The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-07-18
THE CONVICTION OF c. c. SMITH.

This paper has no disposition to harrow the feelings OF even the
humbIest of mortals or to gloat over any mans downfulL. It'll
human to err and this very fact made law necessary and organic
ed society long ago said, thus far shalt thou go" and prescribed
the punishment of him who got beyond those lines.
In the case of c. c. Smith, president penitentiary board of trus
tees. who was convicted in the circuit court of Kinds comfy for
defrauding the state of Mississippi in the purchase of a secondhand
such prominence that they cannot be ignored: Smith, more than a
year before. purchased a secondhand automobile for $500; he swap
ped the machine to the Baker-McDowel Hardware Co, OF Natchez:
for a new automobile which all agree was worth $1,000, and gave
only 500 to boot. According to the testimony of Z. X. Kinsman
secretary and treasurer OF the Baker MoDo~ell Hardware Co.. all
that Smith was charged with on the books of the company when the
deal was made was the on hundred dollars boot" and $685. for
certain other purchases, and at the same time, Oct s 1911 the old
machine, which was snapped for a new one (for himself and not for
the state) was charged to the state of Mississippi at 5000. The
books of the Baker Mcdowell Company filed in court at the time
of Smiths trial verify this. The old automobile. which Smith traded
for a new one. never left his premises until he undertook to motor
in i to the state farm-Belmont or Parchman. Anybody that
knows anything about automobiles knows that they depreciate very
rapidly in value and it is fair to suppose that the man who sold the
secondhand machine to Smith more than a year before he Smith
snapped it for a new one knew his business and undoubtedly though.
that he was at least getting something near the value of the auto
mobile. This being true, how could any reasonable minded being
justify buying the machine for 5000? If the machine was not worth
5000 to Smith how could it be worth that much to the state, and
is it unreasonable. to assume that Smith thought he wa prohting by
the the transaction otherwise he would not have traded? Men do
no. usually swap for mere pastime. 1t is a TACT that since the auto
mobile reached the state farm that it has been unfit for use almost
all of the time All these things being true would not such a deal
reflect on any man?
Smith undoubtedly had an honest jury to hear his case. He
had able lawyers and was surrounded by prominent men who show
ed a deep interest in his welfare. The jury heard his case and said
he was guilty. Now, as to the extent of the punishment, W e are
thankful that it was not our duty to say. We do know that there
are lots of poor white men and humble negroes in the penitentiary
for stealing a COW or a hog and appropriating to themselves things
of far less value than an automobile. If the poor man without
money and influential friends must be sent to the penitentiary what
shall We say OF the prominent" man who deliberately hlches from
the state treasury money for his own purse?
1t is indeed a sad spectacle to contemplate. JUS: to think Of a
man of Smiths prominence besmirching his hands with a four hun.
bred dollar deal. Our heart goes out to his wife and children. We
are sure that tears have come unbidden to the eyes of many who
were not regarded as his friends about this affair, yet we must look
the waiter cctaralr 10 h fare Snifn ou.raued h etarnol or;n-;
pies OF right. When he helped to swtndle the state treasury he was
no less a traitor than Benedict Arnold. He stabbed in the back the
very people who had trusted him with office and whom he had taken
a solemn oath to serve faithfully and honestly.
We deeply sympathize with Smith. We sympathize with any
mar in trouble nevertheless We try to never let our sympathies blind
us to truth and correct conclusions. We are sure that Smith would
not repeat the offense, with the present lights before him, if he
were out and had the matter to do over, and neither would many a
mar commit murder. when the penalty is about to be inflicted, vet
the dead man is just as dead as if his slayer had no regrets about
the deed that caused his death.