The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-05-27
AN OPEN LETTER
From John r.. Martin to the Board Of
County Commissioners and The
Board of Bond Trustees of Marion
County.

/
man, E. B. Weathers, R. L. Ciyburn,
J. A. Talton and Augustus Waters,
Members of the County Commission
ers, and Messrs. J. G. Baskin, John
H. Taylor and L. K. Edwards, Bond
Trustees, of Marion County, Florida.
Gentlemen: AS complainant in the
suit filed May oath, 1922, assailing
the legality of the sale of the $560,0Oo
of road bonds, l wish to make this
statement as to my position, and IN
iorder that the public may understand
1.-THE matter, propose to publish this
letter.
| Other than as a citizen and tax
payer, / have no interest in the case,
and prior to the assembling of the
grand jury, / knew little or nothing
of the facts relating to the bond sale.
However, as foreman of that grand
Jury l, of course, heard what Judge
Bullock had to say in requiring inves
litigation of the bond sale. and likewise
heard the statements of witnesses
brought before the grand jury. After
adjournment of the grand jury l re-
ceived additional information regard
ling the transaction, and thereupon de-
cided to make myself a party to the
suit attacking the validity of this
sale, believing that such action was
certainly demanded by somebody, and
because so many people, while con-
ldemning the said bond sale, through
timidity or other motives, were un-
willing to bring the matter before the
court. | fully realized, and now
realize, the financial strength and
power of those who are made defend
ants in this suit, but it is my inten-
ton to press the case to full inves-
tigation and final decision, unless
some settlement of the matter shall
be made which will provide substan-
tial justice to the county and the peo-
pie thereof.
Yesterday afternoon, May 25th,
Judge Bullock made an order certify
ing that he is disqualified to hear the
case, for the reason that he has al
ready formed and expressed his opin-
ion as to- the legality of the action
taken by you for the sale of these
e bonds.
L The order made by Judge Bullock is
= as follows:
''In the circuit court of the fifth
judicial circuit of Marion county
state of Florida, in chancery: John
D. Robertson and John R. Martin
complainants, VS.. Bruce Meffert, ct al
: as the board of county commission
: ers of Marion county, state of Flor,
ida, and John H. Taylor, ct al, as trus.
tees, ETC., defendants.
"This case was set for hearing be.
fore me this date on application for a
temporary injunction, and because Of
the fact that this court is now engag,
:. ed in the trial of criminal cases anc
= other business before the court, anC
g the further fact that the defendants
. solicitor did not have a reasonable
time to prepare for such hearing, il
was, upon agreement of the respect.
i've solicitors for the complainants anc
L defendants, agreed that this case ant
hearing be continued until Wednes
% day, the 31st day of May, A. D. 1922
II before this court in Ocala.
% "Since these transactions I hav
l. seen a carbon copy of the bill an,
n after reading the same certify that a.
'e circuit judge for the fifth circuit O.
1t Florida, l am disqualified to hear tn
said cause or to make any order there
Is in, for the reasons that, among others
I'd prior to the filing of this bill, an,
r without any knowledge of such pro
I'd posed action, l had heard certain ru
y mors and reports calling in question
4 the legality of the action of the de
e, PENDANTS in the matter of the sale O
the bonds mentioned in this bill, an
is was requested to call the attention o
s, the grand jury of Marion county i
& session at this present term to sal
t. reports, and that pursuant to the sal
is request I did call the attention of tn
said grand jury then in session to tn
IN facts, and did then and there expires
he my feeling, based upon the report
Do that had been communicated to me,
la reference to the sale of the sal
IT bonds, and now finding that the ALE
or cations contained in this bill are
ell many respects substantially the sam
1g facts as reported to me, and by reaso
us of those reports I had formed distin.
We and prejudiced convictions as to tn
IN legality of the action. and by reaso
of these facts that l feel so biased
ch relation thereto that / certify l al
re disqualified as judge to hear the sa
tn. cause.
lot Done at Ocala, Florida, on this tt
il 25th day of May, A. D. 1922.
ty ~ 'W. S. Bullock, Judge"
70 The only reasonable construction
ate this order is that Judge Bullock h
ar made up his mind from his knowled,
rs, of the facts that this bond sale is
lin legal
or This being so, / think it proper
call upon you. as the representative