Newspaper Page Text
A Communication in
Defense of Judge Kent
(ADVERTISEMENT)
Mr. Editor:—No court proceed
ings has ever before caused so
much discussion iu Montgomery
county as the disbarment proceed
ings tiled against Judge Kent at j
the last term of Superior Court.
Every person you meet has
something to say in reference to
these charges. The people for
some cause are interested in this
matter. Possibly the nov ;ty of
such proceedings has something
to do with the interest manifest
by the people, but not all, for a
large portion of Montgomery’s
people are interested about “Bill
Kent.” They don’t hesitate to say
so, neither do they falter in say- j
ing that they don’t believe the
charges are true, and will not un
til they are proven. The opinion
is well founded by many of the
informed about tht charges,
that they were never made with
the intention of bringi. g them to
a hearing. The object is to serve
another purpose, which will be
mentioned later.
I, with many others as well,
look upon this matter with well
grounded suspicion of sinister
motives actuating at least some
of the parties forcing these dis
barments proceedings against Bill
Kent.
Why has this dirty work alleged
to Kent been allowed to pass un
noticed so long? If Kent has done
all these things alleged, why were
they allowed to sleep the slumber
of Rip Van Winkle? If Kent is
guilty of commission of these of
fenses, who has so long been guilty
of crimes of omission?Tbe question
is, why was not these offenses
brought to the court’s attention
long ago, and Kent made to
answer? This is the way the in
telligence of Montgomery county
looks at this matter, and besides
they speak in plain language what
they think of it; the expressions
are not complementary in the
least to Bill Kent’s accusers.
It is the opinion of many citi
zens, and I for one, that had Kent
not'been elected judge of the
city court these accusations would ‘
not have found their way to tin
courts. Some of the charges—most
of them —were circulated against
Kent in his race for the city
court judgeship with the threat to
the people, “if you elect Kent
the city court will be abolished.” |
These charges and threats referr
ed to were traceable to some of
the parties now forcing them into
the courts. The result of this elec
tion would have satisfied the reas
onable and unprejudiced person,
but the idea of Kent holding of
fice in the city court has been woe
fully repulsive to certain members
of Mt. Vernon and with the help
of some outside citizens opposing
the court, they have made efforts
from the first to abolish the court
for no 6ther reason than to get
rid of Kent. History of the court
shows it when first established
with Lewis as judge and Kent as J
solicitor they were each every way i
competent and did discharge the I
duties envolved upon them. But|
the eolicitorship failed to land j
where Kent’s opponents hoped for
and straightway efforts were put)
forth and the court abolished,
when re-established with Geiger ge
judge and Lewis as solicitor there,
was no complaint—.-no reason f< r
any. Cat when Kent went on the
bench without pause, the same
old howl was heard, “down with
the city court—the only way to
get rid of Kent.” No csmplaint
nor no reason for any against the
present solicitor.
The people are vot fighting
Kent, nor but very few the city
court; business men realize the
great necessity of this court and j
the voters of Montgomery are!
more than pleased with Kent as
judge. The over-whelming ma
jority of Kent At the poles show
what the citizens of this county
think of Bill Knit. Nor do they t
bite their bps to say that the
“envious antipathy of the Mt.
Vernon bar does not injure Kent
in their istimation.” The time
is uot far distant when this will
be realized. The efforts of the
bar of Mt. Vernon to get rid of j
Kent is the prime cause of the in
terest they are putting forth to I
I abolish the city court, and for no j
'other purpose than to palliate a j
I spiteful envy against Col. Kent, j
The people don’t mislead them
selves when they say they are tak
ing note of these mysterious
maneuvers.
Had the defeated candidates i
for judge and solicitor of the city i
court been elected t hese envious
efforts to abolish the city court j
would not have materialized. They j
are each competent to fill the of- j
j fiee sought. This being true could |
be no reason. But reason in this ■
matter of Kent is relegated to the
rear, and malicious enmity reach
es out its vicious grasp for a vic
tim to persecute.
Not alone am I in wondering
why Kent is made a victim of dis
barnment. Reflection brings to
mind others, especially one who
has been charged with every crime
known to the penal code. The re
ference is to former members, j
and especially to one member oi l
Mt. Vernon’s liar.
Something peculiarly strange,
why this one party referred to
should have been allowed to
escape the eagle eyes of Kent’s
prosecutors. Surely such conduct
as charged to this “special patty’’
demanded investigation by Mt.
Vernon’s liar, but it never got it.
