Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-12
DORSEY ASSA|LED
BY JUDGE SEARCY
FOR NEGRO BOOKLET

In a letter to Governor Hugh NJ.
Dorsey, a copy Of which has been
received by The Journal, Judge Will
liam E. H. Searcy, Jr., Of the Flint
judicial circuit. takes the governor
severely to task for certain state
ments in the governors pamphlet,
Statement as to the Negro in Geor-
gia," declaring that the charges made
therein "as to the cases, this town
and county, the officers and people,
and the judge of the circuit are gra-
tuitous, unwarranted and untrue"
The jurist then proceeds to de-
fend the people Of The Rock and Up
son county. the county officers and
the judiciary of the state against
ment" of the governor, asserting that
the chief executive in making such
charges apparently was "recklessly
Indifferent of the character and rep
utation of the judiciary"
After reading Judge Searcy's let
ter Tuesday morning, Governor Dor
sey declared that it is not his wish
to engage in a controversy concern
ing charges contained in his pam
phlet. He added. however, that
Judge Searcy's inference regarding
Cases 121 and 123. in County 81,
is correct.
Il regard Judge Searcy as one of
the best judges and most honorable
men in the state, and in view of his
statement, I am inclined to accept
his version" said Governor Dorsey.
II wish to add. however, that I
sent a special investigator to Epson
county and the charges contained in
my pamphlet are based upon his re-
the accuracy of all the charges in
my pamphlet, but in this particular
case my special investigator furnish
ed me the names of i've citizens of
the community who gave the infor-
nation on which his report was
based"
Judge searcy's Letter
Judge Searcy's letter follows:
Governor Hugh NJ. Dorsey,
Dear Sir: Averse as l am tc
controversy Of any kind L cannot al
low to go unchallenged the truthful
ness of your cases Nos. 121 to 1913
county No. 21' in your statement as
to the negro in Georgia. a printed
copy of which 1 have received from
the committee on race relations.
assume it's circulation is general.
while no names are given either
of negroes, officers, judge or county
enable me to identify the negroes
as Ed White and family, the county
as Epson county, the little town as
The Rock, and the judge as myself
THE charges made in your state
ment as to the cases. this town and
county, the officers and people, and
the judge of the circuit are gratui-
tous, unwarranted and untrue.
The charge that a circuit judge
without naming him) promised be-
fore trial a committee of citizens
that he would put an accused person
in the changing when tried is a
wholesale Indictment of the superior
court judges of Georgia by the gov
ernor of the state. In defense OF
them, I assume that l am the judge
referred to, and in defense of myself
I denounce the charge as wholly
false. and as unworthy the source
whence it came.
state judiciary without inquiring OF
the judge really referred to as to
the truth of the charge. If you are
the author Of this charge, you have
deliberately slandered me. If you
are only repeating the charge with
out investigation to discover if true
or pot, then you are recklessly indif-
ferent of the character and reputa-
ton Of the judiciary.
"In either event, your conduct is
inexcusable and unworthy. He who
knowingly or negligently repeats a
Islander is as vicious as he who in
vented it.
Facts of the Cases
Gas to the facts of these cases, the
record will speak for itself. A
brief of the evidence submitted
on the trial of the case is on file in
the clerks office of Upson superior
court and Of the court Of appeals of
Georgia.
That this brief Of evidence speaks
Continued on Page 8. Column 81