Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-26

While there is much bribery Of Jurors and
Witnesses by shreWd and unscI upulous law
yers, it should be remembered that the couu.
try is also rife with the Islander and defams.
ton Of lis best citizens. The people Of Ten.
nessee should be slow in forming and express
ing an opinion as TO the guilt of the Hon. John
r. Garner, who has recently been indicted in
Robertson county for subornation. Ga ac-
count of the high character which be
has heretofore sustained, the opinion pre-
walls with intelligent men in every
section OF the State that he is inno-
cent and that the indictment has been in
spired by malice. A leadiug citizen of
Nashville, in brief letter to the APPEAL,
says: Gen. Garner mas been indicted, but
am certain, beth from his statements and those
oil partiSs residing near Springfield, that
the charges are false and malicious, and
are the result OF bad feeling engendered in
the Hopsins-Nuckols case. I au certain
that Gen. Garner will fully vindicate himself
as soon as opportunity offers." The Chstts-
nOoga Times, which generally assails its po-
litical opponents, manifests a disposition to
do Judge Garner justice. 1t says:
Judge John Z. Garner whose Indictment was
reported in our Spring. field special printed yester
day, has long been prominent citizen and lead
ing lawyer Of Robertson county, and has been
most favOrtbly known over the State. He has sat
as special judge on the supreme bench, aud ac-
Quilted himself with decided credit. He
made member OF the Referee Court by unani-
NOUS vote of the Supreme Judges. His record has
been without stain. The Hon. ]. B. Cooke, who
knows Judge Garner thoroughly, is of opinion the
AuClClIueuL proceed from error OF Judgment
and malice There will be few VINO are unpreju-
diced that will believe a man OF Gamers years
reputation and experience has all al once become
a cOnspirator and subOrner of perjury. A suspen-
sion of public judgment in his case until the de-
PENDANT can be fully heard, is clearly in order.
The killing of Nuckols by Hopkins, iu Rob
ertson county, created great excitement and
intense bitterness. The slayer and the slain
were men of means and prominent in the
community. Hopkins employed the ablest
legal talent of The State, and conspicuous
among the array was Judge Garner. The
prosecution was surprised by the proof ad-
duced on trial by the defense. Hopkins was
acquitted, and there is consequently great
bitterness and malignity on the part of the
friends Of Nuckols. The indictment OF
Judge Garner has been inspired by this hate
and malevolence. Conscious of the recti-
tude of every act OF bic life, it ia not surpris
ing that he is calm and serene amidst this
storm of oblOquy. He hiss lived clean life
No spot stains the brightness of his name, nd
possessing competency, nc avarioe. Now
rapidly descending the sober down hill OF life
we predict he will triumphautly pass through
r. the ordeal OF adversely and come out of the
fiery crucible through which he is passing
pure as refined gold. Knowing John S. G ar
ner as We do, the blameless purity Of his lif,
how be ia worshiped by his nsighbors wbe
have known him from his boy hood-his SCORE
for everything dishonorable, and the kind
ness and charity of his heart, We have nc
doubt Of his complete refutalfon of every
allegation which slapssf and maIignity may
hurl at his aussllied name. He VIII
triumph. Srer calumny, but it is mourn
fuI-tding TO see him put to his defense.
That one who has lived in a community
to nearly the limit of the allotted time
prominent, industrious, nobly wearing the
white flower Of blameless life," always ex-
hibiiing that sensitiveness of honor which
feels stain like wound" should be won
tonly and cruelty maligned is indeed mis-
cradle misfortune which no vindication Of
the accused can rerve as a recompense. The
sad way in which such men take up their
weapons of defense, as II convinced of the
worthlessne.s of human opinion and the for
getfulnese of duty faithfully performed and
weary of the world and its vanity aud ve1.
atious, conveys in itself serious lesson to
those who are striving after success aDc
the respect Of their fellow men. But we be
lieve the honorable record OF long life spenl
in the public service is safe refuge for
Judge Garner during the storm of calumny.
All that his friends ask is that the public
wait for his vindicatiop, and they will nc I
hove to Wsit long.