The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-11-24
CARD
TO THE PEOPLE OF JOHNSON CITY

In a speech in Jobe's Opera House
on Monday evening, November lith, l
stated that, according to the records. of
the recorder of tho town Of johnson
City, one Jim Coins had been convict
ed of the illicit sale Of liquor and fined
$50. 90 by the recorder, and that after
this fine had been assessed ID. A. Vines,
city attorney, compromised the said
Coins case for $40 90. further stated
that the same Jim Coins case was af-
terward tried in the circuit. court at
Jonesboro, and that the said Coins was
convicted, fined $50 90 aud sentenced TO
six months in Jail, and that the case
was appealed to the supreme court and
the decision Of the lower court was af-
frmed,
On Tuesday evening, November 22d,
d. A, Vines, candidate for mayor of
johnson City, stated in his speech
at the opera house that he had been
accused of compromising the case of
"The Town Of Johnson City VS.. James
Coins" for 5000. He further said
that this was as far from the truth as
could be, and that this was the only
case compromised that he knew any
thing about; also that the mayor of
Johnson City compromised the case
contrary to his advice and instructions
as city attorney. He further stated
that if the record did not show this to
be true he would quit the race for
mayor before the polls were closed,
and If it was not ascertaiued until after
the election was over, and it was ther
shown to be fact, he would resign il
ele cted.
Q Here is the record, taken from the
4 recorders docket, book 3, page 1893:
> March OH 1904 (Ihe Town oil johnson City, lena,
;, 60 ~ ie3o VS..
''''' Tvs jim Coins.
Selling Whiskey-Trial.
. Fined 1876 days, or $50 OO-4 Oc a day
Costs, $3.50 Compromised by cit
!. attorney, and defendant paying tel
dollars $4,000. The $1,000 paid Apri
2Sth, 1904. Mote The record doe
not show this further fact, but it is
fact, that this fne was paid by D. A
Vines. Where did Mr.. Vines get tn
money p
], S. IL. Ponder, recorder of the tow
of johnson City, Tenn, do certify tia
the above is true copy of the record
as they appear in my Office.
This November %, 1904.
s. II. PONDER.
/ desire to say thatin the compromis
of the cause of ''The Town of Johnso
City VS. Jim Coins" in which ther
was paid $40 as a compromise of S;
fine in the law court of Johnson City.
did not compromise said cause an
never gave my consent as mayor fC
any one else to do so, as is plainl
shown in the statement below by A.
johnson, the attorney for Coins in th
cause. j. W. CRUMLEY, Mayor.
Following is the statement of A. |
Johnson, attorney, touching the j
he Coins case and its compromise
s. / was attorney for James Coins b
IN fore the recorder of johnson Git
to Tenn, when he was fined fifty dola
90 on the 9th day of March, 1904. / the
VI appealed his case to the law court al
m at the next term the case was called f
a trial | then approached the Mayo
e. ]. w. Grumley, and urged him
81 recommend a compromise of this cas-
- The mayor fatty refused to do s
al The mayor never at any time intimat
IS that he would recommend such COZ
e. promise, but stood for the full senten
% as imposed by the recorder tt
- same case was tried in the circuit cou
at Jonesboro, where the mayor assis
ad ed in the prosecution. There was
i'm conviction and the case appealed to t
on supreme court, where it was affirme
-, and Jim Coins is now serving out |
DC sentence at Jonesboro.
er (Signed) A. r. JOHNSON.
Respectfully,
THOMAS. B. RUSSELL.
Nov. 9jth, 1904.