The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-03-08
JUDGE WAS DRUNK
Alabama Associate Justice
Admits His Guilt.
AND DPREACHERFELlOEAD
Ellis Accused Anderson and Other Of
ficiaIs of Being Intoxicated at Fun
eraI of Chief Justice-Sen-
sation is Statewide.

The Rev. J. D. Ellis, editor OF the
Alabama Christian Advocate, dropped
dead in Birmingham Thursday after
noon from heart failure. It was the
very day Of his first signal victory as
the editor of the leading religious pa
Ger of the state, due to the fact that
in Thursdays issue of The Advocate,
Associate Jus<ice John c. Anderson
of the supreme court has an open let
ter pleading guilty to the charge made
in The Advocate last week that he was
intoxicated at the funeral Of the late
Chief Justice Thomas N. Mcclellan, in
Athens, Ala.
The deceased became editor of the
paper ON December 1, last Previous
to that he had been pastor of the
Methodist church at Admission, Decar
tur, East Lake and Avondale. He was
SO years old, and leaves large fam
lily.
Mr.. Ellis last week editorially charg-
ed Justice Anderson and three other
state officials with being intoxicated
at the funeral, and the statement has
stirred Alabama as few things have
in years. Papers in all parts Of the
state have demanded the resignation
of Justice Anderson and other OFF,
cialS.
Following is q portion of the letter
written Mr. Ellis by Justice Ander-
son, which appears in the issue Of
The Advocate of current date:
REV. ]. D. Ellis Of Birmingham,
Ala.-Dear Sir: My attention has just
been called to an editorial in the last
issue of the Alabama Christian Ad-
vocate, In whicn you, as editor, bring
charges of very serious nature
against certain officials of our beloved
state.
$50 far as it refers to me, it pains
me to have to plead guilty in part. On
!. the trip up to Athens, was greatly
depressed over the death Of our "a
mented chief justice. I had contract
8 ed a severe cold, and, besides, my
system was considerably rundown by
winters hard work, and I, unfor-
tunately, took several drinks, which
were, as is the case with any quantity,
too much for me. Upon my arrival
at Athens, went to room In the
hotel. did not go to the house
where the body Of the chief justice lay
in state the next day, as I felt too
bad, but l did go to the cemetery
when the body of the distinguished
dead was laid to rest. At the ceme-
terry I saw many of your Birmingham
citizens, who, do not think, will say
that I was intoxicated there.
'My modification has been as keen
rs man could feel over this unfortun-
ate folly, and your article has but
added to my remorse and humiliation.
For twenty years, with but few ex-
ceptions, I.have led a life Of almost
total abstinence. MY young man
hood was almost blighted by the whfs-
ky curse, but, by the help Of God,
have been saved thus far from fall
ing into the depths Of ruin, though
have tottered upon the brink a few
times.
II have been on the bench eleven
years, and have never Deen under the
> influence of liquor in the slightest
when discharging an official duty. Still,
I appreciate the fact that all men,
and especially public officials, should
set worthy example, whether on
duty or not, and I trust and promise
by the help Of God to commit no
act of folly in the future that can re-
Meet upon me as citizen or bring
in question the reputation of an hon.
orable Office bestowed upon me by the
good people Of my native state"