The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-07-09
SUPREME COURT
IS SCORED BY ATTY.
GENERAL CALDWELL
.,vs NIGHT RIDER DECISION
WAS A TRAVEsTY ON
JUSTICE.
ANARCHY AGAIN in SADDLE"
General Caldwell Comes Out In
Red Hot Interview at Union
city-says Another Trial Is Not
Probable.

Probable
Union CITY, Tenn, July 5.-Attor-
80. General d. ]. Caldwell returned
70 5Alan City Sunday and gave out
state. ent in regard to the opinion
handed down by the Supreme Court
saturday in the Night Rider cases,
remanding them to this county for a
now trial. Gen. Caldewll said:
The decision of the Supreme
Court. which was rendered Saturday
in what is known as the Night Rider
cases. was such a surprise TO me, to
cav no more, that | did not feel 1t
competent nor even safe for me TO
ATTEMPT to exercise my opinion OF the
decision. No man in the world can
he more affected by this broadcast
decision than | am. For eight months
# has been my entire lifework to
restore order out of chaos, to have
law and order in the Reelfoot district,
where anarchy was wont to reign, and
TO ayenge the murder of the sainted
Rankin, and then, as / see it, without
apv logic, argument or reason, three
men with power alone discard these
facts and with one fell swoop render
an opinion that again places anarchy
in the saddle and says to others and
TO me in authority that the admins
tration of justice in Tennessee is a
farce.
because of Fly Specks."
Il would not complain if they had
gone into the facts of the case and
had seen proper to say that the
facts did not warrant a conviction,
but for them to reverse so important
a case on mere technicalities occurs
to me as being a traversty on justice.
They had a complete record before
them. We're the defendants guilty!
If not, go into the facts and say SO
and | would be the last one to COM
plain. but, in the name of justice, let
no oiatv one escape because OF n.y.
specks.
Il NAV be wrong, but in my opinion
these three judges have committed
judicial blunder such as has not oc-
Cured for a hundred years in Tennes-
see jurisprudence. OF course, ac'
cord them honesty and sincerity, but
the God of Justice pities their ludg'
ment Each and all of the technlcail-
ties was deliberately considered by
nv associates, w c. Caldwell, w. H.
Swiggart. Hal Holmes, Sparrel HILL
Felix Moore, ]. R. Deason and others
and We decided that none of the polnts
or objections of the defendants were
well aiken and that no court Woulo
ever hold to the contrary, but, aias
and alack. three greater judges nave
arisen. Upon what meat has Greater
Caesar eaten that their minds snoulu
SO overshadow the above nameo
galaxy of able lawyers that | had as
Sstiug me?
But, after all, l suppose that pow
err makes might, and while Judge
Jones and | have the brunt to pear
We will have to submit to the oplniol
Of those who. by fortune, misfortune
accident, or chance, are placed IN au
lhority above us.
The Full Meaning.
None of those who are in a posi-
ton to know can realize the rul
meaning of the decision. ACCORDING
10 same, | see no way to ever nave
trial of the case again. RetrioutlS'
justice must be left to an aVenelne
God Come veal or come woe, haV'
nothing to retract and content mysei
with the fact that / have, in my nun
Bile way done all that ! could 10 SCI
that law and order was restored AM
justice meted out to the guilty
this has been perverted am not re
sponsible for it. have been wliiih'
TO do so and to dare In the interes
Of good government and order M
private interest to the contrary no'
outstanding and now, to find it all U
no avail is indeed discouraging.