Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-12-30

seen from the following interview Civ
en- out by Hon. Henry Lincoln John
son. who was Mr.. Davis attorney:
Very often in human experience it lg-p-
pens that 1t is through evil that the mSh-
est good is evolved. We see through our
glasses dimly at times. but If we possess
our souls in patience. relying upon the
truth and upon our faith in man II our
hearts are set right and our cause Is Just.
righteousness will eventually triumph. and
the truth Will make US free So it hap
pened in the recent prosecution IN me
courts of a pretended act Of wrongdoinS
against 3. ]. Davis. the great ODD Fellow
and the well balanced and courageous
editor.
The superior court OF Fulton county
was crowded when the case brought by A
Graves against b. J. Davis was sounded
for trial and entered upon. Through some
unKindly newspapers. both at Rome ana
abroad. the fact Of this indictment against
b. J. Davis was heralded to the four cor
ners OF the earth in order that his hand
might be stnlcd and stayed.
EVIL disposition and malignant purpose
had done its work. but. thanks to the in
stitutions Of our civilization. there are
courts Of justice where cases are tried
end th,tr truth and facts. not supposition
and sian der. VIII make or unmakc the ac-
cuEed after tie prosecution had offered
the estmony of Its witnesses. when the
case was on its last legs, ready to totter
and fall, still. I'm order that the truth. and
whole truth. should be Hnown. a few ad-
iitlonaI witnesses were called, and before
n j. Davis was called on at all TO say
one word the far heraldcd indictment had
absolutely fallen for want of proof. and
the Judge. on the motion Of the prosecut-
Ing attorney. directed the jury to return a
verdict OF not guilty
Is,f wac
Of the brightest and best white men in
Georgia, leaders Of the bar, leading mer-
chant princes. leading business and labor
ny men and prominent white ministers of
ue gospel were called and to a man they
willingly testified that they had known
Davis from his childhood days and that
A.S character was OF the best. Added to
,l.s was the willing testimony Of tho lead
ny colorCd men OF the state, taken from
every walk Of life. its most prominent
lawyers. its most widely known physi-
ci1ns. it's most prosperous and successful
merchants and its most devout and pious
ministers OF the gospel.
Now ii seldom happens to a man that
such galaxy OF the brightest products of
civilization in state should unani-
nouEly in open court and under oath sing
lut one song and tell but one story-that
his much prosecuted man was good was
honest. was' faithful, was upright and
trustworthy. Among the white people OF
Georgia no men shine brighter among It's
citizens than Hon. l.. u. Rosser. the mag
ninCent lawyer; than George Muse the
Christian merchant prince; than Hon NJ
j. Yoeman Of Dawson, one Of the most
prominent of the white lawyers OF south
west Georgia; than the Hon Obadiah
Stephens, the distinguished railroad com
missioner Of the state. OF the best blood
and the highest civilization OF the south
land there is no more positive an expo
nent than Captain Henry s. Jackson.
Among his own race in Georgia no busi-
ness men have been more successful than
the Driskells. Conallys and RusseIls, no
physicians more widely known and ac-
complished than the Penns and A. D.
Jones, among the ministers none whose
life is more orderly pious and distin-
guishcd than Dr. Il. Il. Carter These
were some Of the colored men who Will
ingy testified to the good character of
Il. J. Davis.
have never seen such a haupeuing in
a courtroom during many years Of expe-
rlcnce therein and in this public way. TO
the many whom 1 know / desire to indite
this thought-that he whose life As right.
whose mind and energy arc bent or, the
hettS'ment OF his race and the uplift of
his state and country, as is charucteristie
of Il. j. Davis. need have no fear Of those
who would persecute