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UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA LIBRARY
THE ROUNTREE CASE.
The OoumBCeiMtt ead Omtlns of the Trial la
Clarke Uuperlor Conn.
1TKSDAT.
After ' court met YtU morning
the two remaining jurors worn sWoru,
and court than want to regu
lar proceeding*. Not until oiie hundred
ami forty jnror* were called did they get
a jury. The remaining two delected
were \V. B. Jackson and J. T. Comer.
The stenographer had not arrived, aa
the Judge had oue telegraphed fbr Mon
day, so they proceeded to taka the evi
dence without him andaeiected W. B.
l’ruilt for the task.
The counsel for prisoner naked llfiflt,
their wltuetaea ha,^Kfl_
from hearing tiie' testimony of-others,
w hicli request was granted.,
The council then decline.1 to hare the
v. it nesses sworn, hut asked that they be
sent out. Then the witnesses for the
>;:ite were called and sworn and sent
mil. The first witness for state was J.
\V. Twiggs, who being sworn said that
he knew the two ilefeudanta, and was
present at it ditliculty between them and
Walter J. Konntree; was sitting on Dr.
ihimilinii’s stone steps on the evening
of the till of April; saw defendenta com-
inudown the street; Walter Rountree
said he wished lie had liis pistol; prison
er passed by without saying anything;
thought titer went a little above Dr.
Hamilton's residence; witness got up
in company with Ripley and Rountree
and started down town: prisoners passed
In them at Dr. Ilunnlentt’s; then we
passed them at Madame Sosttowski’s
oieen tthere were seven negroes standing
near the sidewalk; as we passed by Ech-
.,1s muttered something about not giving
a d—d bit of sidewalk; he parsed by ns
again in front of court-house; as they
pa—ed by Waller Rountree stopped them
and asked if that what they said was
that they wouldn’t givo him a d—d bit
of sidewalk; didn't liearthe reply;
Walter Rountree called ttie negro a rl—d
liar and kicked him; prisoners replied
M-rv abusively and angry; eouhl not
remember the substance of reply: John-
>oii put his hand lH-liind hint, on pistol-
pocket, as Rountree kicked him and
cursed him: he drew his pistol; then
barlow lb untree drew his pistol; Bar
ton tired and then Johnson snapped bis
pi-tol in the direction of Rountree; then
lie* negro tired towards Walter, and he
wa« almost behind me; Frank Johnson
was about ten feet from Walter when he
tired: Johnson tired three times; was
near enough to kill Walter in his opiu-
ion; council objected to last question
distance and opinion.) It was
Walter Rountree that lie tired at; atlirst
-hoi he was going from the negroes,
coining towards me:(counsel for defend
ant objected to witness’ opinion again.)
\\ alter Roiint.ee had only a small pock-
rt knife in vest pneket: Bartow Roun
tree mid Join..-on tired simultaneously at
each oilier: this was the second shot he
Johnson' had tired ; first snap and shot
wn-at Walter Rountree; Johnson turn
ed ami ran down the sidewalk, when the
negro and Bartow Rountree tired simul
taneously; Walter Rountree’s hands
w.-re on my shoulders; he exclaimed,
•■My God, 1 am shot;” and 1 felt him
shudder ;then Bartow Rountreeexclaim-
. d, "Mv i it si l 1 have killed my broth
ei !" Bartow Rountree was standing
about ten feet from Walter Rountree, in
a diagonal line. Ripley was standing in
a diagonal line between Walter ami Bar-
low. Frank Johnson and Kchols were
s ui.diiig lacing Walter Rountree, about
two led from him; Walter was stand
ing is at me, uhis w as the position be
fore I be parlies ever shot.)
Witness went over and restated poei.
tioi, again as they were standing, with a
i.ce, when the fatal shot
cv>
THE K BANN
LIV.
wadTn cotopanywiliiHatTfSiinixy apd
Scrnton at the corner of Milledge avenue
•lid Meigs street talking, and the two /ir-
fandants, Johi
;nd‘*ked!hl
they of the Messrs. Rountree’thal even
ing; ' Mine of. the perijf ‘aUBf^ered tROy
had not, whensona. .reked thhtb
wlflchonh they^ante-* to see; Jflinkoa
said Wttfier Of~tliedi would do, when
PhitfWyTtild, WalterRoinime had gene
dowii towards tile Institute
and he xupposed thejuggaomt the r6eh
steps it Ur. BMltoajn—tot Johnson
said UmT was the one he wanted apd
wentonTIte knew nothingdftheparticn-
lars. ntld Jietfoe the eross examination
was very short, and Jje was soon called
downs, J -t ■ [ W
That fourth -witness called for flte
state wan.Harry 1’liiuizy, who csrruW-
rated the tcsriuiuny of Cobb, and! knew
nothing about the ease except w huth»d
transpired at the time the negroes posted
them, and he wgs soon cajied down. (_J
The fifth vltncaa. juaikii for the
stnjp.- was E. H. Dorsey. Witness
knew nothing about the murder case,
but stated that Johnson came into his
(Don*y’s) store about two weeks before
tlie killing and asked if he had a good
pistol, (here council ‘for defendant ob
jected that tlie testimony was not con
nected with tlie ease—that it Was too re
mote.') The Judge held that it was nd-
misablc. Witness ashed Jotyfieuif wKli
lie wanted with ft pistol and lie (Joliii
son) said he liad a difficulty with ouc
young Rountree and.wanted a pistol to
kill him; witness told him be had no
pistol for him and ordered him out of
liis store.
On cross examination witness said he
knew nothing about certain throwing
of rocks at Johnson by Rountree, and
had heard him (Johnson') say something
about having met Rountree a few even
ings before and had had a eoiision w ith
him, and he (Johnson) had said that lie
had or would knock tlie stuffing ‘out of
him
O.EpHdfNS, G^^ei^’lfoESDA.Y, MAY
tfva'iii
I ?nt> sao h
> :crfi fanioih-af.t
XXVIIL
in front of Mayhf Rueker’sUouse and
met Johnaon smfl. Ijehois; 1 and John
son brushed:
WOUll
t negro down; when
je njgropa "Had payed a;little John-
soii Turned, jtod said he would “fix
him;’’ witness knkwmblhlpg about
fh<\i&)otlfyand was called down.;
,r tlie state closed.
hes and
ing verdict: “We, the jury, find the
dqfendant, Franks Johnson, guilty of
assault and battery in the first
gree.
