The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-11-09
Mayor Dared to
Jail the Parson

Anderson, S. c., Nov. 4.-There
has been much excitement in the
little Georgia town of 1000 people
just across the Savannah River from
this county, called Hartwell over the
alteration between the Methodist
minister, Rev. Homer Thompson,
and the chief of Police, last Saturday.
The final chapter in this encoun-
ter which has stirred the people so
intensely was written Thursday
when Mayor Richardson and the
chief of police, w. H. Locke, publicly
apologized to the preacher. Men and
women rallied to the side of the
preacher, and it is said that in the
mayors court when Rev. Mr.. Thomp-
son was fined $40 that some women
shook their fists in the mayors face.
One of the friends of the preacher
paid the fine, the preacher being tried
in his absence, as he was fulfilling an
engagement out of town. When me re-
turned he demanded a new trial, and
refused to allow the judgment of the
mayor and the imposition of the $40
fine to stand.
Refuses to Pay Fine.
Chief Locke admitted attacking
the minister, and after hearing tine
testimony again the mayor fined the
minister $40, and a similar amount
to the chief of police. Rev. MIR.
Thompson said that he refused to pay
this fine, saying also, Il have no re-
spect for the court that yields to
petty, low, mean politics over right
and Justice. If conditions have reach
ed such a point in Hartwell that
man can no longer defend himself
when he is attacked. then | want you
to put me in jail, for that is the only
safe place for me or anybody else.
dare you to send me to prison"
Then the mayor called the court
to order, and said your sentence for
contempt of court is $40 and twenty
days in JAIL Then Rev. Mr.. Thomp-
son reached for his hat, and told the
mayor that he was ready togo, and
again he said, II dare you to put me
in jail.'' An outburst of applause
greeted this statement Of the minis
ter, and it was some minutes before
quiet was restored. Counsel for the
minister gave notice of appeal, but
was interrupted by the minister en-
phatically declaring that he wanted
no appeal, but he was ready to serve
the sentence if the mayor dared to
put him in the workhouse. Then he
walked from the courthouse again be-
ing cheered.
This case grew out of the chief
of police taking offense at sermon
preached by Rev. Mr.. Thompson
against lawlessness, when he said
that the law was not upheld as it
should be in Hartwell. Two weeks
later the chief attacked he minister
on the street and it is said but for
the interference of onlookers that
the minister would have given the
chief a good beating although the
chief is a much larger man than the
minister, weighing about 200 pounds.
Case Dismissed.
Friday morning the case was again
called against Rev. Homer Thomp-
son, and was dismissed by Mayor
Richardson. This was followed by a
statement that Chief Locke had been
SUSPENDED from the police force.
The board of stewards of the
church of which Rev. Mr.. Thompson
is pastor went to Elberton to visit
the presiding elder and petitioned
him TO have Rev. Mr.. Thompson re-
turned to Hartwell at the Methodist
conference which convenes in At
1anta next week. And they guaran-
iced that he would have a raise IN
salary if sent back.
The petition was unanimous one
from the membership of the Meth
odist church, together with a large
number of the citizens of HartWell,
who are not Nethodists. Rev. Ho-
mer Thompson vii go to the north
east Georgia conference next Wed