The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-07-14
of fidelity and work sufficient for
amendment?


lower Indian river over ninety miles
from the head of transportation and
left my home but three times in five
years.
In 1876 l was injured during the
prevalence of a hurricane in trying
to help a neighbor save his boat and
it was two years before I got well.
In 1876 the voting place was at Bark
er's Bluff, eighteen miles away, and
was unable to get to the polls to
vote but 1 did all could to get others
and afterwards received and exhibit
ed a letter from Governor Drew, ex-
pressing his esteem and satisfaction
with my conduct. And not only so
but some of the best men of the state
have at all times honored me with
their friendship.
Governor Perry and Governor Biloxi
ham both knew me from my child
hood. The one appointed me county
| judge and the other appointed me
judge of the circuit court; are not
these mighty names sufficient vOuch-
ers for my worthiness?
And, Mr.. Editor, from 1872 down
to this good day my life has been an
open book to the people. Here have
lived among them in good repute as
laborer, fisherman, lawyer and Judge
with every latch string on the out
side of the door to me.
Here have l been esteemed and
honored without question and without
stint. Here do l have credit for
steadfast effort to do good and not
harm. Ought not all this have saved
me from being abused and inveighed
against as bandit and a felon even
though it would not stay the con-
certed design to injure and disgrace
me? Was it any more wrong for
me to speak commercially of Stock
ton and Broward than it was for his
excellency to quit the executive Of
flee and engage in a ''vociferous and
killing" canvass for Taliferro?
In all the years l have served as
circuit judge I never left this state
but once, and then but for a two
weeks visit with my kinfolk in
Georgia. In all these years since
this trip to Georgia I have been out
of the circuit but twice except when
assigned by the governor to hold
court elsewhere.
In all these years l have promptly
held every term of this court but
two. Once in Dade while was suf-
fering with malaria fever and lately
in Orange because of illness in my
family. But no time was really lost
as in both instances / held terms in
vacation time to make it up. AS a
matter of fact l have lost but two
days that l did not make up.
Outside of my own county | have
almost invariably gone to the court
room at o'clock and held until mid
night when there was anything to do.
Customarily 1 have tried law cases
by day and chancery cases by night.
! / have tried nameless criminal
cases with as much calmness and SOL
emnity pervading the court room as
if case of larceny were being tried.
l have been tender with the rights
of the poor and of women because
as Victor Hugo says, "the weight of
society bears heavier on them than
on other persons"
The attack on my docket is a SLAM
der.
| have never failed to try a case
where party was in court with his
witnesses and ready for trial except
once in Brevard county.
In Dade county the cases now on
this docket have gone over by con-
sent or because the parties were not
prepared for trial
In West Palm Beach county there
is not continued case.
In st. Lucle county there is but
one continued case on the docket and
that went over by consent.
In Brevard county ;nere is but one
continued case and that went over
on terms.
In Volusia county the continued
cases went over by consent and at
the erquest of parties.
In Orange county the continued
cases went over to an adjourned term
because the parties had not their
witnesses.
In Osceola county the only pending
case on the docket went over by con-
sent.
Only two untried chancery cases
will so over to my successor. Both
these are right new and l was dis
qualified by law to try one of them.
The attack on my physical condi-
ton is another SANDER.