The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-31
ALawless Governor.
Editorial in News / Courier.

On "Wednesday last, while d. y.
Elliott, one of Governor Tillman's
whiskey spies, was passing the grocery
stere Of H. Nolte.s in Vanderhorst
street, he vas told bg negro, accord
iog to his own statement as made to a
Reporter for the News and Courier. that
he ssbaa better raid it, and he said
that he would and went in. He had
no warrant to search the place, be was
told BY Mrs. Nolte that there vas no
liquor on the premiaes and that be
could not come 10. But, acting upon
the suggestion Of the negro whom he had
met 10 the street. he did 60 in and
search the store. In the prosection Of
his search he committed an assault
upon Mrs. Nolte and for this offence be
was tried before judicial Trial Justice
Burnet. He was represented by coun-
sci and had fair trial. Six witnesses.
whose testimony was not impeached,
testified that Elliott committed the
assault as charged in the warrant, and
upon the evidence submitted Justice
Buruet found him guilty aud sentenced
him to pay 6pe of fifty dollars or TO 60
to Jail for thirty days. The proceedings
were characterized throughout by the
utmost impartiality, the Court declining
to take cognisauce of aught except the
misdeanor charged in the warrant.
There is not one who was present at
the trial who will not say that the
Investigation was conducted in the most
orderly manner. and that the sentence
imposed upon Elliott was required by
the Law aud the testimony.
But Governor Tillman, mere than
one hundred miles distant from the
Court aud without knowing anything
whatever as to the merits of the case,
and without waiting to examine the
record or to consult the counsel employ
ed for the defence of the constable, tele-
grapbed that be would grant Elliott
full and unconditional pardon, and that
the Justice must not commit the prisoner
to iail. A more Infamous aud out
rageous exercise of Executive authority
were not possible to any other Governor
than the present incumbent OF. that
Office. There is no telling what he will
do next, there are no metes and bounds
to his crazy administration of the Office
which be disgraces. The constable
was only charged and convicted of
committing an assault upon woman
and be. is pardoned. It would have
been the same had be been convicted Of
killing woman-he would have been
pardoned by Gov. Tillman. The Cover
nor would have said that the evidence
on which he had been convicted came
from ''lying witnesses, /" and acting upon
this assumption be would have held
over the homicide as he held over the
assailant of a woman the shield Of
Executive clemency. A whiskey con-
stable in the Governors eyes is more
sacred than woman Whiskey is
thicker than blood. There is no Law
in South Carolina except the Cover
nor's will /; there is no justice except
the Justice Of the mob. We are not
surprised. Nothing else could have been
expected with such Governor and
under the condition Of things which has
resulted from his insane abuse Of
authority. We shall be surprised if
the time does not speedily come when
the loug-suaering people Of South Caro-
lima will rise in. their might and sweep
him and his spies out of power.
To view Of his conduct in this case
and his Wild excitement about the con-
dition of affairs in Charleston, We would
saw that Governor Tillman was mad if
we did not know that be was moved and
instiga.ed by the devil. He does not
care anything for Ell'ott-he merely
thinks that be can use Elliott for a
political purpose All of the brag and
bluster about putting Charleston under
nartial law are intended only to mag
uify himself. His dispatch to Capt.
Cogswell !; of the Washington Light
Infantry, was not sent because he feared
an outbreak Of violence in this city
He admits as much when he says that
II simply ordered them to be prepared
and not to be under arms" He knew
that the city authorities were fully COM
petent to preserve the peace of this
community. He knew this from the
statement made by Chief Martin, who
is not uufriendly to the State Admins
tratiou, on the day after the riot, that
the department was liable to protect
prisoners, prevent violence and to keep
the city and the streets quiet" be
knew this from dispatch that be re-
ceived from the Chief of Police on the
day that he sent his orders to the
Washington Light Infantry as fol,
lows