The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-05-11
TOOK HIM AT HIS WORD.
Solicitor Jervey Givsn Chauce TO In
dict tho Governor.

COLUMBIA, S. c., May 5.-The Gov
ernor yesterday received the following
letter from Solicitor G. Duncan Bsllin-
ger in whose circuit the Denmark
lynching occurred:
BARNwELL, G. H.. S. c., May 3.
10 His Excellency, Governor b. II. Till
man, Columbia, S. c.:
DEAR SIR: [ desire to call your at
tention officially to the recent lynchinp
at Denmark in connection with the fol
loving statement:
80 far no warrant has been sworn
out by anyone against any person sup.
posed to be connected with the affair
and the proceedings and verdict of the
jury OF Inquest give no information
upon which the prosecution c,n be be-
gun.
Under these circumstances, if the
case is to receive that investigation
wh'ch us gravity seems to require, it
becomes the duty of the executive Off
Ger 70 institute proceedings in the
premises.
lnasmuch as The violation Of the law
was committed in a community in
which have many relatives and con-
nectl0ns, it is not Improbable that some
OF them were implicated, especially
when 1T is stated that the entire com
munlty was engaged in the enterprise.
| Sucn being the case, any effort on nv
part to bring the perpetrators to Justice
would be embarrassing to me, and pro-
Oahly lay me open to the charg. of bar.
tlality and insincerity.
L would therefore respectfully re-
quest that your EXcellency would
charge the solicitor of one of the ad-
joining circuits to take charge of the
case ana would suggest Solicitor Jer-
Vey, whose circuit adJoins this county
ana who probably better understands
Inc SITUATION, could give the matter
satisfactory attention.
Assuring you that shall be ready at
any time TO render such services as the
case and my Office requires, l am very
Spectfully,
Il. DUNCAN BELLINGER,
SollcltOr of the Second Circuit.
| III VIII be remembered that Solicitor
Jervey, upon being called upon to make
a speech in the recent indignation meet
ing, denounced the recent Iynchinp of
Jefferson, and the Governors action in
| the premises.
REFINEMENT OF SARCASM.
Governor Illlman has written the
following letter to Solicitor Jeryey. II
IS the refinement of sarcasm:
COLUMBIA, $. c., MAY {.
The Hon. w. st. j. JerYey, Charleston
South Carolina:
SIR: l am in receipt of letter from
G. Duncan l5ellinger, ESQ, solicitor of
the Second Circuit, in which he states
Ihat by reason of the fact that his rela
yves ana connections are proberly i'm
pllcated in the recent unfortunate af
fair at Denmark, "any efforts on his
part TO bring the perpetrators to Justice
would be embarrassing to him and
proDaDly lay him open to the charge of
partlallty and insincerety."
nc therefore asks me to direct the
solicitor of one OF the adjoining circuits
10 take charge of the case, and prose.
cue tile persons who have over-rdden
Cne law; lie further suggests yourself,
ana therefore direct you to proceed
to Denmark at your earliest conyan-
lence Tor the purpose Of thoroughly in
veS5igatln9 the outbreak, and taking
the necessary steps to vindicate the law,
ana punish the lynchers.
comply with Mr.. Bellinger's re-
quest, the more readily because YOUR
well known zeal and legal abilit v give
assurance that you will do your whole
duty. Yours very respectfully.
j. IL. TILLMAN, Governor.
i. S.-Mr. Bellinger will, of course.
take your place in any work in your own
circuit which may interfere with vour
compliance with this order.
THE LAW ON THE SUBJECT.
1t has been a debated question among
The lawyers Of the city, since the Gov.
ernorS action was made known, as to
whether he had the right to order Solic.
ltor Jervey to do duty in another cir.
cult. Opinions differ.
Governor Tillman bases his action on
section OIL OF the general statutes. The
portion of this section, which bears on
the matter reads as follows:
'SollcltorS shall do tie duty of the
Attorney General, and give their coun-
Sci ana advice to the Governor and
other State officers, in matters of public
concern, whenever they shall, by them
be required to do. and assist the At.
torney General, or each other, in all suits
or prosecutions in behalf of this State, |
when directed to do SO by the Governor
or called upon by the Attorr ~ General.
Ihey may defend any person brought to
Trial before any criminal court of this
STATE, when their duty shall not reuuire
them to prosecute such persons, or their
assistance be not required against such
persons by the Governor or ATTORNEY
General"