Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-07-17
Tho Conviction OF Neal.

~ is curious turn OIL affairs that
VIM. A. Neal, former superintend-
ent of the State penitentiary, has
been convicted of a penal offence,
and without a new trial he is apt to
spend season in the institution
over which he presided for six years.
Mr.. Neal has been the victim of fac
tional politics in this State, and his
counsel might we'll have put this in
AZ plea Of abatement instead of
alleging the morphine habit as the
cause of his carelessness and irregu-
larity in the discharge of his official
duties. He was one of the original,
simon-pure Rcformers, and spent his
time and money freely for the eleva-
ton of men belonging to his faction
in county and State. Ho was an
active, energetic, adroit and success
full manager in politics, and with his
practical common sense, coupled
with his shrewdness and affability,
it was not surprising that Neal gained
a position of great influence among
his political associates.
Neal became known far and wide
as the "Mark Hanna" of our politics,
and this led to his undoing, for no
sooner did he begin to exert his
influence in behalf of one man against
another than there were enemies in
the ranks of the faithful, which
marked Neal for future immolation.
lie might have gone on for years il
he had pursued different course,
but his natural inclinations are to
engage in contests and to wage war
fare in politics, which add to the
piquancy of the situation. He was
not trained business expert by any
means, but his energy and judgment
found suitable field when he was
chosen superintendent of the peni-
tcntiary, and his management in this
respect was never seriously criticised
except by those who did not know
the facts or were not willing to
admit them. Neal was success in
the executive supervision of the
pcnitentiary, and he knew what to
do in developing the institution as a
permanent affair of the State, which
was constantly growing in import
ancc. His administration of the
office was kind and humane, and the
troubles into which he fell were not
internal. He was never safe finan-
cicr, though he was accustomed to
large transactions from his youth,
but even this would not have caused
his downfall if he had kept aloof
from faclional ambitions and ical-
ousics.
Long ago he manifested an indie
pcndcncc Of oncman power, and by
degrees he became allied with an
element that meant to make trouble
Tor some Of the Reform leaders.
-Four years ago he undertook the
management OF McI.aurin's cam
paign, and from that time he was
doomed politically if it could be
accomplished. Ic made an earnest,
aggressive fight, and he succeeded.
Mcl.aurin was indebted to him more
than to any other man for the victory
which seated him in the United
States Senate, but Neal had raised
another batch Of enemies who wanted
to get even with him. The oppor-
tunity came when he was a candi-
date for collection, and rumors were
flying thick and fast that he was a
dcfanltcr and had misuscd Ills office
for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. A
legislative investigation failed to
establish his guilt beyond loose tinan-
clal methods and irregularities, and
an Indictment for breach of trust
resulted in acquittal. His convic-
ton now is upon a strict intcrprcta-
ton of the law, but it is after he has
paid the money which he was charged
with holding back for his own pur-
poses. The verdict does not imply
any wrong motive or criminal intent,
but it is all the same to Neal if he
suffers the punishment laid down in
the law. lie is paying the penalty
OF his political offences, not the
award for his malfcasance in office.
lie is getting back with accrued
interest the payment for his political
sins, not for his actual trangressions
against the law Of the land, and
among those who fawncd upon him
in the day Of his political power and
hung upon his favors "there are none
so poor as to do him reverence p
Grccnville Mountainecr, July 3.