The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-08-09
SENT TO PRISON; :
CHOSEN MAYOR
South Carolina Man Elected At
ter Being Sentenced for
Shaping U. S. Agent.

Atlanta, Ga.--A years sentence In
the Atlanta federal penitentiary for
striking an inspector Of the United
States internal revenue department
may assure the political future Of R.
v. Bray, Jr., mayor Of Beaufort, S. @.
Bray was elected after he had been
sentenced chiefly, t is said, because OF
the year In prison which lay ahead o.
him.
he will continue as mayor during
his twelve months In the penitentiarysI
with q mayor pro TEN serving active
ly In his place. When the sentence
IS completed he viii return to take
over the reins of government.
Appeals to Harding
Mayor Bray was convicted In June
Of 1922 &fore Judge 81. A. Fl. Smith
Of the United States District court In
Charleston, s. @. The case was APP
pealed to the United States Circuit
Court Of Appeals, and finally taken
to President Harding in an effort to
get pardon for the official.
When these efforts failed, after
years time had elapsed, during which
he had been elected mayor, Bray pre-
pared to begin his twelve months
Imprisonment. He is the only acting
mayor ever numbered among the pris-
oners Of the Atlanta penitentiary,
On Jan. 80, 1922, Harold Smith, a
federal revenue inspector, was investis
eating details connected with the es-
tate of the late George Waterhouse,
a wealthy citizen Of Beaufort. Water
house was Bray's father-in-law, and
the latter was manager of the estate.
According to testimony submitted at
the trial, an argument sprang up be-
tween Inspector Smith and Bray. in
the course of which Bray said, "There
is no use for me to answer any more
questions; you don't believe what l
say"
In reply, Inspector Smith was quot
ed as saying: you forget. Mr. Bray,
that I have the authority to make you
talk"
Whereupon Mr. Bray, It was testi-
fed, struck him.
Charged Personal Insult.
At the trial Bray's defense was that
the inspector had implied that he was
lying; and that he had simply resent
ed personal insult and had not meant
in any way to interfere with the gov
eminent. The jury, In returning a
verdict Of guilty, recommended lem
iency. Judge Smith passed sentence
and months went by during which the
case was appealed, finally, reaching
President Harding.
United States Senator N. B. Deal of
South Carolina and Gov. Thomas Nc
Iced are among those who urged Glenn
ency for the mayor. It is reported
that Secretary DENLY Of the Navy de-
partment, with whom Bray is acquaint-
ed, spoke In his behalf.
Before he left for the prison Mayor
Bray said 'This is the first time
have ever been in difficulty like this.
I have always been loyal citizen of
the United States, and always win be.
My friends all know that In my diff
Guilty with the revenue inspector /
took pesonal exception to his words,
and that it was far from my mind to
interfere In any way with the govern
ment.
Il am going to prison with my head
up, and shall come out the same
way"
A delegation Of Beaufort citizens &C.
ccmpanied their mayor to Charleston
when he started for prison. They In
cluded members of the board of trade,
and chamber of commerce, and city
officials.
Before the mayor left several ne
groes volunteered to go In his place.