Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-02-21
MAGISTRATE CRISP IS UPHELD.
Blease-Earle Charges Against Wal.
halla Official Are Withdrawn,
(The State, t8th.)


against, A. P. Crisp, magistrate for
Oconee county, at Walhalla, the Sem
ate yesterday, In executive session,
reconfirmed his appointment as mag
istrate.
Magistrate Crisp was removed from
office by the Governor on February
18th.
The Governor said in his letter OF
dismissal "For divers good ana
sufficient reasons, l have this day
suspended and removed you from tho
Office OF magistrate for Oconee coun-
ty, at Walhalla, S. G. Your commits.
sion. heretofore issued on February
rs, has been revoked"
The Governor in his letter also
asked that tho books and papers OF
the office be turned over to the Clerk
of Court Of Oconee
George l.. Wilson was appointed
to take the place OF Magistrate Crisp.
The nomination was sent to the Sem
ate by the Governor. The Senate did
not confirm the appointment OF Mr..
Wilson.
Attorneys representing Magistrate
Crisp presented brief to tho men,
bers Of the Senate yesterday. Tho
brief was in defense Of Magistrate
Crisp and gave complete record Of
the case.A
lGarle's Lcniency.
"he brief begins with the follow
Ing letter from J. r. Earle, Senator
from Oconee county, to Magistrate
Crisp:
Dear Sir: Yours received. / had
hoped that you would, forIDersonal
reasons, If not otherwise, tender your
Resignation, since you know that 1t
was out OF personal consideration
that you were retained. However, as
you have forced the issue, feel that
1t would be my public duty to recon-
mend your removal. You can make
such showing as you desire to before
the Governor not later than Febru-
ary g.
As a Public Duty. \,
Senator earle addressed the fol-a.
lowing letter to the Governor, rec-5
ommending tho removal OF Magts-
Dear er,lo herewith hand;
aiols
IN re- ,A.E r. Crisp, ma gistrate, \, WliiciisH
speaks for itself.aEIt was reported 70
me, recently, by M c.. Long, that one
Bell was prosecuted by one Murphy,
and the day for trial set. Murphy
employed Mr.. Long to defend him,
whereupon Mr.. Long applied to Mag
istrate Crisp for a continua ice, stat
ing that he had another engG cement
for the day set and the continuance
was refused. On the day set the par
tlcs ana Witnesses were present, and
Bell asked for continuance because
he wanted to employ Mr. Herndon,
but had not spoken to him, although
several days had elapsed since the ac-
tion had been begun, and that he was
out OF town on that day Another
continuance was granted at the in
stance Of Mr.. Ierndon for the absence
of witness Such complaints as this
nave come to me often, and It IS
common talk that a party must em-
ploy Mr.. Herndon in order to win
cases before Mr.. Crisp. On account
of Magistrate Crisp's continuous
bias and service to one attorney, I
feel impelled as public duty to rec
ommend his removal from Office"
lie Did Not Resign.
Magistrate Crisp refused to resign
as magistrate. He addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the Governor:
Dear Sir: Yours Of 9th instant
received and contents noted. have
also read the copies OF letters OF SEN
ator J. r. Earle OF 7th instant and
VIM. j. Stribling Of January "a.
II beg respectfully, but emphati-
>'ii1' W NOhJ VIC CHdIBoS ana luSluu-
ations contained in these letters.
"As to the Murphy-Bell case, men,
toned in Senator Earle's letter, beg
to refer to the affldavits OF NJ. G. Long
and e. l.. Herndon, herewith submit
ted.
"In the discharge OF my official
duty as magistrate, it has been my
constant desire and intention to con-
slider the rights Of litigants in causes
brought before me, on their merits.
and to decide the issues submitted.
fairly, impartially and in accordanca
with justice as 1t appeared to my
mind. ! do not claim perfection, or
that ] have never made q mistake,
but do claim that have endeavor-
ed at all times to seek for truth and
justice, and that without fear or ia
vor OF any man or of any attorney
appearing before me.
knowing as | do that the charges
preferred in these letters are with
out foundation in fact, sense Of
duty to myself impels me to refute
the same.
II, therefore, respectfully decline
to tender my resignation as magis-
trate, and ] court the fullest inyesti-
CATION OF the charges preferred.
II beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
"A. p. Crisp,