The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-09-03
no EVIDENCE AGAINST STOKES

| NO EVIDENCE AGAINST Stokes
| Several days ago Mr.. Henry Stokes,
| president OF the city council and chair
| man OF the police committee, was ara
rested on warrant sworn out by ex-
Policeman George Chambers for visit
ing a house OF Ill fame at the west
end The case was set for trial this
morning. Mayor Robertson presiding
Mr. c. l. Sistrunk. city attorney. APP
peared for the city and Mr.. Stokes was
| represented by Attorney r. A. Bur
| ford. When the case was called the
city attorney in substance said he had
carefully studied the ordinance AFFECT
ing the case. had talked with the wit
nesses and felt satisfied 1t was a mis-
| take to have had Mr. Stokes arrested.
because he went to this west end re-
sort In an official capacity to investi-
gate matters pertaining to the conduct
OF Policemen Baisden and Chambers.
| which had occasioned public talk and
| scandal That Mr.. Stokes went to
| Sheriff Galloway to learn II he knew
anything Of the affair. The sheriff
said he did not: only from hearsay
The sheriff further told Mr. Stokes 1t
was his business to find out, and the
| only way to do 1t was to go out and
question the inmates. Mr. Stokes said
| he disliked to go out alone. when the
| sheriff said he would have Mr. Hut
| son. deputy sheriff, accompany him
To further impress Mr.. Stokes 1t was
his duty to investigate the sheriff told
him II he. Stokes. did not do 1t, he. the
sherin. would have to. so Mr. Stokes
and Deputy Hutson went out to the
! house and questioned the inmates
about the conduct Of the officers al
! ready referred to and then returned.
The city attorney further said that
ex-Policeman Chambers admitted to
him that he had sworn out the war
rant against Mr.. Stokes in the heat Of
| passion. and was very sorry he
had done so. The city attorney fur
Their said that in constituting the or
! dinance in the light Of reason and
common sense, Mr.. Stokes did not
come under its ban. as his visit was
purely professional and in the best in
| terests Of the city. To which the
| mayor acquiesed.
| Attorney Burford for Mr. Stokes
then stated that Sheriff Galloway be
called to make a statement. which
was granted. but as Mr.. Galloway was
not in the audience. Mr.. Hutson took
the stand and in substance corroborat-
ed what the city attorney had already
| stated. BY this time Mr.. Galloway had
appeared and he substantiated what
1 had been said about Mr.. Stokes visit
! to his office and what he advised him
| to do. Mr.. Burford made a few re-
| marks about the absurdity Of SO hedg-
| ing around a house Of the character in
question that not even a doctor could
call in case Of sickness. or a grocery
man to deliver goods. or a minister Of
| the gospel in case of death in the
house. etc This ended the case and
! the ma yor dismissed Mr.. Stokes.
There was a full house present to
hear the testimony and on Mr.. Stokes
acquittal he was the subject Of many
congratulations.
! Mayor Robertson then called the
case against ex-Policeman George
c. Chambers. charged with visiting a
house Of Ill fame. City Attorney c. L.
Sistrunk stated that he did not wish to
appear in the attitude Of representing
the city and defending Mr.. Chambers
both. but would nevertheless ask the
indulgence Of the court. while he made
a few remarks. Mr.. Sistrunk then
! said in part:
mo one regrets more seriously than
; do, the unfortunate condition Of at
fairs which has existed for the last
|
nicipality. 1t does the city much harm
commercially and by no means i'm
proves moral conditions. Such discord
: and confusion places in the hands OF
: the crank. unsolicited but gladly re-
. ceived. the big stick with which to
J. strike reason common-se and good
judgment: 1t gives the fanatic an ex-
. traordinary opportunity to express his
shallow views in this narrow channel
without regard for general welfare
!. it invited the plymouth, brainless
! agitator to blow his horn and our city
must smell his sinking breath and
endure the obnoxious orders Of a
false and rotten sentiment. The pro-
E gress and success of our municipality
: depends upon an economic, fair. just
= peaceful and harmonious administra-
q ton Of her affairs. Courts are made
n to punish the criminals and not te
prosecute. and these official powers
should never be usurped for the re-
taliation Of a real or an imaginary
j. wrong"
Mr. Sistrunk then asked the court tt
dismiss the case against Mr.. Chambers
Mr.. r. B. Bullock, representing Mr.
chambers, stated that he was very
glad Mr.. Sistrunk had seen the matter
in the light he had. That their view:
conceded and he would join with Mr.
Sistrunk in moving the court dismiss
the case.
Mayor Robertson then asked tina,
Mr.. Chambers be sworn. He asked Mr.
Chambers II he had visited the resorts
when not in the discharge Of his duty
Mr. Chambers stated he had not.
Mr. Robertson then had Councilmer
Carroll and Jones sworn and asked
them why the charges against Mr.
Chambers had not been Investigated Al
the special meeting Of the council The
councilmen stated that no formal, def
mite charges had come before the
council. except as to striking an Of
icer Of the city. and that the council
: found itself out Of order on that oc
e casion and did not convene or hold :
J, session.
n Mr.. Robertson then announced tina
8 the court would dismiss the cas-
/. against Mr.. Chambers.
: The mayor. after clearing the cour
] Of all except the city officials. pro
ceeded to law the law down to tn
women from the resorts who wer
. present. He told them is no uncertain
language what had to be done an
how they had to conduct themselve
: and that no violation OF the instruc
fions would he tolerated.