The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 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 Il hap
pens that 1t Is through evil that the high
est good is evolved. We see through our
glasses dimly at times. but II 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, ana
the truth will make US free. So 1t hap
pened In the recent prosecution In the
courts of a pretended act of wrongdoing
against d. J. Davis, the great Odd Feilo"
and the we'll 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 home ana
abroad, the fact of this indictment against
B. ]. Davis was heralded TO the four cor
ners Of the earth In order that his hand
might be stilled 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 trleu
and their truth and facts, not superstition
and slai der, will make or unmake the ac-
cused. after the prosecution had onered
the testimony of Its witnesses. when the
case was on It's last legs, ready to totter
and fall, still. In order that the truth. and
whole truth, should be known. few ad-
ditional witnesses were called and before
B. J. Davis was called on at all to say
one word tho far heralded indictment had
absolutely fallen for want OF PROOF. ana
the Judge. on the motion OF the prosecut-
ing attorney, directed the jury to return
verdict Of not guilty.
Before this was reached. however. scores
of the brightest and best white men In
Georgia, leaders of the bar. leading mer-
chant princes. leading business and labor
ing men and prominent white ministers or
the gospel were called. and to man they
willingly testified that they had known
Davis from his childhood days and that
his character was of the best Added to
this was the willing testimony OF the lead
ing colored men of the state. taken from
every walk of life, its most prominent
lawyers, its most widely known physi-
clans. its most prosperous and successful
merchants and its most devout and pious
ministers of the gospel
Now, It seldom happens to man that
such q galaxy Of the brightest products Of
civilization In a state should so unani-
mously in open court and under oath sing
but one song and tell but one story-that
this much prosecuted man was good was
honest. was faithful, was upright and
trustworthy. Among the white people OF
Georgia no men shine brighter among Its
citizens than Hon. L. z. Rosser, the mag
nificent lawyer; than George Muse. the
Christian merchant prince: than Hon. M.
]. 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. or the best blood
and the highest civilization OF the south
land there is no more positive an expo
nent than Captain Henry g. Jackson.
Among his own race I'm Georgia no busi-
ness men have been more successful than
the Driskells. Conaliys and Russells. 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-
guished than DR.. e. r. Carter. These
were some Of the colored men who will
ingly testified to the good character Of
b. ]. Davis.
a courtroom during many years Of expe-
rience therein and In this public way. To
the many whom l know I desire to indite
this thought-that he whose life Is right,
whose mind and energy are bent on the
betterment of his race and the uplift Of
his state and country, a. 10 characteristic
Of b. J. Davis, need have no fear Of those
who would persecute.