The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-03-16
THE CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE
MACKEY.

THE CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE
MACKEY.
A printed circular was freely circulated
in Columbia, and placed upon the meni-
bers' desks in the House of Representa-
tives, making the following charges
against Judge Mackey:
l. Using his Office for political ends,
by threatening to imprison certain parties
who opposed him in political conven-
tion in Chester. 2. Prostituting his Of
fee by reviving prosecutions against al
legged ku-klux in York county, and then
causing such prosecutions to be discon-
tinued upon payment, by the accused, of
certain sums of money to the prosecutors
and the Solicitor. 8. Borrowing money
from officers of his court without any in
tention or ability to repay, and using his
official power to deter them from de-
manding payment. 4. Threatening to
send Col. w. A. Walker, q lawyer of
Chester, to Jail, without cause and with
out authority. S. Threatening a grand
jury at Lancaster, dismissing them from
court, and usurping their authority.
6. Causing the prosecution of Dublin j.
Walker, Senator from Chester, from per-
sonal enmity, and intimidating the jury
in that case. 7. Prosecuting B. G. Can
non, at Chester, and sending him to the
penitentiary for one year, from personal
enmity. 8. Corruptly procuring the
prosecution of John Lilly, at Chester, at
September term, 1872. 9. Causing the
arraignment and trial of John Lilly, il
February, 1876, before court and jury
sitting on the case without authority.
10. Corruptly procuring the prosecution
of Pleasant Nowland on the 25th of Feb
ruaty, 1876, for conspiracy to defraud, to
screen his brother-in-law, F. B. Lloyd,
school commissioner of Chester, from
prosecution for like offence. IL. Wis
fting the Chester Jail and having secret
interview with q prisoner awaiting SEN
tence, with view to screen F. B. Lloyd
from prosecution. ~. Inhumauly per-
mitting the execution of Stephen Young
for murder, he having been tried before
the court of sessions for Chester at the
January term, 1876, when the Judge was
notified that the jury which tried the
case was totally illegal. 13. Corruptly
endeavoring to procure bribe for his
decision affirming the validity of the
bonds subscribed by the county commits
sioners of York in aid of the Chester
and Lenoir Railroad. IA. Illegally caus-
ing the arrest of Mahaley DeGrafenreid
in Columbia. Is. Attempting to suborn
Mahaley DeGraffenreid to commit per-
jury, as set forth in certain affidavit of
that woman.
While many rumors were aAoat in Col
umbia, but before the above charges were
put in print, the editor of the Union
Herald sought an interview with Govern
or Chamberlain, to obtain from him an
expression of his views upon the SUBJ
iect The Governor expressed himself as
strongly of the belief that the charges
were the fruit of partisan and personal
malice. Of the charge of having per-
mitted the execution of Stephen Young,
he said he had been informed by Mr.
Brice, the condemned mans counsel, that
he had examined the. whole question of
the illegality Of the jury, and was con-
vinced that It had no foundation in law
or fact, and that no man ever had fairer
trial than Young. Regarding the charge
of having received bribe from the Ches-
ter and Lenoir' Railroad Company, the
Governor stated that Mr.. Brice had in
formed him that he himself was present
when DR.. Davega, the president of the
road, under instructions from the board
of directors, offered Judge Mackey a
present of 50, 1000 for his services in pro-
curing county subscriptions in North
Carolina; that the Judge peremptorily
declined the gift, and likewise refused to
allow the present to be made to his wife.
Of the charge of having arrested woman
in Columbia of his own warrant, the
Governor stated that he had been in
formed by Trial Justice Sill, of that city,
that he himself had issued the warrant.
As to the Lancaster affair, Governor
Chamberlain says: "I know that W. L.
DePass, Esq, a leading member of the
Camden Bar, and Democrat, who was
present at the time, states that Judge
Mackey was we'll warranted in his action"
The Governor concluded by saying that
he believed that the charges were due to
the Judges efforts to reach the bottom
of the school-certifcate frauds in Chester
county.
S. P. Hamilton, ESQ.,, q member of
the Chester bar, has addressed to the
Governor letter in reply to the state
ments made by his excellency in the in
terview above mentioned. He comments
in severe terms upon the Governors
course in the matter, and gives at length
the grounds of his opposition to Judge
Mackey-which are substantially those
set forth in the circular. He states that
the charges he makes can be established
by the testimony of gentlemen of the
highest character. He states that he
was not the author of the charge of un-
lawfully arresting Mahaley DeGraffen-
reid, that he has since seen Sill's warrant,
and that she WAS an entirely innocent
woman.
Judge Mackey also issued o circular,
which was distributed among the mem.
bers of the Legislature, in which he de-
nies, as infamously false, all the charges
made in the circular above quoted. He
states that the opposition to him comes
from Yocum, who fears being punished
for his participation in the school-certii-
cate frauds. BE recites at length the
circumstances of the frauds, an account
of which we have already given. he
concludes by saying: "I confidently
await the action of the house. protesting
against the appointment of the so.called
Committee of investigation which, un.
der its rules, hears only the accuser and his
witnesses, and renders its judgment upon
the accused unheard."
The citizens of Lancaster recently held
an indignation meeting on the subject of
the Judges recent action towards the
grand jury at that place, passed resolu-
tions strongly condemning his course,
and appointed committee to proceed to
Columbia and lay the matter before the
Governor and the Legislature Winns-