Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-01-16

indexes of the office" Concerning the past
and present charges for indexing deeds and
other instruments as stated in late issue of
this paper, we win say for Mt PretTmans
benefit that our information was derived
from his oldest and most experienced& deputy
Mr.. Geo. r. Braddock. Thus the only ass
sertions on which Mr.. Prettyman bases his
charge of libel are proven, and the SENTI-
MEL stands fully vindicated.
Shakespeare was certainly man of far
seeing genius" and had he lived in this age
and been enlightened by an acquaintance
with our Clerk, he would have made a
character called Buster, and Shylock de-
manding too pounds Of flesh, when only
one was nominated in the bond.
We are not surprised that Mr.. Prettyman
called our editorial libel when in the same
article he accuses the highest Court 10 the
State of Ringing the case upon an absArdity,
of being ignorant Of the law, and says, with
sneer, that the Court of Appeals has taken
the trouble to mention prominent fact in
the record that he has been punished by
an oppressive and unjust opinion; that he
is prominently better fitted TO judge of the
law than the Court Of Appeals because he
had examined the law, thinks that by refer
ence to two sections Of the Constitution
which the Court OF Appeals had presented TO
them, he has disposed Of some of the discus
sion of that learned body ind that the Court
Of Appeals was misled Vy the attorneys
brief To what are such imbecle rawlings to
be ascribed but to the frenzy and rage Of
disappointment? J
II Mr.. Prettyman's idea OF the law IL
correct, the HASH three ycssgu MI. ~,
ning's time was the only period during
which any Of his predecessors served under
the same law that Mr.. Prettyman has held
under, yet Mr.. Prettyman, for his own pur-
pose, cites the example of all his predecessors
acting under laws Entirely different.
IL is TO be regretted that proceedings Of a
like kind were not instituted fifty years ago
Had this been done, we should have fallen
upon more virtuous and more prosperous
times. We congratulate ourselves, however
that in our day and generation citizen OF
the county has been found bold enough 10
assert the peoples rights, and that the con-
test has been brought to successful issue
Official negligence and greed have been re-
buked. illegal taxation which would other
wise have been indefinitely prolonged has
been arrested, and the needed lesson has
been taught that the people have rights
which even public officials are bound TO re-
spectS l1BG6 dT&
What Mr. Peters motives Were in the
prosecution of this suit it is not our bust
ness to inquire That his efforts have re-
suited in great good to the county and State,
no sane man can doubt. Hence, we believe
that the impulses which animated him in
this matter were pure and patriotic. The
community at large will accept these bene-
fits with gratitude, nor disregard the old adj
age and look the gift-horse in the mouth.
In closing this article, we may be per-
mitted To say that, from what we learn from
the expressed opinion of the public, there is
assleast one sentence in Mr. Prettyman's
letter Mat viii meet with the approval of a
large majority of our people, and that is the
one in which he announces his determine.
ton not again to be candidate for the office
which he has for 80 many wears enioyed.