Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-12
SAM JONES W0RSTED.
The Sensational ExhOrter Called
Down by a Georgia Judge
FOR HIS PECULIAR PREACHING.
The Judge Warmly Replies to Jones Attacks
on His Character.
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ROME, GA, Oct. 1.-THE Rev. Sam
Jones and the Rev. Sam Small met the
grand jury of this county and the verdict of
the public seems to be that they were
worsted. A month ago those Evangelists
conducted series of meetings here. Sam
Jones surpassed the record in his denuncia-
tion of the morals of the people. He boldly
declared that gambling was universal; that
perjury was the rule; that officers were GRIM
inally negligent 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 Evan
gelists, 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 a decided
sensation by saying:
JUDGE MADDox's CHARGE.
SIT has been charged by two ministers of
the Gospel that certain specific crimes were
openly committed here, and, as a conse-
quence, law and order club has been or
ganized. So long as this court exists there
is no need of such club. You gentlemen
of the grand jury are the only law and order
club necessary. 1t is your duty to inEesti-
gate these charges. You can have those
men who make the charges brought before
you and they will be compelled to prove
what they charge, or to stand convicted OF
slandering the people"
This was taking the reverend gentlemen
up on short turn. The grand jury also
summoned Jones and Small to appear and
substantiate their remarkable statements.
Small is 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 thousand peo-
pie, awaiting the exit of the preacher. who
invited the reporters to meet him at stated
hour, when he would tell what transpired.
JONES ABUSES THE JUDGE.
He launched into an abusive criticism of
Judge Maddox, intimating that his threat
ened punishment upon officers did not come
up to the mark; that he had let off certain
young men lightly for obvious reasons.
Judge Maddox heard of the remark, and
said the intimation that he had protected
the men referred to, or would have put a
different fine on other persons under the
same circumstances, was absolutely and
willfully false, and the man who uttered or
insinuated such things knew he lied when
he did it. Judge Maddox further declared
that Judges in Georgia do not take an oath
to support Sam Jones and Sam Small, but
to support the Constitution and the laws Of
the State.
The elimination came this even; ne Oh the
adjournment of court. The grand jury
wished to express their admiration for
Judge Maddox as a man and as a judge, up
right, honest and conscientious in ali his
official acts When they had finished read
ing Judge Maddox said:
DEFENDING HIS COURSE.
''It grieves me, gentlemen of the jury, to
feel called upon to notice matter that had
transpired in the community recently in re-
gard to me. I have occupied the bench for
five years, and frequently I have been
charged with having put perhaps excessive
fines, but never before have L been accused
that fines were too light. 1t has been re-
ported in the newspapers that have vio-
lated 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 have done this be-
cause they were men of means.
''Now in view of the remarks you have
made deem it proper to explain to you the
circumstances under which these fines have
been put upon those young men," Here
Judge Maddox related the circumstances,
the young men putting up small ante and
returning the money at the end of the
game.
THE JUDGE WARNS UP.
s1 am publicly accused of having vio-
lated my oath and I suppose my life record
and my service on the bench don't amount
to bauble. 1t has come to pretty pass
in this community when no mans character
is worth anything to him in defense against
the utterances of certain parties. Another
grand jury holds q session next week and
those parties who freely charge that these
Young men were criminals and cutthroats
will have another opportunity to make out
their cases. [ assure you if they have
taken advantage of me and misrepresented
me it will be found out by that body"
The grand jury asked that they might re-
tire, as there was a matter they had not
finished. In few minutes they came back
with this additional:
We, the grand jury. having learned with
regret that severe criticism has been made
of His Honor Judge John Maddox, IN refer
ence to certain fines imposed on parties who
pleaded guilty to gaming contrary to law
hereby indorse him fully in this matter, and
believe that his fine was just and right ac
cording to the light before him and the facts
i'll the case as presented to him, and we con-
and unanimously desire to have this added
to our general presentment.
JONES' FRIENDS AROUSED.
This Endorsement and the thrust at Jones
awakens a great feeling. Jones friends
say they hit him when away, and that it is
a scheme of the anti-Prohibitionists to kill
Jones' influence.
The grand jury found only SO true bills
q small nnmher for the first iurv-ond no
sensational bills were found. Since Jones
testified it is intimated that Judge Maddox
will charge the grand jury on Monday about
the sacredness of mans character; that the
Georgia laws are strong on that point.
Jones may be recalled himself to answer
A local paper, speaking of the controversy,
says:
Judge Maddox never quailed when the
bullets flew thick and fast and he will not
now turn pale at the bray of q donkey. How
st range it is that some men never leave O
own without marking out their exit with q