The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-06-03

also examined all the witnesses
named by him ti support the truth
OF said publication, and have to say
in return, that there is no evidence
to support the charge contained 10
said article. and that not one of our
body after having heard the evi
deuee, believe there is any fOunda,
tion tor such a statement. We do
not feel disposed to characterize
the publication in any other terms
from some things disclosed to us in
the course OF this investigation, We
are inclined to think that an effort
has been made by some idle per
sou to play upon the credhlity oil
the author OF the publication, and
excite mean groundless fears.'
This body of respectable citizens
have thus branded that charge as
utterly false.
At the May term Of the circuit
court of the county of Harrison
just expiring, Judge Hamm in bis
charge to the grand jury, stated
that he had seen in a newspaper
the charge made by a member oi
the bar, that an attempt had been
or was about TO be made to assas-
sinate him, aud directed that a full
aud searching investigation should
be made as to the truthtulness ol
this publication.
In response 10 the charge so Civ
en-, the grand jury reported as fol
lows:
And if it pleases your Honor
we have inquired into the matter o.
the publication of Mr.. Ben. Ian,
Posey rejecting OIL the members o
the bar. We have bad hin
brought before the jury and asked
the following question:
"Does he Mr.. Ben. Lane Posey'
believe that a conspiracy exists il
this county with view to assassin.
ate him, by members of the bar liy.
ing in Harrison countyT
"Mr. Posey, in rerly said, thathe
respectfully declined to answer the
question as propounded, aud re.
Qnested to be referred to the court
for its decision, aud for reasons as
signed by him in a communication,
and addressed by him and deliver
ed TO the grand jury. After exam
ing said communication, aud after
due reflection the grand jury have
every reason to believe that nc
such conspiracy exists, and fee
satisfied that the gentlemen com
posing the bar aud residing in Har
rison county are all gentlemen aud
law abiding citizens"
We believe that those letters
were written and accusations made
by Ben. Lane Posey, with the full
knowledge that they were utterl,
false aud untrue, and with the sole
purpose and object of presenting
himself to this aud other communi
ties (where bis meudacious prac
tices are not knownl as an injured
person, aud with the ultimate OBJ
ject of enlisting public symapath,
aud putting money into his pocket
Your committee consider it at one,
indelicate aud improper to speak il
terms Of praise of this bar or an,
OF it's members, its standing ant
moral worth is to be found in th,
records of the counties of Harrison
Jackson and Hancock, and the re
spect and confidence of the commu
mites where they reside, and 1t,
legal abilities are displayed in th,
reports of the State of Mississippi
OF many eases appealed to the
supreme court from these counties
but we consider that the malignant
SANDERS of this unworthy membel
of an honorable profession had
reached such point that forbear
auce had ceased to be a virtue, ant
that the bar would he deficient il
self-respect if they did not condemn
in no unmeasnred terms the base
less charges of this unprinciple,
caluminator, hence the report.
Your committee charge thai
when Ben. Lane Posry camo to th,
seacoast, that all the members o
this bar, without distinction of age
or professional standing, extcndc,
to him the right hand of professional
fellowship, and welcomed him t,
his new field of labor, but th t Il
soon as be became perm n ntly 10
Gated among us, that he inaugura
ted unproiessional, l,unprovoke e,
and covert attacks upon othe
aembers of the bar, that they hav
at last been driven, in self.detense
to their present action.
In conclusion yonr committe
would suggest that these proceed
ings be published in the seacoas
and Jackson papers.
Your committee would furthe
suggest that at the next term q
the circuit court, to be held IN Hall
cock county, that motion b
placed upon the motion docket
our court to strike Ben. Lane Pose
from tue roll OF practicing attol
ncys in this State, ior reasons to b
assigned at that time.
Jos. Il. DAVIS,
X. SEAL,
ELLIOT HENDERSON,
a