The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-02-18
GOV. TlLLMAN AS JUDGE.
A Peculiar Cas-" Argued Before Him 4,
COlunbin,

COLUMBIA, $. g., Feb. IO.-A most
important case came before Governor
Illlman yesterday afternoon or deci
sion, case that involved u number of
intricate legal points, points that have
NOT often been raised in cases that have
hitherto cJme up before Governors of
this Sratc.
Some time ago Governor Northen of
Georgia served requsltion on Gov
trnor Tillman asking Tor the extradition
OF Louis S. Mellichamp Of Aiken. Mel
llchamp retained counsel and resisted
the requsition. The case wa, SET for
trial before the Governor today, but all
OF The parties concerned arrived in town
yesterday and the case was brought up
before the Governor at O'Clock 10 the
afternoon, the hearing being held in the
library OF the Supreme Court.
Mr. hielilchamp appeared in person.
Ills brother was with him. He was rem
resented by Mr.. n. w. Brooker of this
CITY and Mr.. G.. w. Croft Of Aiken. Mr..
Muller OF Augusta and Mr.. d. $. Hen
DER son OF Aiken appeared for MIR, Pol.
lard OF Augusta, the party at whose re-
quest the rcQuisitiOn WIS made.
Ihc Georgia code has q peculiar stot.
ute. entirely dilcrcut from any law Of
TINS Stale. Under Section 4400 of the
Georgia code a man is guilty ofu crime
VINO makes false and fraudulent rcprc.
Sen1atlOns rs to his worth in order to
OBTAIN credit. This section is different
| lroni the section OF the law of this Stats
that makes IL crime to obtain Goods
upon false prctcucLs.
MIR. Mellchamp purchased goods from
Mr.. Pollard ot Augusta, and has failed
10 pay lor them, and 81 under the sec
l'"h above noted his cX!raditiOu is asked,
i"r llaI he may be tried in Georgia on
charge OF obtaining credit by false
representations as to- his worth. etc.
lhc hearing cons umcd about four
hourS. The lawyers on both sides pre-
Scnlc'i leaned and able arguments.
Attorney General McL,llriu was pres
rnt Throughout the hearing. and if is
probable that he will give the Governor
h!S opinion Oh the case before IA decision
is reached.
Mr. MclliChamp's attorneys argued
that the rcQuisition was not made IN
@"od faltA, that II was merely an at
tempt 10 Use the criminal law to press
nm TO the pnYmcnt Of Il debt. Thcv
'urther argued that there had been no
proof gwen that Mr.. Mellichamp was a
fugitive from justice in the meaning of
'hc Constitution ofthc United States
that provides for the cXlradition of o
man who cumnjts a crime in one State
ana then llccs TO another State to escape
inc consequences OF his act. On this
pp'nt Their str 'nEcSL arguments were
made. They claimed that Mr.. Me;li-
champ had not as his motive IN leayjnu
!he state oi Georgia the hope or idea OF
escaping the consequences OF ANYTHING
That he ha' done in tina; State, and that
un.csS 1t could be proven that his sole
motive III leaving the State was Il wish
/" escape justice, the Governor had no
| rlGhi. grant the rcuuisitiOn
| lhe attorneys for the State of Geor-
gla argued that the requisition was
| maze In the regular way it should he
granted, and that the Governor of
Georgia was the sole Judge of it's reyu
| larlty. The fact that the alleged crime
had been committed in Georgia and
lhat the party committing it was found
IN this State was proof positive that he
hau He'd from justice.
Ihe Governor paid close attention to
'he arguments advanced by the attor.
neyS and then took the case nnder
adVlSement and will annouce his de-
clslon in few DAYS.
MT. Mellichamp does businss in
A.lken, his partner being Mr.. Easterlin
Oh charleston. lie has Il good TpDut,
tlOn and IS said to be an honest. upright
man, who is unable at present TO pay
TINS debt, and that the reQuisition is
nothiug but an attempt to use the pccn-
liar law OF GeOrgi to force him 10 Day
this debt.-Register.