The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-04-05
THE FREEMAN REPLIES,
Why 1t Accused Judge Benet OF q smb-
ling at Sumter.

Why 1t Accused Judge Benet OF G.mb-
ling at Sumter.
Our readers will find In another col
umn a matter Of extreme interest to
every good citizen, touching Judge
Benet's conduct and reputation and
what he had to say, FROM the bench, In
reference to the structures of the Free
man. BY reading carefully what we
said, reprinted today, which drew forth
the Judges remarks, 1t will clearly ap-
pear that things are taking the course
we were seeking to have them take, a
thorough ventilation-and of course
we are pleased to fad the issue 80
squarely met by the Judge. There was
really no other course left for him.
and challenge to further investigation
az We could wish. We sent him, as Is
our rule, marked copy, because we de.
sired his special attention to this mat.
ter, which more concerns him than any
one else. He saw we meant what we
said The Manning Times appeared to
us to be trying to "boost" q Judge of
It's faction for purely factional advan-
tage, at a sacrifice Of truth In regard
to his reputation in this town and ru-
mors concerning his conduct and we
believed, as we said, "that it was es-
sential to truth and to future proper
administration Of justice" that we
should report the rumors we we're
hearing of very different character
from those reported by the Times. We
ask for a careful examination Of what
we said, We do not charge that Judge
Benet actually gambled here, but we
say that we hear-that IS, it was COM
mon rumor-that he was playing cards
almost every night with persons
known as professionals. that is reputed
to be professionals, and that it was
distressing to think that he had not, as
was hoped, mended his ways, since his
elevation to the bench, as before his
as a notorious gambler. Now we sub
nit that his previous reputation, cou-
pied with his card playing since his
| arrival here, with persons reputed to
be men who play for money, was
enough to cause remark and set ru-
mors flying thick and fast, to the great
hurt Of the dignity and efficiency Of
the judicial office and to future prop
or administration of the law. We re
garded his election to the bench pub
lie calamity and had found, as we
|
habit was not to be abated for the sake
of judicial proprieties. AS we have no
personal feeling whatever against
Judge Benet, (have no cause to have as
he has correctly stately. we suppose
, that we are made as glad by his point.
ed denial Of the correctness of the ru.
mora as any other good citizen In the
, State will be. All we desire Is q good
Judge, judge not only Of good char.
v,rn 70 III ~
good conduct after his election and we
must say that Judge Benet's eager,
earnest and emphatic denial of his
gambling, or association with gamblers
since his stay here is help to good
morals among our people, because it
shows that he thinks gamblers are peo-
pleto shun, when one has been elected
to Office o3 honor, dignity ana trust
and that he has made up his mind to
repudiate such associates In the future.
| We want all our young men to mark
this! The Judge is ashamed to asso.
c1ate with gamblers. We know that
all the good people will rejoice at this
information and it Is to bs hoped that
the Judge will be 80 out Of the way of
playing for money and Of playing with
those who play for money that when
he Is retired from the bench, he will
never resort to such evil ways again
and companions OF such malodorous
character that they are unfit for we'll.
behaved judge to associate with. Then,
too, 1T Is a great gain for Sumter to
nave the testimony of q judge from the
| bench that the persons he has been
playing cards with are not gamblers
that Is they do not play cards for mon
ey-as has been generally supposed by
our people.
| AS to whether there was q "semblance
of truth as foundation" for the arti.
Gle In the Freeman on Tuesday we will
say that the foreman of the grand jury
stated to the editor of this paper these
rumors had come to him. The report
or of the Freeman, MIR. PEBBLES, the
latter part Of the first week Of court
said that he had heard Of 1t as a COM
mon rumor around town that Judge
Benet was gambling at night.
The same general rumor was also
spoken Of to the editor of the Freeman
(names given on demand). and the fact
that the fellows around town were guy.
Ing "Rosy" about playing 80 much
with the Judge. 1t was also stated to
the reporter Of the Freeman by a good
citiEen whose name we are requested
to withhold, but 1t will be given If de-
manded, that Judge Benet was seen
playing cards at the residence of Mr.
u. Rosendorf, several enights to a late
hour during the first week Of court
herel
Mr.. PEBBLES, the reporter of the Free
man, in passing Mr.. Rosendorf's resi-
dence last Monday night about 10 30
o'clock, saw in the open parlor Judge
Benet. Mr.. II. g. Moses, Judge $. W.
Melton and Mr.. ID. R1sendOrf, seated
at a table engaged in IA game of cards.
The matter being talked of around
town as the reporter we'll knew, this
circumstance was mentioned by the
reporter to the editor for his intOrma.
tiOn In The matter.
Mr.. S. A. Nettles told the reporter Of
the Freeman, Mr.. PEBBLES, in defense
of Judge Benet, that the Judge mad
told him that he had been trying to
avoid Mr.. Bosendorf as much as posi-.
bic. The Judge seemed to know that
the companionship Of Mr.. Rosendorf
would furnish the "semblance of the
foundation" that he was gambling,
and so did we, and hence we demanded
! a furthpr inVpatipatiOn and ure pxpepd