The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-09-19
announcements


The last copy of the Issue, published in Jackson, devotes its
entire front page to the arraignment and criticism of Judge Henry
about the trial and conviction of c. c. Smith and Col. Montgomery,
and makes a strained effort to defend and uphold the action OF
Smith. We have no defense to make of Judge Henry, but only wish
70 make a few observations that may interest the public:
For a long time in Mississippi it has been the custom that if a
mar of social influence and political power was indicted in the
criminal courts, many prominent people would flock to the court
room and take a seat by the accused. and undertake by their pres
ence to discourage the enforcement OF the law as to his particular
case.
mar on trial for crime, and many prominent people appeared IN the
court house and took seats inside of the bar. The able district at
presence of all these distinguished people around tins defendant
Are they here to assist you and in the discharge of our official
and me and to prevent, II possible a faithful discharge OF our
dutes?" The mere calling attention OF the public to the presence
leave the courtroom and the defendant was compelled to face con
diions as the ordinary citizen charged with law-breaking.
of c, c. Smith. His prominent friends sat with his attorneys and,
as we are informed, held whispered conversations in selecting the
Gfams' a m una H TT ~, " uirt,n 49, s b.. nefce ~i,b the state that he could
not make with a private individual and prohted several hundred
dollars thereby. Let US understand that Smith claims to have
bought an automobile for 500 and ran it for more than a wear
and then sold it to the state through himself as an officer for 5000.
He was indicted by an honest grand Jury, a majority OF whom were
iorty of whom were composed of his own political faction, and when
convicted was sentenced by Judge Henry to the penitentlary. Be 1t
said to the everlasting praise of the grand and petit juries and of
Judge Henry that without regard to the mans high position, or his
great political influence, they dealt with him upon the cold basis OF
automobile deal before any honest court or any honest jury, or ex.
pect any honest man to agree with him that it was right to palm off
an old, broken down car for 5000 that he only paid $500 for when it
was in good condition and practically new. But this is only intro
ductory to what we want to say. While strong, influential people
have been known 10 rally around their friends when indicted for
crime and have undertaken to aid them, this is the first instance in
the history of Mississippi where a newspaper ever undertook by
ridcule. sarcasm, criticism, mis-statement of facts, vilihcation' abuse
and the belttling OF the courts and the Governor of the state, and
all organized society to uphold the hands of the criminal, and that
too, when he was caught. red handed grating. Inns is the hrst rec
ord OF a newspaper having deliberately undertaken to take the side
of the crooks against organized society for the purpose of thwartine
the courts for the benefit of crooks.
The Issue has made a serious mistake, and one that will no
meet the approval of the honest citizenship of the state, but it ha
chosen its company, let il keep it; it has made its own bed, let it liz
in it. Things have changed in Mississippi.