Dapth^i2elfirt»s4e<
estate will have two Ipweht
Sixth witness for Statewistfoltn B. roojjnVSJ filled and refilled with peo-
Brooks, who stated tlfnt lie hadfoha son pie, every particle of standing room
waiting on him atliis room, and saw some "being occupied, and not near all eould
cartridges lying on ins taldp and asked get in. All seemed very attentive dur-
him (Johnson) what thqy wefe doing ingkjbaspee^lv' pf Solicitor General
there; Johnson gaid'he had lafelyhad ^litehelj. A V ' L JT~\ JL 1
defenebapened the case by Col.
Ecliqjs, who delivered a very
ful^speec^of about two hours’
forth the case so that
ilely in self-defence,
at ^jgbol^acte^^riyaii a friend
matin f and set I&rththat there
had been on conspiracy between the
bwtr-Npeirons before. Col. Echols
Nil tinted the^ case ably, first making
hTgate.ifent of what he intended to
move! thefrydug over the evidence
vqJ^snintffSfy and expounding each
part fuUyv-*Hwdlng'^^TO < 8h.>oting
and the sad occurrence .very piodestly,
und'finally closing Ina beautiful np-
pehl to tkeltry in jfvnTchVe alluded
to tSp precious existfnaa rTn human
Hte,_abd nature’s lapmhtf selMefense;
which reflWtjf great credit on Col.
Echols as a criminal lawyer, showing
fiiiiyriie awwy> of the'Thaiiand one
sojtery yotutg i n UiefrofiMston.
^SFfih stateTOm then heard from in a
soul-stirring speech by Hon. Piqie
BfirRAv,in which he made the case one
of a plain assault with intent to mur
der, and used such touching and for
cible lauguage in alluding to the dead
youth that he brought tears from the
jury and nearly the whole house. Hi»
speech was about two hours In length
arntwas listened to with the most pro
found interest. Wh’cfrhb'iSlosed the
court adjourned for^BaMh -
(At 4 o'clock the court was called to
order, and the counsel for State pro
s’ short while thcT'ffdrt
seconds de-
, WlLUS N. KlIiOOBE,"
• “Foreman.”
But before the verdict, was read
Judge Erwin stated that he wanted no
demonstration, and his request was
complied with. We noticed slight
trpw?4MMInartof ^Tpriaoners
when ttififlMMllwas |M Odhem;
and Johnson reached for his handker
chief, but he did not carry itlto hit
eyes. " f j 1
soon as the verdict.waa read
Judge Erwin made the prisoner*
stand .up for sentenced. He told them
that they had bad a fair an<} impartial
trial, by a jury of honest ujen and had
been ably represented hjr counsel;
that before the verdict he hid restrain
ed himself from expressing’ any opin
ion as to their guilt or innocence; but
be would now say that the verdict was
-'icllt I
Mu.- fin
Hi ti;
i-iu- :lit* court room was over-
o < ig<-r mill attentive listen-
mi ,i particle of sitting room
itniiicil. The prisoners wore
their counsel, seemingly in-
Twiggs eontiniied ills testimony:
Wie-ii Waller exclaimed: “My God, I
am slim !” lie was standing with Ids
fiii-«- towards Johnson. 1 was in front of
Walter, taring the prisoners and be
tween Walter Rountree and them. When
.1 * ill n-oii smip|ied and tired the first
i.i'.e. Walter was standing with his
hark towards him, and it was the shot
tir.-d at Walter Rountree: Kehol* was
standing near Johnson all the while;
Feliols was with Johnson every time
we saw him that evening. (Here wit-
noss reiterated his testimony again.)
When Johnson snapped and fired {lie
tir-t time. Walter was moving towards
me with liis back towards the prisoner.
On eross examination, w itness reiter
ate,I the greater part of liis first testimo
ny, rorreeting eertain parts: We pass
ed the prisoners again at or near Mad
am so-nnw ski’s gie-n, w here they were
standing with several other negroes;
Bartow had not joined us yet; the ne
groes eattui on and Walter asked them
it they meant what tlu-y had said for
him, when In- passed them, and they
mtiticrcil something; Bartow had come
up by this time, and Walter asked Bar
tow if lie was prepared, and he auswer-
i 1. "Tes, by God, 1 am!’’ and then
Walter enrsed Johnson and kicked him;
.Johnson drew his pistol licfore Bartow
drew liis.
Here the counsel read some of the
testimony taken at the coroner's in-
'l»est, which was slightly corrected by
witness, alter which the testimony
w as continued.
llartow tired twice before Johuson
ran, and he fired three times while he
was running.
Here the court adjourned for dinner.
Tic witness, J. W. Twiggs, was soon
di-missed alter asking a few questions
By the defense.
Then T. J, Ripley was called, who
corroborated the former statements of
, v "iing Twiggs in all the most important
only went a little farther
ah,an the shooting or the occurrence,
and said that Walter and Kchols had
Some words alsmt a former difficulty and
said that Walter said that “if you hod
run against me as yon done Grover, I
Mould have knocked you down,” and
give some additional statements about
K. lmls having a rock in his hand and he
(Kiplcv) caught his hand to stop him
from throwing it at Waller Roundtree
flieu after tlie shooting he threw the
rock at Bartow who jumped off the slde-
walk and evaded it. On tlie cross exam-
in.ition he corroborated the most of his
testimony, getting slightly frustrated in
the minute particulars.
