Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.