Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-14
DORSEY MAKES REPLY
TO GEORGIA OFFICIALS

cipitated by Governor Dorseys
pamphlet concerning the alleged~mis-
treatment of negroes in various Sec
tions of Georgia was marked Friday
morning by a further exchange OF
corresp ondence between the governor
and Judge William E. H. Searcy, Jr.s
of the Flint judicial circuit.
After Reading the governors let
ter, Judge Searcys sent the follow
ing communication to Governor Dor.
sey, telegraphing the text to The
Journal, with the request for it's pubs
LEGATION:
t'Griffin, Ga, May IS, 1921.
"Governor Hugh M. Dorsey,
estate Capitol,
ATLANTA, Ga.
Before answering your letter to
me, again indicting your state and
it's courts and people, L demand as
matter of right, to say nothing OF
| fair play and justice, the names or
your investigators and of the four
| citizens who stated a COMMITTEES
waited on me and obtained prom-
| Use of a chaingang sentence from mo
in advance of trial and of those
whom you say stated the trial of
White was a fake and travesty or
| justice.
Secret bucket letter attacks on
Georgia, her people, officers and
courts must stop. Either these things
are true or they are, contemplate;
| cowardly lies Those interested and
| the people are entitled to the facts
and witnesses. Let us have them.
VIM. E. H. SEARCY, JRY
| Judge Flint Superior Courts"
Governors Letter
| Governor DorSey'S letter to Judge
| Searcy follows:
state of Georgia. executive departs
ment, Atlanta, May IL, 1921.
Hon. William E. H. Searcy, Jr.,
Judge Superior Courts. Flint Cir.
'Dear Sir: AS it was my desire
to handle the cases called to my
attention and cited by me in my
| statement with reference to the
negro in Georgia without directing
attention to the particular town and
county in, which the cases were al,
legged to have occurred. I refrained
from giving any names. | regret
that your letter brings publicity to
The Rock, Epson county, and your
court. I had hoped, and still hope.
that men in your positi would
recognize what is known to us all.
Regardless of the matter cited by me.
that the negro has been subjected
to miStreatment in Georgia and that
the time has come to inaugTrate a
rev policy, if we are to retain our
own self-respect ard maintain our
position as a civilized people before
the world.
"Since 1885 there have been Ais
negroes lynched in Georgia. Reports
tc me with reference to the case of
Ed White, the negro referred to by
you, convinced me at the time that
he would be lynched if allowed to
remain in Jail in Epson county. For
this reason I requested you. az
Estated by you, to order him removed
TO Bibb county for safe-keeping. This
was done. saving the life of the man,
L believe.
:" I caused an Investigators
white citizen of Georgia in whom 1
have every conference.-the go to
facts surrounding the case The
facts embodied in my statement are
based upon his report in writing
to be. as governor of Georgia. This
report is. now before. me: The name
of the man who kicked the negro
girl in the stomach; the names of
seven leading citizens who testify
as to the good character and repu-
tatlon of the negro and who unite
in expressing the opinion that the
case against him was one of perse-
oution; the names Of four leading
lclt1zens in your circuit who stated
that a committee had waited upon
you and that you informed them
that White would be put in the
Ichalngang-the names and state
ments of these citizens are embodied
in the report.
The Report
The report in part states:
" attach hereto a letter from Mr. 49,.
........ leading merchant of ..........
TO the effect that to his own knowledge
Whites reputa tion good, and that he
per year. Mr. ....... further stated
that the treatment of White and his family
was perfectly outrageous and disgrace to
Georgia. That the whole matter came about
| through Jealousy of Whites success. That
White was innocent, was"foully treated ami
might be pardoned outright"
| .............. stated that he had known
White for many years. That White had
good credit at his place. That White had
never gotten arrested before in his life that
| he had ever heard Of"
-" 4 attach letter written by ..........
This letter states wht eGe ereG 0T Was scod
also that his reputation for peacefulness is
good, and his general reputation is good.
These people state that White was not pros
ecuted, but prosecuted and that he ought
| to be pardoned''
&c called to see Mr.. .......... leading
merchant of ...:.::.:..;;. and one OF the
state. He stated that he knew your ex-
| cellency personally. He said to tell your
excellency that if the negro was sent to the
changing or fined one cent that the court.
houses of Georgia ought to be torn down."
80 L called to see every merchant in.
| and without exception every Of them
stated that White and his family had
good reputation, and had good credit; and
! they had never heard of them getting IN
| trouble before. Several merchants told me
that they could not afford to write letters,
| as it would hurt their business, and one
| told me that White was being prosecuted,
but he could not afford to get in contro..
versy between a negro and white people,"
| he wtudam? Sirpedis, tastoreF.. shrdlutra
1.-The report gives a detailed ac-
count of the shooting up. of the ne.
| ero's home, when only his wife ana
| small children were in it.
I'm the report the investigator
says:
people. who talked to me would MOT NOT
| was due to one of three things:
Timidity, not desiring to take a ne
| gro's part against white people, or
| fear of running their business Inc
| if White or any of his family ever
put their feet in Epson county again:
and it was known to the people or
The Rock they would be lynched.
| lynched.
| pie that the trial of White was a
| fake and a travesty of justice. That
certain class of people in Epson
county had it in for any negro that
was the least prosperous and White
especially; that they were determine
| ed to put him in the chaingang; that
| if it took ten witnesses to convict
him they would get him; it it took
| took 1000, they would put up 10000
"The report covers twelve type
written pages. I quote only eroGsi4
of it to. show to you the type Of
matter that was before me when I
| included this case in the number
cited by me in my statement You
will. believe, agree with me that