The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-10
REPLY TO SERMON
CRITICISM OF COURTS BY REV.
WILLIAMS BRINGS LETTER
FROM BENCH TO PULPIT.
COURT AND CITY OFFICIALS DE-
CLINE TO DISCUSS NATTER.

OF. Williams SNan0s rat on What ne
Said-Keceived Letter from Judge
BarrOw-says IL Was a Respect
ful commandments Barrow
Declined to be Interviewed.
Judge Norwood Also Observed
RetIcence-The Sermon Much Dis
cussed-NO Expression from City
OmciaIs.
The sermon of Rev. A. NJ. Williams,
IN which he paid his respects to the
courts, the gamblers and the city gov
eminent, caused considerable com
ment yesterday. his references to what
he termed the understanding between
the courts and the gamblers" and the
mutual infatuation of the one for the
other. arousing, in particular. storm
OF indignation.
So pronounced was this feeling that
the sermon has not gone unanswered.
Judge Pope Barrow wrote a letter 10
DIR. Williams shortly after reading his
remarks in the Morning News. In this
letter, it is unders TODD, he expressed
his unqualified disapproval of the re-
marks made from the pulpit relative
to the ''mesmeric influence" which il
was asserted the gamblers had over
the court. While the text of the let
ter was not made public. it is under
stood that it was pointed and force
full.
DR.. Williams said that he had re-
ceived the letter and would respond to
it in proper time. He declined to dis
cuss it. further than ito say that it
was a respectful communication.
Had Not Observed Public Comment.
In speaking of the matter Rev. DIR.
Williams said that because of his con-
finement in his study he had not had
any occasion to observe what COM
ments had been made upon his sermon.
He said that the report in the paper
was very accurate, and he had no fault
to find with it. He said, however, that
he feared his meaning had rot been I'M
derstood by some. There was no inten-
ton on his part, he said. to accuse the
judges of completely with the gamblers:
rather he meant to say that he was
impressed by the nlesmeric influence
which the gamblers exercised over the
courts. This influence he said was in
eXplicable to him.
Judge Barrow declined positively to
express himself in any way on the sub
ject Judge Norwood was equally as
reticent That both of the judges smart
under the insinuations was very evil
dent. 1t was after a conference that
they decided to say nothing on the
subject. This conference was held in
the Superior Court room. At its con-
clusion the reporters were advised that
there was nothing for publication.
Judges Refused to Discuss II.
There's nothing doing" said Judge
Norwood as he left the court room.
II decline to be interviewed" said
Judge Barrow.
While Judge Norwood would give no
expression relative to the sermon IT.
self. he was constrained to give vent
to few remarks on the righteousness
of the natural inference that he was
acquainted with the sporting frater-
nifty.
why I don't know gambler in Sa-
Vannah. l heard that one man was a
gambler, but / have never had my in
formation authenticated. Then
heard of a man who some years ago
ran a gambling house here. but l un-
derstand he has moved away long ago
No. I don't know a gambler in Sa-
Vannah.''
The expressions to which the judges
of the court took exception, and which
We're the topics of street corner talk
were, in part as follows:
The Objectionable Reference.
after five years I return to Savan-
nah. Here l find gambling going on
in all its wonted power and unparal-
leled audacity; l am constrained to
paraphrase the words Of Tennyson in
his illusions to the little brook which
went on and on forever. Gambling has
a solemn mesmeric influence over the
courts. The courts seem to be infat-
uated with the gamblers, and the
gamblers with the courts. When the
authorities go out to make a raid,
there is an understanding; the gam
blers get their money ready, and when
the authorities come around they pay
up. When they pay $1,000 as a fine,
they are being licensed to continue
their business. Then one of these men
gets in few raw recruits with bulg-
ing purses and in less than a week
mayhap, he has enough money to pay
six months license"
Mr. Williams words relative to the
evils existing in municipal affairs was
midely commented on. A portion of
what he said in this connection was:
THE power of money in securing city
officers Is such as to silence opposi-
ton, suppress independence and stay
the ambition of those who do not hap
pen to control the money. 1t is de-
bauchery on citizenship"
None of the city officers would dis
cuss Dir. Williams attack on the ad-
ministration. Acting Mayor Dixon
stated that he had nothing at all to
say on the subject. Other officers also
refused to talk about it,