The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-04-18
HE WOULD NOT SWEAR.
a Juror Committed to Jail Because BE
Would Not Take the Oath.
(Trom the Atlanta Constitution.)


(From the Atlanta Constitution.)
ssBe steadfast in the right and the
Lord will uphold thee and give thee sue
cor in the hour Of thy extremity
These words were delivered with unc.
ton, in solemn voice, and they
emanated from dreary abode-the Full
ton county jail. The speaker was Mr..
". E. Lively, who is devoting his days
and his nights to very sombre news
paper with the appropriate name OF
s.Last Days"
"Why are you in here?" was ASKED the
prisoner by a sleek moonshiner, who was
taking his afternoon airing.
ssI am here" was the quick reply,
stbecause I would not sacrifice my re-
ligious principles; would not trample
upon the teachings Of the holy Scrip
lures, and would not disobey the pre-
cepts Of our Lord and Master Jesus
Christ"
Chow did all that happen?" asked the
inguisitive moonshiner, and group OF
prisoners stopped their exercise to catch
the reply.
cit happened in this wise. refused
to take an oath in the court and the
Judge sent me to this dismal retreat-to
this abode of malefactors. But do I re-
pine? Do seek to escape the conse-
quences of my righteous action? No,
sir, never. lam here to stay until my
Lord .ransoms me. Paul and Silas and
the apostles and cur Redeemer we're i'm
prisoned by tyrants, and I count it an
honor to be incarcerated for maintaining
the right. I was firm and shall remain
firm: I am a minister of the gospel and
shall not lose this opportunity to work
for the salvation of those find around
me. I may be an instrument IN the
hands OF Providence to save souls.
The conversation was interrupted by
the turnkey, who conducted the clerical
prisoner to his apartment.
How came Mr.. Lively to be sent to
JAIL? Briefly told, the facts are: Yester-
day morning when the superior court
was organized a panel of jurors was
drawn, and Clerk Walter Venable pro-
ceeded to administer the customary oath.
One OF these jurors was Mr.. W. E. Live
~, who is widely known IN Atlantis.
When the Bible was handed MIR. Lively
he declined to take an oath.
.sYou may affirm if you have religious
scruples," remarked Clerk Venable.
II will neither swear nor affirm" re-
Joined the recalcitrant juror, 'for is it
not written, Swear not at ALP Besides,
I Will not sit in Judgment over my fel-
low man. Christ said, Judge not that
ye be not judged, and he was too merci-
full to condemn even her who was ap-
pretended in the act. Can I be less?
No; I'll not be sworn, for I am not a
proper juror"
-s."What is all that interruptions" Judge
Clarke asked.
"This juror refuses to be sworn, said
the clerk.
"Why?" queried the court.
because" answered Mr.. Lively, 81
will not swear OF affirm. My religion
will not allow me to do so, and am op-
posed to courts and juTies.
can inadequate excuse" said the
court. ssYou must take the oath, Mr..
Lively"
81 refuse to do so, because"
The reason was cut short by his honor,
who directed bailiff to take the juror to
jail for contempt of court.
The bailf took Mr.. Lively to the
county jail. On the wsy thither the
stubborn juror spoke many strange
things. He declared that he did not OBJ
ject to going to jail, because the judg-
ment day was near at hand, and he e1-
pected to be liberated by the interposi-
tion of Providence.
Mr.. Lively was quiet aud reticent last
night, and was in a sound sleep by 10
O'Clock. Some of his friends will make
an effort to get him out to-day.
Judge Clarke says that he is COM
mitted for five days for contempt OF
court.