The cross-examination was very rigid
and was directed to frustrate the witness
in a measure, then tlie state asked a few
minor questions concerning tlie attack
mul called liis attention tq tji 0 cal( or
signal of Johnson, and he (the witness)
said that Johnson gave a keen whistle,
evidently a signal, when the attack was
first made, and then went on over the
greater part ot the former testimony In
reference to the position the parties wcre r
in mid who drew tlie first pistol. He
Stated that he saw Johnson with hia
hand on his pistol just after he was
kicked and that Johnson drew 'the first
pistol. The third witness called for the
•tats was Basil Cobb, who said that M
difficulty with some students and
would put a hole through them if they
fooled witli him any more; knew noth
ing more. '
Seventh witness for State was Cicero
Arnold, who swore that he arrested tlie
two prisoners on tlie-Ith day of April in
a room of Miles Johnson's house; John
son said that if lie hud not killed Roun
tree he would; Echols remarked to
Frank Johnaon, “ We started this thing
together, and if we die, we w ill die to
gether.” ". ' ! _) „'
On cross examination witness stated
that prisoner had reported a case previous
to tlds, and that it was Bartow Rountree
who hud thrown rocks at Johuson, ami
not Walter; further stated that on ex
amination at tlie jail that Echols had
Yock in liis h?p pocket, scarcely as large
aa hia fist.
WEUNGStmV.
-Eight witness for the state
Htoa SallieSlemptan, who said she
lived in sight of the murder; don’t
know prisoners; saw some folks pass
ing down tlie street; and she was
Binding at the door and saw two col
ored boys running down the street and
some one asked them what was tlie
matter; one of them, she believed the
taller, said we have shot that d—d fel
low up yonder. Cross examiner heard
nothing and was called down.
Ninth witness for the state was Jno.
Talmadge, who swore that lie went to
the jail with prisoners when they
were arrested and heard Echols say
several times on the way, “.Frank, I
have started out with'you in this and
by God, I will die with you.” Cross
examiner asked no questions.
Tenth witness for the state was H.
Cobb Davis, who testified that he is
chief of tlie police, and was at his home
on tlie afternoon of the occurrence;
which was near the court house; and
heard the firing at his home and come
out to see what was the matter, lie
went down to Frank Johnson’s fath
er’s house; the prisoners had been ar
rested then; he asked Johnson’s moth
er for the pistol; she hesitated, but
gave him the pistol of Johnson’s,
which had two new cartridges in it
and two snapped ones; he tripk it in
his charge; pistol was then brought
into court and shown to the witness
who said It was the same pistol and
was oue calculated to produce death.
Nothing on eross examiner. Here
counsel for defedent moved to strike
out tlie last evidence, which was not
sustained.
Counsel for state cloned and coun
sel for defehoiB asked that the Judge
allow them to consult With the plson-
ers, which was granted; after which
the prisoners were called to make their
statement; filfsj} Frank Johnqon, wMtf
told s very plain story and seeming
ly very fair and nearly the same as
the testimony that had been rendered
by young Twiggs. Enoch Echols-
was put on the stand, and 'reiterated
the statement made by Johnaon, and
from inferences it seemed that they
had studied and went over their tale
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GEORGE I. breathed; and,'
Exam#- SENEY, ESQ. gMjyjg—
iuk&i
hma tum Lost Oobb Institute. Max
George I.Seney, Esq., known to us
all in tb* best possible way a man can
be known, was born in Astoria, Long
Island, X. Y., on the 12th of May, 1820.
It was a good place and a good time
foi one like him to come into exis
tence. Near by was a city forecasting
her greatness even then, the Erie Ca
nal bringing the waters of the lakes
to the ocean and creating an eastward
Mississippi for the commerce of the
west, and the new emporium already
betokening her imperial sway over
the trade, exchanges and financial
interests of the continent. The period
from 1820 to 1830 was a transition pe
riod in our history. If the Revolu
tionary war had given us the freedom
of the land, the contest of 1812—1814
Right?
The prisoners, Johuson and Echols,
were sitting in the rear of the counsel.
Johnson wore glasses and was toying
4'ith some little object in liis hands,
und a little gleam of excitement was
visible on his countenance. Kchols
was sitting very demurely and listen
ing attentively to tlie argument.
Miles Johnson, (step-father to tlib
prisoner) was sitting a little in front,
paying good deal attention to tlie ar
gument.
The speech of Solicitor-General
Mitchell lasted for nearly two hours,
and was one of the noblest efforts of
his life—in which he went over the
evidence.
a just one, as their guilt had been I had virtually secured the freedom of
clearly established. In view of the I the sea; and if the genius of Key had
outrageous circumstances ol the case celebrated the star spangled banner
he should give them the extent of (he I 89 waving “over the land of the free
law—mo A to sort* itn yean in the peniten-1 and home of the brave," he might
tiary. I have sung in a strain no less exultant
The prisoners received their sen- I its victory over the winds and waves,
tehee without showing the slightest These were the general auspices as to
emotion and. walked very steadily out place and time, and on which the sub-
of the Court room in the custody of the I ject of our sketch came into the world,
guards. The court roonJ, which was ^" ar more important than either
densely packed with negroes at the cl* 88 of these facts, was Mr. Seney’s
time the verdict was received and the parentage and ancestry. Good blood
sentence passed, was entirely empty is a tremendous reality and good blood
ina few momenta. Almost all wanted dates .back ol those, in whom, we see
to'get a last word or look at the two it8 capacity for high virtues. Provi-
prisoners on their way to jail. And I deuce signalizes itself in blood. For-
so ends one of the most important | times may be inherited—position,
eases that has been tried in Clarke l name and prestige—but these, count
superior court for some time. . I For what they may, are of much less
The decision was received by all I value than the intelligence, enegy and
with perfect satisfaction and it is moral worth, that God ordains to be
hoped that this will be the last of the permament capital of individuals
these lawless attempts and assaults and the inspiration of the race. Out-
upon the students of the University I 8 >de of New England, you would nev-
of Georgia. __ * I er have had Adams, Otis and Web-
Tiiere will tatfantil tion during this I ster; outside of South Carolina, never
term for a new trial, and If this is re- * Jackson and a Calhoun; outside of
fusts! the case will be cffrrieB' to the I Virginia, with her “tic temper tyrannie,"
supreme eourt. . I never a Washington, a Jeflt-rson a
There was a report that an-attempt]"Le^- On both sides of his family, Ml.