There was no chance of his hold
ing office connected with the City
Court, is one reason, and the
other reason is very eaislv divin
ed by those who know him best.
Others of Montgomery’s citizens
think as ] do, and speak out as
they think with reference to party
just referred to.
It is a well known fact that
Kent’s reputation as a successful
lawyer has been the means of
developing a lot of jealousy
against him from some members
of the legal fraternity. lam not
the first person to mention this.
People who are familiar with this
matter frankly say the same.
Some of the charges against/
Kent I know to be absolutely fals?
and an easy effort it was for
occusars to have obtained
truth had they only sought it,
showing that these charges /ere
made an part without proper in
vestigation, but to eliminut/ Kent
.from the City Court judgeship is
'the object sough, noting hse. To j
tlo this they must besmirch bis
professional honor; polish the
'city court, with a tvyh bill re
establish it, make tK» judgeship
appointive, and of course they
think the Governorcould not ap
point Kent under such charges.
Gentlemen of Mditgomery conn- ■
tv, it was but recently said by
Kent’s accuser? m a night meet
ing, that it would not do to let
the public klvw what- they were
iip to. You can easily see that
they knew The public would not
sustain ili/in.
Press dispatches from Mt. Ver
non is another way in which Kent
'was brdly treated. By grossly t
| misrepresenting facts, some one
| tried jo show that the grand jury
| recommended the abolishment of
|the~ity court on account of the ,
I charges against Kent. Reference to
| tip presentments shows how base-1'
I U faise were these reports. It is j
i dangerous person that will Ixe i
Iguilty of attempting to stab a '
' man through the press. I hope
no such party lives in our midst.
Numerous telegrams and let
ters, some thirty or more recently
received from prominent min
isters, farmers, lawyers, from the
state over show how Kent is es-
I teemed by the unbiassed.
The ability of the lawyers who
have voluntarily retained them
selves for Bill Kent’s defense is '
an honor to any man. November!,
is a long time to wait, but so far
as Kent is concerned, he is ready!
to answer his accusers at any;
time—now. Neither is he or his'
friends doubting the result. There
; is no doubt of Kent’s vindication.
! The shadows cast at Kent will in ,
the end coil upon his accusers and I
fail as darkened spots across the j
paths of those who would destroy ;
him professionally. The reward ,
iof unrestrained enmity is the in
evitable result of this persecution. <
With ill will to none, and a per- ,
sonal friend of Bill Kent, I am,
John F. Ham., M. D. 1
Mt. Vernon, Ga., May 24, lbo9. 1
THE MONTGOMERY MONITOR—THURSDAY, MAY 27. 1000.
GRAND LODGE K. P.
ELECTS OFFICERS,
Columbus, Ga., May 20.—The
grand lodge of Knights of Pythias
of Georgia adjourned today to
meet next year in Brunswick on
the third Wednesday in May. Dal
ton also extended an invitation,
! but the coast city won out.
The elect ion of officers resulted
I as follows:
Grand chancellor, Clifford
Walker, of Monroe.
Grand vice chancellor, B. 1).
Brantley, of Blacksheur.
Grand prelate, George T. Canu,
of Savannah.
Grand keeper of records and
| seal, William 11. Leopold, of Sa
!vannah.
Grand master of exchequer, Tv.
: 0. Norman, of Washington.
Grand master at arms, Jas. W.
Austin, of Atlanta.
Grand inner guard, Miller S.
Bell, of Milledgeville.
Grand* outer guard, H. M.
Stanley, of Dublin.
Supreme representatives, T.
Carling, Macon; T. If. Nickerson,
Athens.
T, J. Carling, who has served
as supreme representative for
. many years, was re-elected nnani
! mously and the scene was ;i touoh
i one. Tears (lowed down Mr. Our
• ling’s face as he acknowledgi d the
honor and also the sentiments in
the nomination addressjs. For
the other vacancy us supreme ron
j resentative F. M. Sonimerkamp,
|of Columbus; David /. Bailey, of
Griffin, and T. 11. Nickerson were
nominated, and it took two bal
lots to elect.
There was quite a lively race
for grand outer guard, with seven
canidatos, and two ballots were
required to make a selection.
Loss legislation was before the
grand lodto than in ten years.
Lodge? failing to make their re
ports promptly to the grand keep
er of words and seals were re
lieved of the penalty heretofore
imposed.
I'he grand lodge delegated to
/ohn P. Ross, of Macon, and
Hamilton Douglas, of Atlanta,
authority to continue the fight in
the courts against the use of the
pythian name and emblems bj
negroes.
