The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21
J1IDGE EN AND THE


JUDGE BEN T AMI LIE
FREEMAN.
In its issue Of yesterday the Freeman
had this to cay of Judge Benet:
We hear that since Judge Benet has
been here presiding in the day time in
u Courts, he has been almost every
night playing cards with persons known
as professionals OF course. everybody
has heard that Judge Benet before his
election was a notorious gambler, but
since his election it was hoped be would
try to mend bis ways a little. 1t is dis
tressing to think he has not done SO:
We know that the foreman Of the grand
iury has had his attention called to this
matter aud we hope it will be we'll
ventilated before We are through with
it. We want no gambling judges.
Judge Beuet in open Court had the
following to say on the subject this
morning:
wish the attention of the members Of the
bar and the jurors present and officers OF the
Court, concerning a matter which has arisen
since the adjournment of Court yesterday.
1t is a very painful matter, which l cannot
we'll pass over.
When ] left the Court House yesterday
evening and got to my lodging, I found in
nv mail a newspaper Published in this town,
addressed to me and marked 10 certain places.
In that paper I was openly charged with con-
sor,isg with professional gamblers of Sumter
and spending my nights. card playing and
gambling.
The charge has been made against me open.
" as q Judge. have no means OF redress,
except to answer it from the Bench az a Judge.
The Office | hold deprives me of the ordinary
personal means Of redress and while il is
true that Office puts in my hands power BY
which such conduct might be justly and
severely punished, / will not use this power
in my own behalf.
l do say as a true man the charge is false,
absolutely false, without even the semolarce
of truth as a foundation Tor it.
Gentlemen, l feel | owe this statement
to the members Of the Bar, Of whose pro-
fession am a humble member. / feel
owe it to the officers of the Court who have
been 80 kind and courteous to myself. | owe
it to the Jurors who are present, and the
Grand Jury who are absent, especially IN
view of my charge to the Grand Jury con-
corning their duty as officers of the law.
know I owe it to the people, whose represent
a,iyes elected me to the Office / now hold.
owe it to the good men and women of Sum
ter whose kind hospitality | have enjoyed.
" it to the Office | now bold, however
inef6ciently. | owe it TO myself and 10 those
who bear my name to say that the man who
wrote this charge wrote what was utterly un-
true. without excuse aud without foundation.
cannot comprehend what motive be had.
hardly know the man. never cross bis
path. l know no reason whatever tor ms
attack. He mast have been shamefuiiy
imposed upon by his Informant, or he must
have wilfnlly believed lies that were tod
him. / therefore feel that the only way. TO
meet the published accusation is to do so thus
promptly and publicly.
cannot go into the newspapers. will
not. Ny hands are tied. Men Of proper
sentiments comprehend what | mean by that.
Good men know what | mean By that. The
best way to meet a falsehood is 10 confront 1t
with the truth. And this is the simple
truth /: that during the three weeks have
been in Sumter my goings out and my com
inos 10 have been seen and known by all who
cared to see aud know. Nothing have said
or done and nowaere l have gone would |
seek TO hide from the most blan,eless man ana
the purest woman. SO far as that 10 con-
cerned my conscience is clear.
Wherever / enjoyed the hospitality OF
friends, l meet good men aud good women
and while in their company did not see
anything that had the appearance OF evil or
the suggestion of it.
What probably is the only foundation TOR
the charge is this-although 1t seems p'titul
that have to make the statements that
follow, matters purely of private life. on
two occasions during these three weeks, and
on the only TWO occasions | have seen or
handled cards, l played whist in company
with three other men who are play
ers of whist. We played in the
presence of ladies for one and a halt
o, two hours at a time. We engaged
in a harmless and innocent game OF whist
with no appearance or suspicion OF money
or gambling. =,
owe it to the gentlemen who played with
me. az they are charged with being profess
sional gamblers, to say that if they are
gamblers the fact ia a revelation to me, for
never heard it of them nor have ever seen
them gambling.
That. is the only foundation for the charge
that I have nightly been gambling and
conserving with professional gamblers.
You will suffer me TO say that when
assumed the gown Of a Judge, 1t was with
the honest endeayor aud determination to
perform the duties of that Office so as to
deserve the approval Of good rnsn and OF my
own conscience /; and | say to the men VINO
elected me to that office, aud to the Grand
Jury, if the man who made this charge can
prove the truth of what he says, will TAKE
the robe of Office eff my shoulders and leave
the Bench, as l ought to do.
But / have said enough. 1t is very true
that when a falsehcod starts on its way, the
truth finds it very hard to overtake 1t. II
NAV be the newspapers in the State may copy
thus false accusation. If they do, hope they
will also state that 1 have thus openly, and
counting Investigation, denied it from 'he
Bench. .c..
have no fear of investigation, ii 1t be con-
dnc,ed in the white light OF truth and homes