would be made by blacks-to rescue I Seney is by descent a Marylander,
tlw prisoners if they were convicted;] His paternal grandfather was the
but we are convinced that there was Hon. Joshua Seney, of Maryland, a
no ground whatever for* thTs, as all delegate to the continental congress
parties seem entirely satified.with tlie 11787-88, and a meinlier of the Federal
verdiet. There is no demonstration I congress 1789-92. His father, the Rev.
whatever on the part of the blacks of Robert Heney, removed from Mary-
ertcho art in Hearen." The'mj^atery is
a mystery of beauty, and we ail should
rejoice to Ityeinyrorld where mys-
terlep so toucjiipj^Sj.j^ender epviron
our' dally being;.. Nothing in this
man Is,' to, fe vafgM so much as the
veneration for ^is.mother evinced in
so tnaqy o^hjs gjral ,' Thtf flower of a
family is :'h’|6n£‘Jlty’e'getting to its
perfect blooni, hut it is surc to bloom
at last In itrooihi&ihooil; And ff a son
fall to perpetuate tlte yxceltert’ce of his
mother, he proves himself unworthy
of ifysjc,-blqod. . Likely-, enough, men 1
derive their highest spiritual qualities
from theiR mothers. Whether so or
not, certain ’ll is. that - the memory of
her is a man’s earthly inspiration;
and equally certain Ks, the fact that
you can trace the presence of his
mother’s tastes and sentiments in Mr.
Seney’s benefactions. To the home,
for friendless, children in Brooklyn,
he gave $25,000; to the Hackettstown
Seminary,. X. J., $13,000; to the
Brooklyn eye and ear infirmary, $25,-
000; tqthe<prook|yn library) $60,000;
to the Long Island Historical Society,
$100,00Q; t£lhfe‘ -tfeiJtejfiin T7 diversity.
Conn., $550,000; 'td tt'tfid neV hospi-.
tal til Brooklynid? thtj , ufte' , ofthe M.
E. filufih, though Kj>#n to aH'denorai-
natibns of Christians, $300,000; to Geor-
gin institutions. $223,500; and besides
these over $300,000 of miscellaneous
donations. In alt this, I repeat, you
see the spirit of the mother’s heart
The truth that stands conspicuous
ly forth in Mr. Seney’s life is his con
ception of the divine uses of money,
liis jffoAttiiiti senstWHty to its employ
ment for enobled ends, not merely liis
conscience as to money, but his senti
ment and lmpulse prompting him to
soeifjaMicrous afad . spontaneous phi
lanthropy, first and last Christian phi
lanthropy, born’ and uurtured, bap
tized aiid consecrated, by jtheloveof
THE HONEST PENNY
Athens. I land to New York about the year 1800.
I graduated in Columbia college, en
tered the Methodist ministry, and be
came one of the distinguished men of
that church. On the maternal side,
,, , , Mr. Seney has descended from the
Yesterday there appeared .n the Nlcholson9of Mari , land , a family of
Banner-Watchman a short notice that I - - - -
Messrs. Sanfotd, Nicholson A Co. had
so much that they knew it by hote;
The counsel for defense declined to - - -- —
introduce any testimony and theyase
J A 3 p.
The court met yesteraay morning at
also setting forth the law os plainly as
could be wished. Mr. Mitchell is
very solitkand 3Cntcd ll^erVnd
forth thedaw ln its deepest pnd
nest ve|flon. ■$ f, W
re the state dosed, and tfflljf one
counsel is to he heard. * Judge AV) F.
Wright, of Atlanta, for defense, open
ed the closing speech of the case.
When Judge Wright begun speaking
tlie whole house rose to their feet to
catch every word lie said. Tlie first
part of liis oration was levity at tlie
expense of Messrs. Mitchell and Bar-
row. but he soon got down to solid
argument. He spoke for near two
hours, und being unwell, asked that
the Judge allow him to suspend until
■morning, when he would finish. It
is thought he will continue for at
least four hours.
thi-iisdav.
Judge Wright proceeded with his ar
gument. In a few minutes the court
room was filled to overflowing witli
the citizens of Athens and adjoining
country. The negroes filled one en
tire half of the eourt room, (Aid not
J .near all could obtain admittance. 'As
1 the counsel proceeded the crowd In
creased. .Judge Wright conaffmed
an hour or more in going over the
origin of slaver}* and tlie introduction
of the negro into America, occasion
ally alluding to the arguments of the
opposite counsel, at the expense of
SolicitfeMleneral Mitchell and Hon
Pope Barrow. Tliep theJudge laid
down Ids propositions, 24 jJPfcumber,
which w^sfl Km of his argument
hat had be$n addressed to the jury.
he
_ ^ , , Jy-
Then he proceeded in his argument
to sustain then, and went over each
proposition, thoroughly analyzing it.
,Hlk speech in ths morning continued
for ovef four hours, making an ora
tion of near six hoars’ length. < In his
speech 1 * Jii^ge Wright went into all
the minute details of the tesjibiony,
making* strong ■point of the state’s
not introducing Bartow Rountree, and
bringing out the argument thi^t Bar
tow fired before:Johnson drew his
pistol. Judge Wright used *hhme of
the most beautiful language -that the
art of oratory can call to usif, enter
taining the vast audience for near six
hours; and no signs of weariness were
visible On the Jury or audience at any
time. He was attacked during liis
slue and
icine to take
during liis speech. His voice held
out remarkably well for the violent
eflo/tBj made, t Jpdge 'Wright is cer
tainly beyond a doubt naturally con
structed for a criminal lawyer, which
he has so great a reputation of being,
aud the prisoneis did well in employ
ing him. “ >
A ft a* oloairg Judge Ki»Ib$im bis
distinction from colonial times. His
, . great grandfather, James Nicholson,
1 1 ?’ 000 . peun 7 8 ' * ‘ eh ‘ n * of Maryland, was the first officer of the'
togatmtotbe.true mwardnws of this n 8N to bear the title of Commo-
new financial move wc called at the 1
dore. Of the daughters of this emi
nent man, one became the wife of Col.
