Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1915-12-15
As to The Spencer WhjteWashiDg
Mr.. Oorsett, who was Present Tells The
Facts In tho Caser.

fdciS IN the CaSer.
| Mr. Editor: Having seen
report of the so.oalled mass. meet
ing of the citizens Of Spencer, l
c.. and noting that my nam
was mentioned in such was
leave the impression that 1 advc
Gated the passage Of the resolutio
mentioned therein, I desire +
make q brief statements that his
tory may be kept straight,
Having heard that Mayor W
Il. Burton was going to have
meeting at the school house on tn,
night of December 10, 1915, TO-
the purpose of whitewashlng him
self as Mayor and Judge of tn.
Recorders court of the town o1
Spencer, N. o.. I attended as
spectator only, being drawn thers
by mere curiosity. Oa arrival
found present about thirty {,
forty men in one of the clae.
rooms of the Spencer school build
ing.
The meeting was called 80 or3e,
by Mr.. Burton and was opene.
with prayer by Mr.. Burton. Next
Mr.. Burton read four or five let
ters written by out of town parties
who stated in response to Mr.. Bur.
ton's request that they had heare
no CRITICS m of the Reoorder't
Court of Spencer previous to the
and recommendation of
the Grand Jury at November term
Of Rowan Superior Court.
The next thing on the program
was the resolution which was Wig.
orously adv Gated by Mr.. Burton.
After a painful silence of some
minutes some one moved the
adoption of the resolution, but no
QUE seemed inclined to vote
Whereupon Mr.. Burton stated
that he had secured legal advice
and that no one would lay them.
selves liable in voting for his re- :
solution. Being thus encouraged, :,
about eight CT ten hesitatingly
voted "aye." All others seemed
80 be pres.nt as spectators only.
There was no discussion of the re-
solution or the causes leading Mr..
Burton 80 think such action &C.
essary, save the speech of Mr.
Barton.
Suoh discussion as was engaged
in by any of the citizens present
was provoked by the inlquity of
J. p. Donsvant, who stated that,
in his opinion, before definite &C.
sion should be taken it should be
ascertalned just what information
led the Grand Jury to make the
criticism and recommendation
complained of by Mr.. Burton
Mr.. Donevant here suggested thai
a commltsee Of three be appointed
to obtain this necessary informa
tion. This action was discourag
cd by Mr.. Burton.
Being called upon by some on,
present, 1 made a very brief tall
in which I quoted from memor,
a letter written to Solicitor Hay,
den Clement, on November 18th
1915. requesting him to have DR.
4. T. Carter, pastor of the Firs
Baptist church of Spencer, N. G.
sestlfy before the Grand Jury.
Immediately, Mr.. Burton, be
ing cornered, confessed that b
was the author of the letter mon
toned and made q few remark
seeking to justify himself.
I. J. McAdsms next came t.
the bat and made the home rul
of the evening. Mr.. McAdam
spoke concerning the charge tha
the law was not impartially en-
forced in Spencer. He reminded
Mayor Burton of being with hin
on Sunday afternoon about tw'
weeks previous, near the Y, M. G
A., when they met a man VIII
was very drunk and .taggerlnl
over the sidewalk. He furthe
reminded Mayor Burton that the.
stopped and watched the druukel
man and how the said drunken
man came back and of how tn
mayor and he had to step to tn
edge of the sidewalk to allow tn
man to stagger by. He furthe
remined Mayor Burton of his de
| olaration at that time that b
would have "The Chief" arres
Aho ooid drurkan man and kf