The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28


during the trial that the accused had
lived in that community for many years,
and his attorney drew out abundant evi-
dence OF the uprightness of the old man S
life. When the prisoner look the stand
himself 10 make a statement, II is said
that he delivered himself IN wonder
fully clear, intelligent and convincing
manner. and at the conclusion Of his talk
the solicitor for the State arose and
said 10 the jury that he believed In the
beginning that he had sufficient evidence
against the old man to ask for convic-
ton, but that he was then convinced
that there was a reasonable doubt. at
least. of his guilt. and he declined to
prosecute.
The presiding judge congratulated the
solicitor upon the course that he had
pursued, and calling the old-time darkey
before him. said:
"Old man. you now see the value Of a
good name. Your character and conduct
in this community have been such as 10
greatly favor you and TO that influence
YOU have much to be thankful for. IL c
an honest. upright and truthful life and
you will never have anything to fear
from the laws hand"
The prisoner thanked the judge for his
kind words and declared that the teach
ings Of his old master in slavery days
had been his rule OF conduct In after
life. and that TO his old masters teach
ings he owed much of his good name
and reputation.
The correspondent who relates this In
cident goes on to say that the court
room was well filled with spectators at
the time. that there was unanimous ap-
proval of the action of the court, and
that when court adjourned the old man
was surrounded by his friends and con-
graduated.
TWO things. MY reputation, Iago o
my reputation" IL is sometimes the
only defense that righteous man has
the only plea that he can put up against
discriminating circumstances. 1t is not
often in this world that pure and good
man is falsely accused, but he may
sometimes by untoward circumstances
be placed in a compromising position,
and then he must stand or fall by the
record of his life.
Reputation. TO be sure, IS not character.
A man may lead a double life, may en-
Joy a good reputation when he has been
SHINING in secret. But such cases are
rare. Murder will out. 1t is almost i'm
possible for a man to deceive the public
for long. A mans associates generally
know what he is and what his life IS,
and In nine out Of ten cases a man is
very much what he is reputed TO be.
Some people think that they do not get
their deserts in this world. that they
are not properly appreciated. but the
world is a splendid judge of human ma
ture The world generally knows what
a man Is worth, and a man generally
gets all and more than he deserves, so
far as the good things of life are con-
cerned. The world does not usually I'M
dervalue either his capacity of his char
acter.
We remark also that reputation belongs
not only TO men of high estate. but IS a
possession also of men of low degree.
one mans reputation may extend Tar
beyond the limits and confines Of his own
locality. but every man within his own
sphere has his reputation, be II good
or bad This old colored man, down In
Georgia who. perhaps. never went
hundred miles away from his home in
his life nevertheless had his reputation
and heaven knows 1t stood him in good
part in the greatest crisis OF his life. 1t
was indeed a very present help IN the
time OF his trouble and nothing else
would have saved him from the gallows.
Again. we are delighted with the deliy-
GRANGE which this old-time darkey made
concerning his old master and the moral
training which he received from him.
Wa do not make rash assertions, but
u.o do say with deliberation. and without
hesitation. that We would be very slow,
were we to sit on a jury In such case
n convict any old-time darkey who had
been reared in respectable family OF
,ha craree of criminal assault. These
GRO not the men who commit such crimes.
The old-time darkey was raised a gen.
,eman. He had good principles. he had
resnect. nay reverence, for a virtuous
woman. and he would have suffered MS
,,oht arm to be cut from his body before
- ,,o,ld have laid violent hands upon
her Criminal assault, now so often
heard Of was in those days absolutely
unknown. The old-time darkey in Geor-
eia has paid tribute to the old-time
s,ave-owner for which we are profoundly
thankful. We honor him for his good
reputation. and we honor him for declar-
ing IN public 10 whom he owed IT,
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