. , .. . , . , i Wm. Few, U. fc. Senator from Geor-
An.l wha does tins penny idea of u |n ^ flm Federal congrest . An .
ru maun ■<” _ ** _
store and tackled Mr. Homer Nicholson
with the conundrum;
yours mean r
“ Why,” lie replied, “ we ordered out
a small lot for the conyeuieuce of our
customers, merely as an experiment;
but already I think tlicir success is as
sured. In fact, we have liad quite a
run on them, and will have to largely
increase our order.”
“WhenMlo you get them?”
“Direct from the mint in Philadelphia,
and they are all entirely new, as you
will see;” and seizing a bag of pennies
Mr. K. spread before our astonish
gaze nearly a peck of these beautiful
coins that glistened like gold.
other daughter married the Hon. Al
bert Gallatin, celebrated as a states
man and financier in our early histo
ry. A cultivated mau himself, the
father of Mr. G. I. Seney paid much
attention to the education of his (son.
After his preleminary training at
White Plains, N. Y., he entered the
Wesleyan University, Middletown,
Conn., and subsequently continued
his studies in the New York Universi
ty, from which he was graduated in
Following the beift of Inclina
tion which has proved in his case the
of genius, he began the. buniness
before
pear in an attitude
me, and iu. aspects
T fay 'th»n a* these
conp^ci Jons of M
eerned. I rank it amqg|g*t JiMive-
ries of our age, that wgalth is begin
ning to understancldhdiappreclate its
obligations as never before. Outside
of the three grand phenomena do wc
see much in the so-called wonders of
the age to excite our deeper admira
tions and hopes. Steamships, rail
roads, telegraphs, telephones, are
great matters In material civilization
—not much else. But there are three
things that are cheering and enno
bling. One is the amazing advauce
in our womanhood, .cultured and
Christian womanhood; the -advance in
this womanhood during the Itwt fifty
years having been out of ,oU' jStopor
? : «0UTHERN MUTUAL INSUANCE
WtTsj jggBjj&i, t
/j ,, - " -r
Much hag been said ot late, about
the Southern Mutual Insurance Com
pany of this city. Attention being
called to it at (his time by reason of a
“Hill in Equity,” filed,by the compa
ny, in which it prays the: eourt for
construction of Its charter.
As there is some' misapprehension
as to the objects of the bill, and aa the
question involved Is of interest to ma
ny people in the state,we took occasion
to intjerylew one of (he officers of the
company in regard to it and herewith
present, the result: ' j
Reporter—“I see that the surplus
fund of the Southern Mutual is in lit*
igation?”'
Anuwer—"Not at all, the company
has fifit aaked and will not ask any di
rection, from the court as to its sur-
ptae.” n • ■-
- Reporter—“What then is thi object
of tbebiii,?” -
Answer—“81mply this: The com
pany has fbr many years been build
ing tip a reserve ftmd, which should
be large enough to give gmpie and
unquestioned security to its policy
holders. Tlie management of the
Company • •pW* feel thht thby have
reached that point, '.They think that
the reserve fund is large enough for
the present business of the company,
and if, therefore, the surplus is not to
be increased further, tlie question
arises, w hat shall be done w ith the
annual interest on the reserve lund?
The profits of the business, arising
from premiums, as you know, are now
dividAl •annually among the policy-
holders—and the object of tlie bill is
simply to asft tlie court how this inter
est shall be divided.!’
Reporter—“What is tlie question as
to its division ?"
Answer—“The company lias always
gone upon the idea that only those
who are nOw members of the compa
ny have any rights in it—that a. metn-
IV " 6er who has passed out and sev
ered his connection with tlie compa-
R3PLY Ip MB. THOMAS RIDT.IKO.
Harmony Guovk, Ga., Moy 17, 18S2.
, Editor Buryier-Walchywn:y~\ see from
youF paper of the 16th iniiit., a card
from Mr. Tliomas Riddling, of Wash
ington, D. C.,li> which he undertakes
.to get out, of a scrape that he has got
iuto by writing to people begging
them to vote for Speer with the inten
tion, I presume, of making a payment
to Speer on the debt that he owes for
tiie “thousand-to twelve hundred dol-
lar office.” Riddling says that, he
wrote the letter to hia broUier-lh-law,
VVm. Thurruoilil, wlio^us foimerly
he certainly must he very igno
rant of nis brother-in-law 1 * name or
he would have directed his letters cor
rectly. The Thurmond that was tax
collector of this county and who'I 'ain
informed, Is Riddling's brother-in-
law, is named William Thurmond
only, and the letter wrote by Mr. Rid
dling was Wm. T. Thurmond both on
the envelope aud letter. Taylor Gor
don, the postmaster here, says that
there Is but one Wm. T. Thurmond
that gets mall at his office and that
he is ho$ the Thurmond that 'was tax
collector, or brother-in-law to Mr.
Riddling. Mr. Wm. T. Thurmond
had nothing to do with sending the
letter to you for publication. He gave
it to me to ma!(e the reply and as Mr.
R. seemed so anxious to know
how the “boys” would vote, I thought
you probably were better posted than
was. Mr. Wm. T. Thurmond is
just as “decent and honest” as Mr.
Thomas H. Riddling and very likely
more so, as he has never sold his vote
and influence for an office, which Rid
dling acknowledges he has done. If
Riddling says that “subscriber” wus
an applicant for the Harmouy Grove
post-offico, he lies. I have nothing
more to say to Mr. Riddling.
Very respectlully,
W. L. Williamson.
ny has no further concern in it, and
consequently, that any division must
be made atnongBt those only who are
members at the time the division is
made. But doubts having arisen as
to the propriety of this action, the
company has appealed to the courts
for direction in the premises. The
other idea 1b that any division must
be made amongst all who have ever
had policies from the beginning.**
Reporter—“It would therefore seem,
that a present policy-holder need not
take any steps in the matter at all?”
