The Montgomery monitor. (Mt. Vernon, Montgomery County, Ga.) 1886-current, May 27, 1909, Image 5
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 .j| | | BEST QUALITY ■ | | FULL WEIGHTS | I # l{# ■ | jj^. '| ' t • 4 * ' * #- ' 5« _ >| 6r i Wliat More* (Jail a l>o<ly Ask? | w.h.mcqueen ! J nT VERNON, GA. ! * 2 * * 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