The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-07-11
DAVE TUCKER
Rises TO Explain and Corrects the Records.

Enrrog MANNING T1MEs:-All the other
fellows have had their say who were struck
by the Grand Jurys bat, and reckon it's
about time for me to explain, or my silence
might be taken as an admission of guilt Of
the grave charges the Grand Jury brought
against me in their recent Presentment to
the last term of the court.
Inever was more surprised and mortified
in my life when they presented me thusly:
..We regret to present Dave Tucker, cit
izen of this county, for general lazlness, 1t
having come to the knowledge of this jury
that he spends the greater part of his time
fishing in the mill pond, thereby allowing
the grass by his neglect to destroy his crops.
Such conduct is very reprehenslble, and
tends to encourage habits OF idleness IN the
young and rising generations"
This foul blot upon my character repel
as vile SANDER on my good name that was
once, until like fool ran for an Office two
wears ago when it was torn all to smash by
my opponent; but since then l have sorter
patched it up somewhat, and don't want
these patches to rip by your presentment.
While will not exactly say your state
ment is false in every particular, from
Dan to Besheeba, yet it plays sad havoc with
the truth.
do not care to tackel Grand Jury: it's
a dangerous experiment and one to be
avoided, for they always go loaded, and you
don't know when and where the firing is to
begin and when it will cease. Therefore l
am disposed to deal gently with them, yet l
must defend myself but will do so in the
mildest terms possible.
must confess gentlemen, that there is a
little-just little truth in what you say. It
appears to me that I am constitutonally
averse to hoeing cotton in the hot SUI.
This is not laziness, however, only aperson-
al indifference to manual labor. It is so e1-
hileratng to rest in the shade when you are
not particularly tired, enjoying the balmy
breezes and inhaling the sweet fragrance Of
the rose and wild honey-suckle. These in
noceot passtimes however do not prevent
the grass from growing, and my observa-
tions lead me to the conclusion that It's the
most prolific crop in existence. When con-
templating it's rapid and extensive growth 1
oftimes have far off wish that every sprig
of it was confined exclusively to the Desert
of Sahara, at least that portion that I have
to cultivate
But about this character business. Cen
tlemen, I can't see where there is any idle
ness in fishing. It is generally the hardest
kind of work. I have frequently Dug up q
quarter Of az acre of branch land in good
order to plant rice hunting worms, then
fshed hard all day and only caught IA couple
of eels and cat fish. On the other hand it
requires eternal vigilance" and much pa
tience to rope in respectable mess Of fish,
and for the life of me can't see where the
charge of laziness comes in. Any one who
secures by his own exertion string ofpike
and jack pays double price tor them in
down right hard work.
And now, gentlemen, what effect my fish
ing has on the industrial habits of the
young and rising generation" I can't see,
for the greatest torment have when fishing
is parcel Of boys fishing around me.
They catch nothing and assist others in do
ing the same thing. Irecon, though, they
get lots fun out of it.
Then if their habits are no more contain
mated than by the example set before them
by my fishing predict that they one and
all will at no distant day fill responsible
positions il the State from Constable down
to Governor.
Now, gentlemen, having fully vindicated
myself to my entire satisfaction from the
vile aspersions charged against me by your
honorable body, will say in conclusion,
that the lakes in Douglass swamp are in fine
trim for pike fishing, and if you will spend
a day with me in this sport will guarantee
that you will never, no never, again attrib-
ute idleness to one engaging IN that pleas
ant pastime. Yours truly,
DAVE TUCKER.