Answer—“Of course not, no one
need take any steps, Tall the parties
are before the court, brought there by
the bill itself, and every one, whether
'a present policy-holder or not is pro
jected by the bill," and' the rights of
everyone of them submitted to the'
judgment of the court. The bill filed
by the cotqpany is entirely impartial,
presents all the (acts; it lays all the
tl v i P T IP r *£ 8erv,ce f of tn Brooklyn; was after-
^ [ wards In the Gallatin bank, then in
n rll ’Z , T k* bank of North America, and" dhb-
ofsmrii articles among oulstoek that „ becmma p^esldcnfot the
cost a mere song, but af/ahave no ] M * trnnn f ltmn K.„fc «r xw Va.L
money in circulation gmalleFUh;
nickel, must either charj^that | RowingKto the oak downward *nd
or require a person to take more than he 1 upWlll ^, roots and trunk in proportion,
rea l} needs at one ,,me. There areK^^, b meatl8 of J lel £ 8km
matches, buttons, combs,thread, black- and flde ,f t from one offlcJa , de
ing and numerous other small tricks on anoth uu he had nacbei £ front
which buyers can save from one to four rank of t flDanc i er9f or rare dl9 .
cents by having the exact change. It ,s tJnction and on , n ca8e thor
our intention to bring good, down to the oughly merited b paUeDt ln(lustry ,
vary lowest figures, and this cannot he A * LL
relations on the basis of brotherhood
and comity, and the prospective uni
fication of the industries and com
merce and interests of mankind.
And the third is the spread of large
ideas as to the uses Wlkioney for great
public objects. I have neitheUUlnie
nor strength to show yotj^how'dliese
ideas are inter*cotinedfed,lioW'Mgky are
constituentSjOfthesaniutCPvidential
A SURPLUS FUND.
By reference to an interview with
l officer of the Southern Mutual
Insurance Company,- in another col
umn, the bill in equity filed by that
company is explained, and will doubt
less lie road with interest and gratifi
cation by the stockholders. As will
be seen this bill does not look to a di
vision of the surplus fund accumula
ted, but simply asks for tlie sanction
and opinion of the court about dis
tributing to its policy holders the an
nual interest that accrues from the
securities on hand, which will amount
to over $60,000 and greatly lessen
the expenses of insurance in this relia
ble and popular company. It is tlie
height of folly to think of dividing tlie
accumulated funds of the company, as
these are the backbone of the institu
tion, which gives it the prominence
and strength it enjoys, and acts as a
double safeguard to those insured there
in. E.veu admitting that a division
of its surplus capital be made, why
the pro rata part of each 'shareholder
would be most insignificantly small;
and besides it would require an outlay
of about half the fund to ernply ac
countants to audit the claims—tlie re
mainder evidently passing into Un
hands of lawyers. This suggestion is
acme of folly, and auy stockholder
who is hugging the hallucination to
his bosom had as well dismiss tlie
idea at once.
As to the future management of
these funds, we refer all concerned to
the reputation of the company and its
management for thirty-five years,
which is a sufficient guarantee to pol-
tion to the advance in manhood. ^^aWectlffiiuvdjfflpulUee andjnMeatf-* tey-tofidfra that they will be managed
oecorfd la thegrowttf*of inteMwftmAr "3f the case before the conrt) an3" asks witli wisdom ana" {fie strictest lu-
a decree which will protect and do tegrity.
justice to not only the present, but
past policy-holders.”
FROM OCONEE.
vpry 1
successfully done without the nimble
peuny. We don’t want a customer to
buy more than he actually needs, and
then again we want to give and receive
Uie exact change. The citizens of Ath
ens every year squander thousands ol
dollars by yielding a cent or more at a
time ttiat cau be saved to them through
the introduction of tlie penny. It will
result, too, in merchants cutting prices
o^t those numberless small articles that
goao’ far toward swelling the monthly
grocer's bill^? r *1 '
“But we cau’t see where the| advan-
close study, and undeviating integri
ty. Under bis management, the Me
tropolian bank has greatly prospered,
its deposites having increased from
$6,000,000 In 1857 to $15,000,000 at the
present time. So much for this as
pect of liis life. One cun see
unmistakable signs of the old
statesman, of the veteran commo
dore, of the refined and devouffother
in the Ministry of Christ. Blood will
on if you give it a channel to
his
licited
ged
the
his munificent benefactions. I take
this to be the glory of the man’s phi
lanthropy. Even in other cas^jfchow
i|ii(Jp*$ndfN»» ha*e been his responses.
Here, in our midat, a young lady
pressed jher delicate^nger on the
latch of nls tjdfff toB and the door
flung Itsfelfwideopep. ’fharik* to Prpv-
idence for tlie maiden And the man!
"Whitt strikes .the, as exceptionally
ise in this man is the resolute pur
pose to protect Ills own soul against
tlie corruptions of wealth. Only' in
small measure can we see these mon
strous evils in the externals of a man’s
life. If God were to give us tlie in
sight, we would sink amazed
and confounded at the utter wasting
in. Bald a wise man to me in .mx. jCMUt wjilch -gQej-Qfl witli awful
| youth: “Remember, my boy,
riage is the union of two familie
/Qkoyiru • knows ‘occasionally^ we I ^"2°/* W ° P 6 ” 0119 "”
turn must concede a few cents; but the I T , ,,
greatest advantage, of course, li to the JSXShTfiSSiSk SS of
11 "‘aWonly I»i
these pennies in circulation, throughout otherwiae he not have much hea K
the city but introduce th*m Into tbe foTahome . A t twenty-three years of
conntrv tliftt. trmlnR tvif h 4thnn«.” 1 __ _ _
country that trades with Athens.
“How will these pennies effect church
collections f”
“That is the onlxAurce of regret Mr.
S-nford and I felt in their Introduction.
