The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-03-08
The Question Settled at last.

Governor Hampton has at last gain.
ed recogniticn by the Supreme Court
Judge Moses, Chief Justice, it will
be remembered, wits stricken down
with paralysis before the case was de-
termined, but Associate Justices Will
lard and Wright made up and fled an
opinion which was to have been deliv~
cred on last Friday, recognizing
Hampton as Governor, and ordering
the prisoner Tilda Norris, (the convict
pardoned by Governor Hampton) dis
charged. But before the day arrived
the Radical chiefs got hold of Wright
and bulldozed him into an attempt to
reverse his decision. He wrote an
other decision, dictated by Chambers
lain and company, and sent it to the
Clerk Of the Supreme Court unsigned,
accompanied by note stating that he
had concluded to revoke his former
decision. This, Judge Willard decid>
ed, could not be done without his con-
currence, and hence the first opoinion,
recognizing Hampton, stands and
cannot be revoked without tho con-
currence of majority of the Court
on new case. We clip the following
from the Columbia Register:
"At 1915 yesterday, Judge Willard
entered the court room and took his
scat upon the bench. He stated that
he had hoped TO be able 10 present his
viows in support of the order of this
court this morning, but that the abb
senco of Judge Wright prevented a
session of tho court. The reason of
Judge Wright's absence was unknown.
He had been seen in town yesterday.
Willard had instructed tho Shoriff to
call at Wright's house, and was there
informed that the Judge had not been
seen since yesterday morning, and
that his whereabouts were unknown.
Jucgo Willard stated further that he
would reduce his opinion TO writing
and file tho same with tho Clerk, and
thcreupon adjourned tho court, until
Monday morning at II o'clock.
The Clerk of tho Court thereupop
furnished Col. Parmele, the Suporin>
tondcnt of the Penitcntiary, with tho
order signed by Judges Willard and
Wright, directing him to discharge tho
prisoner, Tilda Norris, under the par>
don of Gov. Hampton. The Clerk
also provided statement that Judge
Wright had, aftor the order was made
and filed, left him With statement
that he had concluded to revoke his
previous decision, but that this was
done without the sanction Of the pre-
siding Justice.
1t is understood that Col. Parmoo
will discharge the prisoner as directed
by tho court. Judge Wright has ovi-
dently left tho city. 1t is stated that
a strong belicf prevails that ho will
not return. There was accompanying
the statement above referred to OF
Judge Wright lengthy opinion, un-
signed, which it is suid was tho work
of Chamberlain. 1t bears traces of
his handiwork. Tho scheme which
was concocted with diabolical skill,
evidently contemplating an expected
recognition of the Chamberlain gov
ernmcnt at Washington. based upon
a disagreement of tho court. But it
has signally failod. The court, as
such, has declared tho law to be that
Wade Hampton is Governor, and no
action of single Judge can change
the result, whatever considerations
have moved him TO bo guilty of so
stullifying q transaction.
Since writing Lho above, we are
positively informed that Tilda Norris
has been released.
The pretended revoking or second
opinion of Judge Wright was not
signod."