Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-07-11

duu Iurtucr uePoueoe say Gun hVe'
Selah.
CAMPBELL-CRAW AFFAIR.
The CITIZEN has studiously avoid
ed discussing the sad case between
the Judge of Amherst and DR.. Craw-
ford of the Anti-Saloon League. |
The press of Virginia, almost with
out exception, has severely berated
Judge Campbell, and is continuing
to do so. While We deeply deplore
the occurrences, and recognize that
Judge Campbell is seriously at
fault, we still do not believe
The circumstances, as we have
learned them, warrant the lash
ing that he has received at the
hands of the public and the press.
1t is one thing to decry and insult a
man at distance and quite differ
ent thing to do it to his face. With
out question the Judge is the ''under
dog in the fight" But he has on
top of him not one or two, but
whole pack, as it were. No mat
ter how much he may have
sinned we do not think he
should have been jumped on in
this wholesale manner, and while
unable to take his part it is still our
privilege and inclination to urge a
stay of proceedings until the matter
shall have been given full vent in
the courts, and to insist that the
public and press be more moderate
in their denunciatiou.
No one who knows us will accuse
US of siding with whiskeyites, or
with any legislation or decree in
favor of that nefarious traffic, but
we can calmly and dispassionately
review causes which lead up to dis
astrous actions.
When DR.. Crawford wrote in his
paper that the people were "wonder-
ing which was the most doctored,
the whiskey or the Judge" Judge
Campbell took it as an implication
that he had been bribed by the
whiskeyites. In his impetuosity he
lcited DR.. Crawford to appear before
~'eN ae-st for -contampt. After some
appeared before the Judge. It hav-
ing been called to his atten ton the
Judge saw clearly that the offender
could not be legally held for con-
tempt, since the offensive paragraph
had been published after the case
was closed. Whereupon Judge
/
Campbell publicly dismissed the pro-
ceedings and acknowledged that he
had been hasty and in error. Up to
this point the Judge had been ap-
plauded as "leading the procession"
Sach are the words to us of Judge
Mann, who was counsel for DR.
crawford. But after dismissine
court Judge Campbell approached
Dr. Crawford on the green, having a
small riding-whip in his hand
winch he almost invariably carried,
even on the bench, it being his Gus
tom to ride horseback nearly alto.
gether. What followed was told Ms
oy an eyewitness and friend of DR..
Crawford. The Judge stated to the
minister that he (the judge) had
done all that could be expected of a
man to remedy his error, and now
desired that Mr.. Crawford make pub-
lic retraction of the offensive lam
gnage' at the same time inquiring if
the preacher intended to convex the
idea that he (the judge) had been
brlbed. Although cordially taking
the Judges hand DIR. Crawford some
what arrogantly stated that he would
deny or retract nothing. Whereupon
the impetuous Judge cut him across
the face three or four times with the
little whip.
Undoubtedly Judge Campbell add
ed grievous injury to retracted |
error, and we do not attempt to pal |
late his deed, nor is it our place |
to urge it in mitigation when
IN the hands of a jury of his
peers. But while condemning the
deed the public is surely not war
ranted in using such insulting and
high-handed expressions toward the
Enthusiastically not until court of
justice has stamped his act as baneful
as 1T is colored. Personally knowing
Judge Clarence ]. Campbell we do
not wonder that he was exasperated
into doing some rash act, but blame
simply his human judgment and not
the soul of the man. Heretofore hel
has been known as true type of Vir-
gilman, sans pear ct sans reproche.