The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-08
Contempt of Court.

ABBEflhiE, n1hy 1. w . tA' '|"ho'
Esq, d member of the Abbeville bar
living at Greenwood, has been arrested
and committed 10 the county Jail by
Trial Justice Tarrant for contempt of
court. Mr.. Blake refuses to pay fines.
The following are the papers placed in
the sheriff's hands:
Rule for contempt of Court by W. *.
Blake. To the sheriff of Atbeville or
any lawful constable: These are 10
require you to arrest w. X. Blake, re.
quiring him 10 appear before me and
show cause why he should not be pun.
ished for contempt of the Court. Sign
ed Joe r. Tarraut, 7. j.
TO the sheriff Of Abbeville County or
any lawful constable: These are to re-
qure you to take charge of w. K. Blake
and see that the sentence Of the Court is
carried out. If he should fail to pay
said fine imposed for contempt, the pen
atty of twelve hours Imprisonment fol-
lows. Signed: John r. Tarrant, I. j.
Second rule for contempt in answering
to the first rule, and added insult to inj
ry by further contempt abusive Of the
Court openly and bidding defiance to my
authority in ruling him. He sneeringly
said: Eyes, you are clothed with au-
thority md try to exercise it over me, but
I'll show you, sir; lin hostile manner
and de6antly) I'll sbow.you whoi right"
The second offence is decidedly more
insulting than the first. Signed: John
r. Tarrant, T. ].
The third offence tells me to help my
self. I'll go to the higher court. | fine
W. K. Blake ten dollars and cost of rule
or twelve hours Imprisonment in prison
for each offence. Signed u. R. Tarrant,
T. J.
The grammar and spelling are Tar
rants. Mr.. Blake's cause was argued on
habeas corpus before Judge Cothran by
Messrs. Benet and Lee on the ground OF
the judgment being grossly defective
The Judge granted that it was Irregular
but not defective, and said that the trial
Justice was the supreme judge of what
was or was not contempt i'll his court:
Being matter of discretion he could
not interfere to prevent the execution OF
the arrest sentence.
Mr.. Blake will probably turn the tables
on Tarrant by having him indicted ior
oppression in Office.
Tarrant not only committed Mr.. Blake,
but disbarred him by ordering him to
leave his court and never. appear there
again. Mr. Blake is a lawyer OF long
standing, about fifty years old. Squire
Tarrant is over seventy.-Dispatch 10
Nems and Courier.
Mr.. BlnlSe's Justification.
GREENWOOD S. c., May 8, 1854.
70 the Editor Of the News and Courier ::
Your issue of the I'd instant contains q
statement of my arrest and Imprisonment
under order of Trial Justice.J. r. Tarrant
for contempt of his court. This, without
explanation, places me before your read
ers in an unenviable light. 1t is the
highest duty of the citizen to obey the
law, and under this conviction of duty l.
bowed submissively to the authority
vested ip the Courts of the State, prefer,
ring the consciousness of being obedient
to authority rather than resent its abuse
and arbitrary exercise.
Please do me the justice to publish the
accompanying certificate of the jurors, all
Of whom arc white men, and rank among
our best citizens. w. K. BLAKE.
CERTIFICATE OF JURORS.
We, the undersigned jurors empanelled
and sworn to Try the State against W. D..
Melton, indicted for an assault and bat
tery with intent to kill, do certify that
the cause for which w. K. Blake, attor.
ney for defendant, was held in contempt
by Trial Justice j. r. Tarrant was o
simple request, addressed in respectful
language and manner to the Trial Justice,
that his own witness, on his direct exami-
nation, might be required to reslate his
testimony, so that the attorney might
know whether he understood his witness
as the Trial Justice understood him; to
which the Trial Justice replied, that he
had recorded the statement of witness as
be understood him, and it did not matter
whether the attorney understood him or
not. When Mr.. Blake insisted on his
right to understand his witness the Trial
Justice arose from his seat, and in an
angry tone said: 1--WE never could agree
in Court, and rule you for contempt"
A. McNeill, foreman I. n. Parks, j..
A. Homer, j. f. Watson, W. G. Straw
horn, J. H. Oldham.