilful perjury.
Yet wo must believe nll this to hold
Judge Moses innocent. Tho char.
gos nro too specific, too minute in
their details, two consistent in their
parts, for us Ito suppose that the
accused has been tho victim of
conspiracy. They all have tho i'm.
prcss Of truth. Tho course of
Judge Moses must cause n blush ON
the check of ovcry honest man who
"ielc,l by his vote to elevate him to
tho bench. How ho could have
impressed any sensible man MS pos
scssing the necessary qualifications,
we nro ut q loss to conceive. But he
was elected because he profosscd to
bo II republican. Political con
sldcrations and political Influences
had chief part in making Mont
Somery Moses Judge. That no has
turned out no worse than tho i'm
parchment trial shows him TO bc.
must be attributed to good fortune
and not to any proper Discrimination
shownhy the Legislature in raising
him to tho bench. His fall should
be II lesson to all future legislatures,
serving to show them that integrity
and talent aro Indispensable in n
dispenser of Justice, and that where
these are wanting in an aspirant of
ono political creed, they should be
sought in tho individuals Of another.
A political judge is dauyorous
parsonage.
Now Hampshire.
Tho result of tho election in Now