We very much fear that parties who
age, Mr. Seney married Miss Moser,
of Brooklyn. A friend who has been
on a visit to him, writes me: “It is a
pleasant home; every body seems
happy; parents and children are on
the most intimate terms with one an
iy one who lives to grow rich
to Iriqb that he may be still
Seney has been repre-
a man who is strivings to
self “the development
hoard which too
the generous impulses of
the huminhearL^ Jt is herethathis
example comes to4n with an '-infliilte
meaning. Vaft ss hls'beiefioiiM* ia
9 o'clock and the counsel for state in
troduced the remaining witnesses.
The case has token such a decided
change that all are listening with ea
ger ears to know .wlud wlllj3c the.ul-
timate result. >».t .-l bhargtito the jury, which was of some
The state called Harry Phinizy to | length, nobly connected. He instruct-
ascertaln *m4redlrec$ account of Jtl(e| ed thtJusypartfcil^ 1 ^ ^Wl’ias
CMi|na thq p$l^bneta were ^gplng on j or prejudice Interfere ii
have been accustomed to dropping the ^ or embarrassment.”
stupendous sum of a nickel ra the b*t H eadds: “He h«ts nine children, three
will take advantage of these coppers six daughters y all married
rob the church of tour cents; but y<» u except three, Miss Nellie. Miu Katie
wdl jpiflcc that these pficre have »ireu- l d hto Ron ^ „ Alon wlth blr
npg ^ar. will soo^ detected by lnte , |ectual . bimiesaud buslnen sa-
HIlMedMra. We’tMnk the reduc-1 , doab t not, that the strength
tion in ciinrcli' hollec-t^on. wiU be only ^^1. JnUreinhia.SS
inporary.^ j- heart, which I take to be the very J
inlay Messrs. Santord, Nicholson 1
a run ou their mint,
rties gladly exifiiangfng silver for the
(bright new coins. .We coariderthe intro-
and immi
conferred,
this lessoi
the immoi
log", Ttivi!
>le the the - benefits
iot doubt but" that
stem- dleefiplfttr of
ht, watehtfR W*y-
Wer- to esoW$fe *ihe
the fatal afternoon and Uie posi
the parties when he saw them.
The next wltn*sb called by$b^4tat«
waa Thomas Cheley,who being sworn,
said - be •i-emcmlwred thd 6c4urren)to
ou the 4th of April, but knew nothing
about it. Then be was asked what he
knew about a certain difficulty be
tween Johnson and some students’'
a short time before the mi
the witness went over the little dlffi*
lies Johnaonto di
W UP
their verdict. Thehtlie fjuiy retired
to their room and the court adjourned
fordihncriOii^
Upon the re-opening of court word
reacnea; but owning to aoscute of
the prisoners’ council its delivery was
time the room bad become (tacked
r Spcmtoto, both white and
black. The prisoners were brought
ifferent
heart, which I take to be the
heart of hearts.
“All thoufhta, sU puOou, ah d*U( hU,
Whatever etin this aurtal Inune,
All an baS alatoan at Lots,
abases oUtiiiW is one of 'tW dlvin-
Almtghty God that
been- summoned ■ to
orted to^^ed. s *<f-we
and heed, I shall think this
emispbere worthy the name
'New World.”
occasion, Mr. BFfley si
ihould ask me,* wHy did yadshot 1
. this money to your own peoplet
answer is, they (these Southern-
are also my people j'Ve are one
>ple.” Again,he remarked:
southern women. I think there
In southern woman
Abilities I
Idnctlonx>f pennies a big boOui for Ath
ens. Southern people have a£ays been I And ‘«Genevieve” ia the echo of the
P*® »Wrea*oiHrugaiW>htttf»ey man j WMck . no w hat he la in the If a Bffrfvre $U0,0Qdto ben^^*"
women of Georgia, I tdhelt thi
. _ .. . . . settles $he matter of arauine
■ „» >, .. - ' - , i la concerned to know somewhat
buerailt adopted\ domestic heart of a man
ney. So Iqnote again from my
letter: “Mr. 8. is a very
tending,' frank man. HI
and gentolj. hia eye,
gentle.” He said to me: “If any
saving In the pur-
lcles.^-a
that he MrttoArBh the'party tliat had
tU* diffiaoltjOofa (ibei sidewalk some
tlmaflSAihBIWdiSiing of the shoot
pany with
the^ street
At 1;
Jury Tiled lii and tooktheirseatoH
flid^or-General Mitchell: Apedfbr-
ward, received s the verdict atld
oojjiy Igening same read t^ foliojar-
ir’e tend. * j
>nd oT^. A. pledger haft been
I, and to-day hfewULge ewom. ^ why j have contributed
m0,,eyto ^ e8leyan F*maleC-
Athens the Office las been **y a have done it to honor thi
under the charge of Captain White,- ory of my mother, to whom, dpdi
ofSavmnah, who, on being relieved, I God. T ™» mnm « n . n v ctho
wiU return to his home. Pledger says
that he will have the lines into Atlan-1 t ^ le tmlverse. Thanks to
to bended in three weeks. Pledger’s I God,, for the mother in the minimi. -- r . — --- --— — -—
bondsmen are: F. F. Butney, of south-1 wonder, at times, in what far off trop^ God’a Providence, by maKiug nis
»XVo, _ _
ment. The breath liTjhese Word
“They are also my j*ople,” NlW 'I
admire southern women,” is as fra-
t as a forest of magapl laafB ut,
you and I and our brother(sBor-
honor this great and true-lieart-
n,let us never fonretWberwnVbe
ur of George I. Beney lifes and
_ what sublime force it cem-
tends itself to our veneration. Afl
be summed up in the twln-stote-
is, that he has shown a most fllial
iverence for the memory of his moth-
by the services rendered to her sex'
id that furthermore,'and on a.fa
gher plane of action, he has tried; to
express his sense of indebtedness to
-w«»tGeo r Kia, $20,000; Clrarles T. Rich-J j c this mother’s blood was sweetened;
Conley, $2,000, andk.E’. Buck, $5,00ft I ? won i er what aroma, lingering yet
—ComtitutioH.
i Eden, mingled with the air she I^That
wealth a providence to others.
