The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-22
SAM JONES AND A JUDGE.
A Georgia Grand Jury Hastens to Say
Judge Maddox Is a GOOD Man.
New York SUM-


Jones of the team Sam Jones and Sam
Small has met the Grand Jury of this
county, and the verdict seems to be
that he was worsted. A month ago
they conducted a. series of meetings
here. Jones surpassed the record in his
denunciation of the morals ofthe peo-
pie. He boldly declared that gambling
was universal; that perjury was the
rule; that officers were criminally nell
gent of duty; that debauchery reigned
supreme in all circles. The result was
the formation of Law and Order Club
by the admirers of the two evaugelists,
whose purpose was to wipe out the
sinful character Of the city. Two weeks
later court convened. In his charge to
the Grand Jury Judge Maddox created
sensation by saying:
1T has been charged by two minis
tiers of the Gospel that certain specific
crimes were openly committed here,
and as consequence Law and Order
Club has been organized. So long as
this court exists there is no need oi
such club. You, gentlemen of the
Grand Jury, are the only Law and
Order Club necessary. 1t is your duty
to investigate these cnagges. You can
have those men who make the charge,
brought before you, and they will be
compelled to prove what they charge
or to stand convicted of slandering the
people,"
The Grand Jury at once summoned
Messrs. Jones and Small to appear be-,
fore them and substantiate their re-
markable statements. Small has been
in Massachusetts, campaigning for the
Prohibition candidate for Governor,
but Jones responded on Thursday. He
spent an hour with the Grand Jury.
The Court House was surrounded by a
thousand people awaiting the exit of
the preacher, who invited the reporters
TO meet him so that be might tell what
had occurred. He launched into an
abusive criticism of Judge Maddox, in
timating that bis punishment upon
offenders did not come up to the mark,
and that be had let off certain young
men lightly for obvious reasons. Judge
Maddox heard of the remarks, and said
the intimation that he had protected
the men referred to was absolutely and
wiifully false.
The elimination came last night. On
the adjournment of court the Grand
Jury wished "to express their admira-
ton for Judge Maddox as man and
as Judge, upright, honest, and con-
scientious in all his official acts" When
the foreman had finished reading their
report Judge Maddox said: "It grieves
me, gentlemen OF the jury, to feel called
upon to notice matter that has tran
spired in the community recently in
regard to me. I have occupied the
bench for five years. 1t has been re-
ported in the newspapers that I have
violated the oath of my office by making
the fines too light upon certain young
men of Rome charged with gambling,
and it has been insinuated that I have
done this because they were men of
means, or, as they had been called, fat
rabbits"
Here Judge Maddox related the cir
cumstances of the trial of the young
men in question, and then hecontinued:
II am publicity accused of having vio-
lated my oath. It has come to pretty
pass in this community when no mans
character is worth anything to him in
defence against the utterances Of GER
tain parties. Another Grand Jury holds
a session next week, and those parties
who freely charge that these young
men were criminals and cut-throats
will have another opportunity to make
ont their cases."
: The Grand Jury asked that they
might retire. In few minutes they
came back with this: "We, the Grand
Jury, having learned with regret that
severe criticism, has been made on the
act of his Honor, Judge Maddox, in
reference to certain fines imposed on
parties who pleaded guilty to gaming,
contrary to law, hereby endorse him
fully in this matter and believe that
his fine was just and right according to
the light before him."