The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-13

.f the columns Of any Southern news
ranrr, secular or religious. during these
,ays of conferences in the Methodist
Episcopal Church. South. but he reads
scholarly discussions and resolutions re-
latiug to the Barbee-Smith-Stahlman
episode which it seems must form Il
chapter in the history of Methodism
rather than L few pages in the biogra-
uhies of the respective persons.
Why this transaction should necessi-
tate the expenditure Of so much earnest
thought, why it should so cumber the
records Of conferences, why it should
lccome SO highly sensational, why its
happening should so terrify good Meth
alistS. why arouse so great Solicitude for
the future Well-be.ng Of Methodism. why
call forth a meeting Of the reverend and
learned bishops Of the church 10 deal
with if, some people who are members
Of such church do not fully understand.
Eliminate the amount involved, sub
stitute ordinary mortals for jurors in
stead OF Senator'S. if perchance they
he more than ordinary flesh and blood.
place 4 nan instead Of the Methodist
church as claimant. and an individual
instead OF the United States Govern
mcnt rs the alleged debtor. and let
rs thus view the case. There can GER
tainly be no objection to such change of
parties, and il may aid in Kidding the
mind Of sentimcntality-for it is only Il
naked question Of right or wrong.
\ jury then. if YOU please, is selected
of good men and true to try the issue
Joined in the action wherein John Yves
ley Jones is plaintiff and Samuel Brown
is defendant. the sworn duty of the jul
rors being to hear and determine. from
I'll tho taSfiD1p1r Ivbo4Io. 80. ~ C,-1,,,,
Brown is indebted unto ]. Wesley
Jones. and ii so. in what amount.
II is proper to say that old Samuel
Brown, better known III his country as
Uncle SAM is an honorable man in
his dealings. able and willing to pay
amy and all just demands. and that this
controversy with his neighIor j. Wesley
Zones would not have arisen had he
personally known of the full facts upon
which the claim was based. True j.
Wesley had asked him fer payment OF
the value of property taken from him
Ivy agents Of Uncle Sam. but sufficient
proof had not been presented, ana so he
told ]. Wesley that upon proper asccr-
tainment he would pay him every dol
lar that was due.
Having said this much for Uncle sam.
it is but fair to state that j. Wesley
ftEit - iii-LttN ItSlfttItu ana t>bttIiltU
wherever known, 4 man of sterling
worth and integrity. and w~arm-hearted
rs we'll. His business interests are
quite varied. and neccSs' rate the en-.
ploymCnt Of agents. among whom was
entrusted certain financial affairs. the
looking after the claim against Uncle
Sam devolving upon him.
Darby's duties were SO numerous that
he engaged the services of StahlmaD,
Esq. to assist him in collecting and or
ferin@ the proof in the case against
Uncle Sam.
The trial was. conducted in a quiet
way. the jurors sat and listened to the
testimony. carefully scrutiuized every
portion of the proof offered, and upon the
closing Of the evidence, after mature de-
liberation, found that J. Wesley Jones
had established his claim to their salts
faction, and so stated in their verdict.
fixing the amount due as proven. Uncle
sam was satisfied and paid the jud<~
n1ent in full.
Of course people talk about results OF
trials and this one was no exception. IT
seems that during Il recess of the court
one of the jurors. perhaps more. en-
q1ired Of Agent Darby how much he
was going to allow Mr.. Stahlman for
his services. and he left the impression
ubOli % per cent Oh the recovery.
Well, afterwards it was discovered
that Agent Darby had suppressed the
truth. or withheld a part Of it. in his
conversation with the juror or jurors,
and when Mr.. Gates, who was one Of
the jurors. learned of such SUP preSs!on
he became highly incensed, and y~entiIl- +
ted his views very numerouStF through
out the settlement. That any mar
should practice d~ecegtlon on him GIr.
Gates aroused his ire. and he lost sight
Of the fact that le Iaj served oH the
5urv.& Then wc!I-disD 5ed n".shoprs anG
friends came to j. Wesley Jones and
JIoicatcly Suggested that he ought MT t.
take the money because some u the
jurors labored under miSanprchensi9D
rs to the per ccntum his AGENT Darby
paid StahIman for his services. Some
went 50 far rs TO say that in their opin-
ION it was stained" and they feared
for his reputation if he kent il.
\ few days later Wesley Jones Wcnt |
over to the county-seat and called al
his old and valued friend. eX-Judsa Jus
tice. and told him Of the talk III the
naighhorho0d about the money le aa9
received on the "Uncle Sam claim and
asked what he thought about It. After
celebrating for 4 few moments lie
Judge said:
Did Uncle Sam owe You the f1
amount Of Your claimE'
He did" answered j. Wesley.
WAS it a consciOnoblc debit
Yes. sir" replied ]. Wesley, WIN
soma warmth. u would not dare to go
before a jury and ask for the payment
af money that was not honestly due for
honest values. | regard my character
loo highly to begin. at my time Of life. a
course of living that would appear CUES
tauable."
Has anything transpired since the
trial and payment of the money in any
wise impeaching the testimony on which
IHa Judgment was BASED"
Nothing at all. to my Knowledge re-
-."ndod Mr.. j. Wesley jones.
us there newly discovered testimony