The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-05-18
EN- CHIEF JUSTItE wsL-
uEAMS
His Complaints Against the HEX
man Courier,

man Courier,
The Nashville american Of Wednesday,
the 10th instant, publishes u letter FROM
Judge r. K. Williams, dated Paduoah,
ny, May 14h Pronouncing an artie.e
which appeared in the Hickman CouaIEG
in it's issue of May /. about himself, az
malicious, false, and libe GUS
Judge Williams in this communication
prints n letter, addressed to the editor OF
the Hickman COURIEa under date OF May
10, demanding responsible authority for
the publication which had appeared ia
the COURIER, aud stating that up to that
date, (the l4th) he chad not heard from
him. The actual date of said letter was
The 9Th Of May, and on tie 9Th the editor
of The COURIER replied to Judge Williams
note, respectfully proffering to give to
him the authority upon which the article
/ in the COURIER was basel, disclaiming
any personal knowledge or the least de-
sire to injure or misrepsent, but that the
/ letters in our possession proposed ito
Prore every statement therein made,
and that we regarded said authority M
reliable aud ample for our protection; and
at the same time rendering to him the un-
restricted use Of our columns for any
proper vindicatiOn. Judge Williams re-
| piled under date of May TO- acknociedg
ing The receipt of our letter. Hence il np-
pears to us, unaccountable, that he should
write TO the Americda on the 18th, stating
that up to that date, he had not heard
from Ii is possible, if his letter of
the 9TH had have ELECTED letter of re-
traction from US, it would have appeared
i'm his communication to the Nashville
Amertedn
The local item in the CCURrEs, to which
Judge Williams so grievously objects, was
gathered precisely other items OF the
same nature, and could have been prompt
Ell by no desire TO 10 injustice to any Of the
parties. We have no interest in the mat
ter now or then, except 80 lar as is nee
essary for the protection OF the veracity
of our publication, aud for the protection
of public morals-a duty incumbent on
all journalists.
The article in the CouRrER, which is
pronounced malicious, false, and libel
lous, was local. paragraph. stating that
Mrs. r. X. Williams had brought suit
against R. X. Williams. for alimony, and
that the suit involved high degree Of
interest owing to the high standing of
the parties; that sometime since Judge
Williams had been tried and pronounced
deranged, and sent TO the asylum At
D -. g h.s
leased from the asylum, he went to Utah,
and procured a divorce from his wife
the plaintiff in the suit alluded to- That,
then returning to Kontucky, he proceeded
to Mississippi aud was there married TO
another woman, with whom he is now
living as rueu and wife in the city OF
, Paducnh The local paragraph gave
these statements as hearsoy closing with
the opinion, II all these rumors are true
that Tine most eharita BILE view OF tht
case is, that h Is aAI has oeeu crazy a
through the whole matter and that Il
they were true. 1T was said that he was
good for a term Of years in the peniten-
Iiary.
wat part or parts, in that article,
Judge Williams, pronounces malicious
false ani libelous' he has never yet
e stated; aud We do not know so as to set
hun Alright il misrepreseuted.
That Ms. il. IL. iiiians did sue him
in the Graves Circuit Court, for alimony.
his own letter TO the Nashville Ame1c5a
admits; aud of course the SUIT is matter
ot record.
That he was tried, and pronounced de-
/ ranged ny jury of his county men and
sent TO the asylum At Hopkinsville, -
Also matter OF record; and we not only
saw IT IN the papers OI that date, Ou
talked to men pr--ent at the sad trial
That he did go to Utah aud obtain 4
divorce through me courts there, we have
never heard disputeu Ca denIed-not even
by himself
That he did 60 to Mississippi and there
marry anOther womVn, il - we'll know a
fact. the marriage being printed in the
papers and that lie Is now living VITA
her the city OF PIiucaa is qLally AS
true aud we'll known.
Where then - the libelons part Of th'
local paragraph in the Hickman COrRIEal
Even at tins writing. our pen Is TEN pere d
with sympathy, less By pOssIU1tity We
might do an injustice 10 the wreck of a
once proud and able old man, if misfor
tune should he interpreted as Grim e
But, his assault upon us in the public
prints, demands that should give
something of justification AMI vindIca-
> ter. Our article was gathered not only
AS articles of such nature are usually
, gathered by newspapers, but il suppOrte,
by letters now IN our possession, from
source any reasonable man might wei
pronounce crediIa6le and reliable.
] One of these letters says There i
e nothing in that local but the truth.
Stand by what you have published. Thu
sworn testimony of the most respectah l'
: persons in Graves county, shows you
have published nothing but the truth.
e Again, another letter of different date
: says: 'If he (]uIge Willirms) does
make war upon you, let me know. aud
will put you ia possession of All the facts
By Witnesses who are ui.-.mp acha able, ant
these facts are sufficient to lam him for
ever in the estimation of all respectable
right thinking persons, and are muet
stronger aud more damaging to him III IN
r those published by you. Those published
by you are the mild .facts
We have written for authority 70 pub.
lsh these letters in full with the testi
mony offered, if necessary, aud viii
doubtless have permission by our mex
issue.
The paragraph first printed in thu
COURIER was intended AS current loca
news item, with no more or further in
tent The matter of divorces, suits
/ published by newspapers the different
. stages aud results of such acti ions noted
and in accordance with this custom tn
COURIER published said article. We hav'
no desire to do Jud se Williams or any on
else the least injustice in any particular
and will not Knowingly; but if the caus,
u of truth and public morals demands Iha
his actions shall be published the CoUR
2 TER will not shrink from its duty as al
e independent journal. The fact that he ha
been Chief Justice of the State of Ken
lucky, and for years occupied high an,
prom nent position in o lr Common wealth
shall not shield him if his actions deserve
public censure. These relations are
7 published III regard TO farmers mer-
: chants, mechanics, and people III the or
binary walks of life, aud why not in re
gard TO Judge Williams?
If he is innocent, if he is the victim oil
misfortune, or of wrong, let his viniica-
tiun appear co-extensive with his fame
and be read by all who knew aud trusted
o him. The prominence of a mans character
/ should not invite calun and neither
4 should it deter one from exposing wrong
doings. The CoURIER will treat Judg,
Williams precisely as any other citizen
s without prejudice, fear, ia or or affection