DEATH OF A GOOD WOMAN.
i Mrs. Mattie E. Barlow died at
I
her home at Stuckey. April 28,
I‘JUO. Aged 3H years, 1 months
and 8 days.
In early life she united with the
Christian church at Antioch in
i Washington county, ever living
an exemplary life and trying to
perform every Christian dutv. She
was laid to rest in the Stuckey
cemetrey, the funeral services lin
ing conducted by Rev. M. L. Jes
sup, and witnessed by a large con
course of sorrowing friends and
relatives.
For over a year she had con
sumption. 'The medicine used
seemed to avail nothing, still she
had tho most untiring and utmost
> confidence in her physician, who
was treating her, and who will
never be forgotten by her family
for his faithful work.
At the close of her illness, which
she bore so patientloy, she was
mindful that she was gently sink
ing day by day, but bore it all
only as consecrated Christians can
do.
She was ever a devoted wife, a
tender and loving mother. 81ie
! leaves a husband and eight child
ren, an aged father, two sisters
and one brother to mourn her de
parture.
Truly a good woman has gone
and her death has cast a gloom
over our community, but we hope
our loss is her eternal gain. Her
Bufferings are all over now; she
has go lie where there is no pain;
J*
THF STORF I
•|* 11 AJLs • KJ I. V/IX 111 *
l l # " " ~ %
1 WHERE YOU ALWAYS GET f
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| BEST QUALITY ■ |
| FULL WEIGHTS |
I #
l{#
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'| ' t
• 4 *
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i Wliat More* (Jail a l>o<ly Ask?
| w.h.mcqueen !
J nT VERNON, GA. !
* 2
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IM*******************-****-****************
and she is resting, sweetly re.st.ing
with the blest. She has gone from
i
our midst; a place is vacant in
our home which never enn be filled
I can plainly see her lying on
i be r bed of nflliction suffering
-jimd gasping for a long breatn, !
j but she never murmured and ever
expressing herself as being ready
and willing to go.
May perfect laith subdue our!
hearts into entire resignation and 1
subniiission to the will of our
j Heavenly Father.
Written by one who loved her.
L. E. J.
TWO ESCAPES CAUGHT,
Jakm, Gu., Mnv 23.—While at
tempting to cross the Chattahoo
chee river at Nad’s Landing, near
the line of Georgia and Florida,
I,
two white convicts who had escsip- •
ed from the Early county camps,
at. Blakely, last week, vere cap
tured yesterday morning by B. I!.
Lawercnce who lives near the
landing and brought to Jakm.
As they were being marched in-j
!to Jakin, one of the men jerked a j
! razor out of his pocket and began I
■ to slash himself around !l e i brunt \
in an attempt to commit suicide. J
; His plans wo'e not carried out, |
: however, and both prisoners v. «rc|
| taken back to Blakely last night
and turned over to the proper au
thorities.
Lawercnce received SSO reward.
Field Peas For Sale.
Any quantity, from two bushels j
Ito one hundred bushels, in good |
; sacks. First-class stock tor plant- i
ing. Kind: Running, Speckled,!
Unknown and Mixed. $1.25 per!
bushel F. (). B. Tennille, Gsi. Send i
money with order. Reference:!
Farmer <fc Merchants Bank and:
People Exchange Bank, Tennille,!
Ga. H. M. Fkakkmx,
5204 Tennille, Ga.
I ~ r
-0 0 /' V**i o ® 0
0 « 0 *pi\ 0 - 0 0 >:
© I jj jj I
I 0 0 Needles, Shuttles and Bobbins for >o|
I 0 'o' 0 use in All Makes of Sowing Machines. 0/ .0 0
W. i. & T. ft, PETERSON, AILEY
| % GUR MAIL SEDER CATALOGUE |
• % 1,011 1
% Spring; and Summer %
'% 1909 I
| <l> lias been issued. If you desire* a @
copy, cut out mikl 111:1 iI this p
■p coupon to us: &
&) ' u. ii. u;vv, mto tt co., ‘
S' . Savannah, Oa. (Write with pencil) . S?
/\\ • den h' ikl m< a copy ot y<»ur Mail (Irder Catalogue •
■ lor Spring a oil Hummer, 1 '.)<)*.). ‘
| 1
; 0 • ‘ I
(#) i Ik-low are names of two partien in my town whom I • (#)
think would also be interested in your catalogue: • (#)
i
I B, B. LEVY, BRO. & CO,, jf
||j Savannah, Ga. jg
