The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-24
He DENIES IT.
Rev. c. M. Billings Publishes Card
In Augusta Chronicle.
Mr.. Robert &. Fickling, of Biackville.
Replies to Same Through The Col


umbia State.
The following communication al
peared in the Augusta Chronicle on
day last week:
"On June g and "a dispatche
were given to the press to the effec
that had been expelled from tn
Blackville. S. c.. Baptist church OF
account OF letters containing expires
sions of e,.dearment for house-mait
who had tu-merly served in our home
| A further statement to the effect tina
had forsaken my wife and child anc
gone away with this servant was
made.
Il want to say by way of eNplana
ton for my silence that for the frs
10 days after these dispatches ap
peared l was not in a physical nol
mental condition to make the state
ment wish to make. Besides, friends
as wei. as myself thought a statement
which would finally be made by 8
body of brethren would be more
satisfactory to the general public
But finding that many of my friends
are expecting q statement from me
and are waiting impatiently for it,
wish to declare:
First. That the letters in Ques-
tion were not written by me; neither
have I been allowed the privilege OF
seeing them.
Second. The statement with ref
erence to the relations of endear-
ment existing between me and the
servant in question are libelous.
Third. At the time that the dis
patch went out I had not only for
saken my family. but was at home
with them. This the author certain
ly must have known.
1T is true upon the evidence con-
tanned upon these letters I was ex-
cluded from the church, but had
absolutely no opportunity to defend
myself or deny the authorship OF
them, since, | was preaching for a
friend in Augusta and did not reach
home until o'clock in the after
noon of that day.
This is my final statement until
a body of reputable brethren hear the
case and their findings made pubic.
Rev. C. NJ. Billings.
Contradicts Billings.
To the Editor Of The State:
It has been the purpose Of your
correspondent to have nothing more
to say in regard to the awful Bill
lings matter which has been the talk
of our town and the whole State and
caused great grief to Christian peo-
pie here and elsewhere.
But the statement in your paper
today, copied from the Augusta
Chronicle, is so misleading to those
people over the State who do not
know the facts in the case and is so
totally devoid of truth until this IN
formant must come forth.
Now, every reputable man IN THIS
town will sign his name to the tact
that these awful letters written py
Billings to the negro who had been
his house maid are in Billings own
handwriting. These letters were
written here and mailed 70 Bamoers'
where the maid had gone after leaV-
ing his home on account OF the tact
leaking out here.
4 Young newly married man could
not write letter in more enoearlns
terms to his tender bride. The only
word of sympathy for the man mere
for his crime is occasionally the state
nave
his mind.
This answers Billings first state
ment in regard to his not writing
Second. That he had not been al
lowed the privilege OF seeing them
< false. On the other hand he was
begged to go and read them ana ne
hat-footedly refused to do SO.
His third statement, that ne mao
absolutely no opportunity to deleno
himself or to deny the authorship ol
the letters as he was away preachlus
For a friend and didn't reach nome
until o'clock in the afternoon ne
was communicated is oevolo o.
any truth Whatsoever
On the contrary. Billings was NOT
fled or Friday afternoon tnat ne
would &c turned out OF the cnurch
On Sunday and was asked to be there
This he failed to do. but on the con-
trarv took the train for Augusta
Ca. and preached there for pTeacn, I,
or who came here for him and hearu
he proceedings at church mere sun
3ay morning.
This was not previous engage
ment for him to preach IN augusta
for ne had an engagement TO preach
in Lexington, \. c.. and wlfeo men men
after arriving in Augusta, ne cou!o
not come. This information was IL
he Charlotte Observer, -,
1t might also be stated laat On, On,
ings was excluded from the cnufcH
rot only for gross immorallt! IN re.
9srd 70 his life with the negro O"'
or prevaricatlon. -. CON,
copv of this letter has been sem
q the Augusta Chronicle IN reply !,
he card appearing in that paper,
'''le 0"i y Robert B. Fickling,
Rlsckville, S. c., July Il. lsV'.