‘•From mmm like thew, old 8cod»'» gisndcar
«pdn
Southern Oconee is by rights an organ
ized county, and during tlie Bil-
lips-Speer race for congress there were
but few independent votes, but at the
Bell-Speer race, having a man on the
organized ticket that was not at all pop
ular, and then by referring to Speer’s
record in congress, they* (a lew good
tian j citizens) voted for Speer, and a great
and many remained away from the polls,
thinking if Speer was elected that he
ould vote and work with the democrats.
But by referring to his record for the last
twelve months lias given tlie most of
our people just as much Speer as they
wish in thelr's. So I don’t think that he
need count on much from this end of
Oconee, (save a few that lie lias been
heaping seeds upon) and a quite a num
ber of that class, who heretofore lias
oted for him, say that they are willing
to drop the silvery-tongued orator. I am
proud of your course in politics, for
yonr paper is widely circulated and is
capable of doing much good.
Our farmers are all wide-awake and
determined if work is all that is needed,
that they will have good crops this sea
son. 3Vc will be ready to cut some of
our forwardest wheat in a few days. We
are at present cutting early oats for our
stock. The rust is on tlie leaves of the
wheat but none on the stalk, and we all
have a large acreage sown of both wheal
and oats, so expect an abundant yield.
Continue to throw the grape shot in
among the independents.
A Farmer.
Atticus G. Haygood Declines.
Nasiiaille, Tknn., May 17.—The
following note from Dr. Haygood,
president of Emory college, Georgia,
was read in the conference of the
Methodist Episcopal, south, this
morning:
To the Bishops and Members of the
j general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south:—My dear
and honored brethren: I am deeply
moved by yonr action yesterday in
electing me to be a bishop of our be
loved church. Though I might well
fear the responsibilities of the olflite, I
do not shrink from iU-labors, yet with
A clear conviction and .a deep seiisq of
my duty to God and to mv fellow men,
I respectfully and humbly decline to
accept the position to which you have
(tolled me. I cannot, with a good con
science, Tay down the work which I
have now In hand. With perfect re
spect and abiding love, I am truly
yonr brother,
Atticus G. Haygooii.
GUITKAU TO BE HANGED.
AUaaabaomaBMUloa IUuM By th« Court.
• , ii;
Washington, May 15,1882,—It Is to
day learned adihoritatively that a de
cision ujion the Gniteau exceptions Will
be rendered 1 by the District stipreme
eottrtbex*Monday wild that It will be a
unanimons'ohe. There is no longer any
dofibt’tlfai'itWin overrule all the ex-
ceptiaaa i and consequently affirm the
sentence-41 the eourt below.- It it
derstoed thatoaeof the judges was in
clined to attach much importance to the
question raised against the competency
of Mrs. Dunmlre’s testimony, aud that
another member of the court found con
siderable difficulty in coming to an
ar a S rae ® en F with his colleagues on. the
question of jurisdiction 5 but, although
these two iudges may, perhaps, take oc
casion to express opinions in koiuu de
gree dissenting from their colleagues*
processes of reasoning on these points,
the decision itself will, os above stated,
be unanimous.
In canvasing around among the
prominent men of our city in the inter
est of any public enterprise, you will
meet many who are full of the spirit of
progress tind go-ahead-ativeness, men
who can see in the growth und develop
ment of any undertaking for the general
good a corresponding benefit to them
selves, and when they recognize the fact
are willing and ready to aid with their
means, and they encourage with their
manifested interest and advice those
who are “working up” the measure.
Again, we meet with some of narrow
and contracted views—men who never
care to look outside of the small circle
of self-interest, and who even in' this
pent up sphere have their attention so
riveted upon what they have inside,
that they overlook and miss advantages
that might be tlieirs. M^n of this lat
ter class take all that falls to their share
through tlie general prosperity with a
grunt of satisfaction, hold oil witli a
growl and surrender only when their
grip is wrenched loose by some strong
pressure. Sucli men are jiositive draw
backs to a community; they throw cold
water over those who approach them in
the interest of public necessities, and
have a general chilling, dampening ef
fect upon new measures looking to
wards our city's advancement. Several
new measures, involving a considerable
expenditure of time, energy anil-money,
are now of pressing importance to us.
Those men who are identified with tlie
former class see in the present marked
and actual growth of our city the foun
dation for still greater results, and find
in the enterprises-already Under way-
stepping stones to larger possibilities.
They are willing to contribute of their
own and lend a helping hand when all
shall “put their shoulder to the wheel,"
but they don’t like to tug up hill the
large and healthy crowd' that wants to
ride.
Public enterprise and public spirit
must be backed by the public pocket-
book. A good citizen of this stampdoes
not object to a reasonable taxation when
a proper and reliable administration,
such as we now have, holds tlie purse
tringv When permauent improve
ments for the general welfare are made
oui of the public treasury, then thisj
who enjoy the benefits now or hereafter,
must bear his small proportion of the
expepse, and it is right and Just tin* it
should be so,
Athens now needs and badly needs a
system of water-works. There Is an ur
gent demand for public schools, and un
less we would surrender a large and val
uable territory to rival cities two narrow
gauge railroads muse be built; one reach
ing out in the direction of Jefferso* and
Jug Tavern, and another from Wlnter-
ville or Crawford towards Elberton.
These towns aud the surrounding cotn-
tlcs have always sought Athens as their
market and out merchants khow the
value 6f their trade. Atlanta and Au
gusta wlfh their fin*- reaching sagacity
discovered the plum, and withlohg iron
arms have reached and are retching out
to pluifklt. Let’s bo on hand • when the
fruit gets ripe. “ 1 *f: T» R.
The Secretary of the Interior has de
cided to adopt the policy. of disarm
ing all the Indians in tho western
states and territories who are subject
to the effective control of the govern
ment. ... • *-
Ex-Gov. C. C. Washburn, of‘Wis
consin, died a( Eureka Springs.