The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1910-01-12
4 BARREN VICTORY.

Carolina. James S. Farnum the beer
king of Charleston. pays a fine of So
000. and thereby according TO an a
Ereement with the courts OF Justice
secures immunity for himself against
any further prosecution in other cas-
es, SO the state of South Carolina
and James S. Farnum are at peace;
the accounts have been squared
No doubt this manner Of settlement
was the only practical method: no
doubt the attorney general had rca-
son to believe that conviction and n
sentence to the penitentialy were
impossible; his former efforts had
failed before a RiChland county Jury
Mr., Lyon. in our opinion is a thorough
ly conscientious man. and true oil Ger:
we do not believe that he woulr vio-
late his trust; he is strictly honest,
and uncomprOmisingly honorable But
as to whether or not his course in the
Farnum case was wise and iudicious.
is a matter of question.
Has the state OF South Carolina won
victory? In one sense yes One
who was under the charge OF bribery
has confessed that he was guilty. The
Richland jury that declared otherwise
has been put in very bad light The
treasury OF RChland county has been
enriched by $4,000; doubtless some
good roads will be built with this
sEm But the victory appears 10 us
rather barren
Farnum, charged with an onense
against the laws OF the state was tried
by God and his country" he was
declared innocent. God and his
country" failed to find any wrong in
his acts. The one-time-accuscd comes
to the states officers and makes
proposition; he agrees to confess his
wrong, if the courts will do thus and
so. In other words the breaker
dictates the term Of his sentence.
Which is the stronger in South Caro-
lima, the law or the offender against
the law? The Farnum case seems to
prove that the courts were impotent.
The presiding judge even agreed to
strike out the offensive "iail" alterna-
tive.
DEPRESSING bit: the really funny
tncident connected with the whole af-
Fair was Judge Princes commenda-
tfon OF the accused's course he was
praised for taking his medicine like
man." We'd like to wager that
Farnum was laughing in his sleeves
at this mighty court of justice to
which he was SO effectively debating.
Iaking his medicine" to be sure
For the slight sum of $4,000, n trans
Rressor of the law sets himself square
with commonwealth. How Banker
Morse must envy Briber Farnum!
The victory for the state is nomi-
nal; the court records will show a
conviction in one of the famous dis
pensary graft cases. However. nobody
Is yet in Jail, according to the cam
niagn pledge OF Fraser Lyon. And
there is no rejoicing in the victory;
indeed it seems to us that it is robb
ed of any significance, save the re-
ceipt OF $1,000.
This barter and trade with the
courts of justice, and the dictation of
terms by the criminal class may be
all right and altogether proper: Il
may be the practical way, and the only
practical way; but, we cannot see that
the majesty" OF the law is maintained
therein, that the strength of law is
impressed upon the people, or that
the efficiency of our courts and our
system of dispensing justice are COM
mended thereby. To say what might
have been, or might be, Is useless
talk. But whether or not the attorney
general would better have served his
state by allowing the Farnum case
TO stand as it was, rather than accept
ing the terms Of the accused is a mat
Ter OF debate Every intelligent man
in the state who carefully followed the
course of his trial knows that a clear
case was made out against Farnum; :;
the failure OF the Richland jury was
no fault OF the attorney generals,
and the people know 1t. BY the pub
Tic, Farnum was already convicted.
Ills confession amounts to very little !:
there is no victory in 1t for the state.
THE TINES POSITION.
On another page is printed an edi-