Mt. Vernon Signal, 1897, Rockcastle Co OCT 29, 1897 In the Republican of last week the editor attempted to answer the charges we made against D.P. Bethurum. In a blaze of fury the said the carges made are as flase and void of truth as the individual who idited that screed is void of honor and manly principle. In hs rage he carged all Democrats with being kuklux and charged them with all the foul crimes that there were committed in Rockcastle; charge them with killing Charley Bethurum when the writer knew that Bethurum was killed while resisting arrest in Lincoln county. James Bethurum was killed in a fight. The other charges prompted by the spirit of an anarchist and a bomb thrower are so false and the people know it so well that it is unnecessary to waste time in an answer. We call your attention to the fact two years ago 16 parties were charged with kukluxing and that 14 of them were Republicans and that two of the Republicans turned states evidence and swore they were guilty and that one Democrat and one Republican were sent to the penitentiary. We mention this fact not because we believe Democrats less guilty than Republicans but mereley to show that they are not more guilty. It is doubtless true and all seem to agree that memebers of both parties have had something to do with this disreputable business. This we deplore as muchas any man. After accusing Democrats of all mean things known to the balck catalogue. He says; "They are now endeavoring to foist upon the good people of Rockcastle one of their won ilk for judge". Gentlemen of Rockcastle, is this ture? Is it honest in the man who wrote the words? Dick Williams is 27 year old and you know that when the things occurred of which the editor sopke that Richard Williams was but a child. You know that "Little Dick" as they are now pleased to call him, has ever been an honest, sober, truthfu, upright and hardworking boy and young man. And as a result of his faithful labors he easily stood forst in his calass in college and graduatied with the valedictory. He is now recognized by all as an able lawyer, a safe councilor and above all an honest man. The old citizens of the county know that there was a large umber of indictments in the Rockcastle Circuti Clerk's office agains D.P. Bethurum in 1873 and that the office as destroyed by fire and that he was charged and indicted for burning it. You also know that a part of the books and a shot gun of Dock McClary's the clerk was found by James Houls and Ashley Owens in a cve on the Bethurum farm. You know of his violating the law almost constantly since he was 16 yearsl odl. You know that nearly all these charges that you find in this paper to day were made under Judge Randell and Judge Morrow both Republicans and not done for political effect. You know that Judge Barr believed him guilty of forging pension papers and brought about his disbarment. Se certified copy of this disbarment in this paper. But, admit, if you like that he is guilty of all these chargesw we do not object so much on these grounds as we do on account of the way he decides many cases that come before him Voters, What do you think of a judge who tells a litigant how he will decide a case before he has heard the evidenc, and who will turn the guilty loose and hold the innocent? The parties who signed the article that appears in the Mt. Vernon Republican each week as to the character of our county officials, have been asked to make affidavits that any one charge against Bethurum is not true but they refused to do so. In conclusion we appeal to the voters to llk to the characters of Bethurum and Dick Williams. Loat at their walks through life. Look at the example they hav set before your boys and mine and vote for the man whom an honest conscience tells you is the better man. When you do this, Dick Williams will be our county Judge. We the undersigned certify that we did on the 26th day of October, 1897 examine the records of the Rockcastle Circuit Court Clerk's office for indictments against D.P. Bethurum the clerk having refused to give copy of record and while we could not finda ll the books we found the following incictments against D.P. Bethurum: Grand Larceny, Sept term 1873 Burning Clreks office, Sept term 1873 Carrying concealed weapons, Sept term 1873 Adultery, April term 1874 Selling liquor to minor, Sept Selling liquour to minor Sept term 1875 Stealing, Sept term 1876 House burning Sept term 1876 Fornication, sept term 1876 Carrying concealed weapons Sept term 1878 Selling liquor unlawfully, Jan term 1887 Selling liquor unlawfully, 25 indictments, Aug term 1887 Wm Poynter, James Maret, C.C. Wiliams, Jonas McKenzie signed and sworn before me this 27th Oct 1897. J.b. Fish, J. Mt. V.P.C. J.T. Stephens was out from Disputanta Monday H.B. Spartt and family have returned from Garrard county Cash Kinnard of Paint Lick is plastering Willis Adam's house The town election is getting almost as hot as the county races Mrs Rosalind Nesbitt's select school will reopen Nov 22nd at her residence Mrs Dr. Lovel and Miss Kate Moore are attending Nashville centennial Dan Holdman of Crab Orchard chipped a car of cattle from here to Cincinnati Tuesday A mad dog bit six of Willis B. Adams fine fox hounds last week. He had to kill them. "Fatty" Parsons has started a paper at Rowland called the "Scandalizer". Its hot stuff Squire Ashley Owens was up from Livingston Monday, Dr. Benton, Dannie Owens and others of Brodhead were here also Mr. and Mrs H.C. Gentry and son Clay and their neice Miss Rosa Gentry, have just returned from a visit to Mintonville, Casey county. They report a nice visit. Grant Burch was >>>> here from Garrard Tuesday and tried befor Commissioner White on charge of having broken into a bonded warehouse. He was sent to Covington A silver medal contest will be given at Court House Friday evening Nov 5 under the charge of Mrs Rosalind Nesbitt. Free admission. Misses Fannie and Florence Mullins, Berta Estes, Hattie Adams, Jael Colyer, Gracie McCall, Ottie Brown and Olia Gentry will be the contestants Casting vote for R.G. Williams: James A. Barnett, J.C. Mullins, James H. Cummings, T.L. Philbeck, C.H. Mullins Jr, Palestine Barnett, M.Mullins, T.R. Mullins Last week Tom Talors blacksmith shop was broke open and Tilman Gilpin's bicycle stolen. Tuesday Mr Gilpin saw Cicero Dishon a boy living in Knobs just south of Crab Orchard pass through Brodhead riding the wheel Mr. G. Moutned a horse and chased him several miles and caputrued him. dishon woh is a boy about 16 years old was brought here and lodged in jail From: Cindy Crawford DBXP64A@prodigy.com 7 Jun 1998