The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-05-15
MIR. P

MIN. Oh 1GO1l1IS AS1IA AA
In this issue of the Press and Ban
ner is printed a statement from MI.
A. j. Sproles, Superintendent of the
Waterworks in Greenwood, purport-
ing to justify the Imprisonment of
Miss Belle Voc for not yielding pos
session of her property, which had
been condemned for water works pur-
poses by the City of Greenwood.
Again concedlng most of the con-
tentions made by Mr.. Sproles, which
we do the more readily after reading
his very able and exceedingly inter-
defense, we must hold to our
one contention, that condemnation
proceedings enforced by contempt of
court orders, border dangerously near
on despotism. Yielding the point
that it was necessary, in view of her
conduct, to forcibly take possession of
Miss Yoe's entire property, we fall
back on u original contention that
the process should be changed.
If Miss Voc, for spite, did those
things which she knew would con-
taminate the city's supply of water
and in other ways violate the terms Of
the title made to the city by her faith
er, she should be held liable in dam
ages, if necessary to the extent Of her
entire estate. The enforcement Of a
Judgment for damages is an old and
recognized process that does not de-
prive the damaging party of liberty
or do violence to the principle of
freedom. Whatever the law may be,
for we are no lawyer, we would justi-
fly damages by the old and accepted
process to the extent of c~onfiscation,
but we cannot justify imprisonment
of a woman except for crime, or a
grave offense against the plain letter
Of the law. The alleged aggravating
conduct OF Miss zoe may 90 far to-
ward relieving the city council of
Greenwood of regrets for doing a very
harsh, if necessary, thing; but it does
not alter the principle.
1t seems from Mr.. Sproles' state
ments that the city owned three acres
of ground bought from her father be-
fore Miss Voc came into possession Of
adjoining lands. 1t seems further
that her father had kept faith with
the city in not doing anything that
would contaminate the water. Then
any building, pasture or Objectionable
intrusion of any kind could have
been condemned and removed under
the ordinary law of nuisance. This
it would seem gave the city ample
redress without forcibly dispossessing
her of her entire property, by con-
domination proceedings.
Viewing the act of the city as Miss
zoe dies, resentment was natural,
but with the light that Mr.. SprOles
has thrown on her conduct it is a pity
that the city had not selected some
other site and left her in possession Of
her ten dollar per acre land. TO our
mind anything would have been bet
ter than failing her.
The best room in the Jail and a seat
at the ~jailer's table all sound very
we'll. but they affect her only tempo
rarily. They are merely the sugar
coating for a nauseating drug, in no
way affecting its composition. The
degradation of a jail sentence will at
tach to her reputation throughout
her life, and if the case is appealed
will become a part of the legal re-
cords Of the State. Sir Walter Scott
expressed the very beautiful senti-
ment, that the falcon can never again
fly 50 high which has once worn a
bell. This imprisonment will ever
be a cause of humiliation to Miss
Voc and her friends, and we car not
help but feel some sympathy for her
in a forlorn fight unaided with the
city of Greenwood backed ever by
the State of South Carolina. Per-
.haps if we had been more nearly con-
cerned as our friend Mr.. Sproles has
been we would feel differently. They
say that all the sentimentality that is
written about the Indians is written
in the eastern section of this country.
His prior rights and his retreat be-,
fore the white man count for little
with the men of the plains. Mr.
Sproles is graphing with a fact, and
this editor with a theory, which, af-..
ter all, may account for such differ