The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-04-04
A SUMTER SENSATION.
JUDGE BENET ACCUSED OF GAMBLING
WITH CARDS.

JUDGE BENET AcCUsEDO OF GAMBLING
WITH CARDS,
He Indignantly Denies the Charge from
the Bee cb, and Says He Was Only En-
gsglng in Social Game OF whist With
Friends.
Week before last, the Sumter Free
man, an Alliance paper that is very
much opposed to Gov. TLlman, re.
marked editorially that Judge Benet of
this circuit, who was then holding
court in Sumter, was prototype of
Judge Msckey. The Manning Times
did not like this, and said some pretty
sharp tnings about the editor OF the
Freeman, Whereupoa the editor Of the
said paper had the following to say IN
last weeks paper:
s.Since the Manning Times undertakes to
report rumors about the favorable impress
sion Judge Benet has made upon our people
here we regard it as essential to truth and
to a future proper administration OF JUS
tice that we Should publish the rumors Of a
different character that are passing around
thick and fast. we hear that since Judge
Benet has been here presiding in the day
time IN our Courts he has been almost eV-
cry night playing cards with persons known
as professionals. OF course every body has
heard that Judge Benet before his election
was notorious gambler, but since his elec-
tionit was hoped he would try to mend his
ways little. 1t is distressing to think he
has not done so. We know that the FORE
called to this matter and we hope it will be
well ventilated before we are through with
it. We want no gambling Judges"
Upon seeing Gne ABOVE Judge Bsnet
in open Court at Sumter last Wednes-
day morning made the following state
ment:
I wish the attention of the members
Of the Bar and the juros present and
the jurors and officers of the Court con-
cerning matter which las arisen
since the adjournment of Court yes
terday. 1t is a very painful matter,
which cannot well pass over.
When left the Court House yesser-
day evening and got to my lodging I
found in my mail a newspaper, pub
lished in this town, addressed to me and
marked in certain places, In that pap
er I was openly charged with consort-
lag with professional gamblers of
Sumter and spending my nights card
playing and gambling.
The charge has been made against
me openly asa Judge. have no means
of redress, except to answer it from
the bench as Judge. The Office hold
deprlves me of The ordinary personal
means Of redress, and while it is true
that Office puts in my hands power by
which such conduct might be justly
and severely punished, will not use
this power ID my own behalf.
I do say as true man the charge is
false, absolutely false, without even
the semblance of truth as foundation
for it.
Gentlemen, I feel 1 owe this state.
ment to members of the Bar, of whose
profession I am an humble member. I
feel owe it to the officers of the Court,
who have been so kind and courteous
to myself. Lowe it to the jurors who
are present and the grand jury who
are absent, especially in view Of my
charge to Ghe grand jury concerning
their duty as officers of the law. I
know l owe it to the people, whose re-
presentatlYes elected me to the Office Z
now hold. Lowe it TO the good men
and women Of Sumter, whose kind
hospitality nave enjoyed. l owe it to
the Office now hold, however ineM-
ciently. I oWeit to myself and to those
who Dear my name TO say that the man
who wrote this charge wrote what was
utterly untrue, without excuse and
without foundation. l cannot compre-
hend what motive he had: I hardly
know the man. I never cross his path,
I know no reason whatever for his at
tack. He must have been shamefuily
imposed upon By his informant, or ne
must have Wilfully believed lies that
were told him. therefore feel that the
only way TO meet the published accu-
sasion is TO do 50 thus promptly and
publicly.
cannot go into the newspapers. I
will not. Ny hands are tied. Men of
proper sentiments comprehend what I
mean by that. Good men know I mean
by that. The best way to meet false
hood is to confrontlt with the truth.
And this is the simple truth: that
during tho three weeks I have been in
Sumter my goings ouI and my COM
ings IN have beei seen and known
by all who cared to see and know.
Nothing have said or done and no.
where l have gore would seek to hide
from the most tlameless man and the
purest woman. 20 far as that is con-
cerned my conscience is clear.
Wherever l enjoyed the hospitality
of friends met good men and good
women, and while in their company I
did not see anything tnat had the ap.
pearance of EVIL or the suggestion of it.
What probably is the only foundation
for the charge is thls-although it
seems pitiful tnat I have to make the
statements that follow matters purely
o. private life. On tWoloccasions during
these tnre weeks, and only on two oc.
caslons, have seen or handled cards. I
played whist IN company with three
other men Tno are players IL the pre-
sence OF ladies for one and half or
-----n -------na We engaged in