Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA, 8. C. Friday Horning. December 16,1871. The Vatted Ht?tr? Court. Groat interest is manifested in the trials now going on in the United States Oonrt. The ease on the tipia is that of the hanging of Jim Williams, alias Bainey. Numerous witnesses, pro and con., hare already been examined. The prosecution maintain that the deceased was wantonly hong by a band of dis? guised men. The defenoe admit the hanging, but prodaoe evidence to show that there was strong provocation which induced the aol of the disguised men. This man Bainey, or Williams, was cap? tain of Soott's colored militia, and thc evidence shows that his company was provided with arms and cartridges by the State authorities. It was also proved that Williams, or Bainey, had uttered many violent threats, and had, on seve? ral occasiong, declared that, in a certain contingency, he would kill from the oradle to the grave. We leave, however, onr readers to form their own opinion from the merits of tho case as presented by eaoh side. The distinguished lawyers from abroad, Messrs. Johnson and Stanberry, are effi ciontly aided by Major Hart, Gol. Wil son, I. D. Witherspoon, Esq., and J. C Bell, Esq., of the Yorkville bar. The: represent the defenoe. The proseontioi oonsist of Messrs. Corbin and Chamber lain and Col. Merrill, who evince no lao! of interest or zeal for the Government We place Col. Morrill with the connse for the proseontion, because his attitud in connection with the proseontion ha excited no little comment. We may not and others may not, rightly up prob en his position. Bat it would be reasoi ably presumed that his duties were mil tory in York, rather than legal in Colan bia. Bat it is perhaps susceptible of a explanation. The civil and the militai and the polioe have got terribly mixe np in this business. At one time, ?rn are silent amid laws, and then again lat are silent amid arms. Messrs. Akermc and Corbin having gone np to help Cc Merrill in York, it is but a case of rec prooity when Gol. Merrill comes dov to Columbia to help Mr. Oorbin. ? doubt of this-if President Grant do not make np his caso, and Mr. Walla does not gratify his spleen, and Cc Merrill dooB not legalize his acts, it w not be because all possible efforts a not making to secare tho desired resu WHO KILLED COOK BOBIN-SCOTT? is very generally conceded that Mr. Tb mas Jefferson Mackey most effeotual killed Gov. Scott in his notable inessa^ Scott there presents himself Ka Kluxc Tbe affecting story of his death will foand in this day's issue, as given by child poet." Alas! poor Gook Bob: Scotti gorged with poisoned bond-b ries, he fell an easy victim to the sp row's wiles and his arrows. All the c oumstanoes will be found narrated in t parody. Parker, with his golden di Kimpton, tbe dove, mourning for love; and Chamberlain, tho clerk, stand ont in bold relief. As it is fanerai of ours, we look on the ece bat shed no tears. Mark the ring. 1 worm squirms, bat its sting is still New York. THE PUBLIC MEETING AT 12 O'ono TO-MOBBOW.-Let our citizens bear mind that the interests of our fair c will to-morrow claim their attention an boar or two. Let all tax-payers terested in the oity's future attend. 1 people must look after their own ii rests where, as in tbe case of our ci the authorities havo been found utt< faithless. We shall, to-morrow, have sometb more to say on this subject. Wb looking after the State ring and all interests with which journalism charged, wo intend to keep a sharp on our local ring. New York has se a bright example. Let us look after Tweeds, though they be small-si: Thonsands in Columbia are as val in to as as millions aro to New Yorkers, GEN. GHESNOT'S CALL.-We call at tion to the notice given by Gen. C nut, chairman of the committee of Tax-payers' Convention. He invites oommittee to meet in Charleston, on 20th instant. We hope there will 1 foll meeting of tho committee, in t strength and their resoluto will, tc their work thoroughly. OUB STATE FINANCES CONDEMNE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.-Our r ors will observe that the coin mitti which Mr. Bowen is chairman have i a report, charging an over-issue in b of over $6,000,000, and oharging i upon tho parties responsible. The mittee do not specify the parties, do. They are SCOTT, PABKBB, KIM and CHAMBERLAIN. Pursue the ring We commend to Mr. Oorbin tho ; courteous when he is dealing with men as Mr. Johnson and Mr. Stanb The correspondent of the Charl. News says: The proeecation are losing temper; and under the sturdy b sound logic and legal drubbings th? oeive daring the progress of the def they oommenoe to wriggle considei and find, doubtless, they have not an easy job before them as they a pated. Only to-day, in the course > argument, Mr. Johnson said of ac? point: "My mind is too blunted I it; age is withered." Mr. Oorbin 1 in with tho remark, ''Lost your sight." A short time will, doub demonstrate which lide oaa see dearly. < m ? ? They don't make suoh mirrors n frlien you were young. WEDNESDAY S PROCEEDINGS IN UNITED STATES COURT.-Continuation of the trial of Robert Hayes Mitchell, for conspiracy, against James Williams, alias Jim Rai? ney. The court met at ll A. M. Mr. W. B. Wilson made application for the re? lease, on bail, of John Miller, which was granted. Tbe bond was fixed at $5.000, and Robeit;Miller, ?. M. Oampbell and George Steele accepted as sureties. The examination of witnesses by the prosecution was then resumed. Hiram Littlejohn, (colored,) was the next oalled. He said-I live in York County, on the Cheater road. Mr. 6 ta nu err y here objected to hear? ing any farther testimony about Kn Klux raids-this testimony, he said, seems endless. The counsel for the Go? vernment hare continued here, hour after hour, proving overt aots of conspi? racy, and have not, as yet, conneoted one prisoner with one of them. The Court-The Government is al? lowed. Mr. Stanberry, to begin at either end they ohoose; aud to prove first a general conspiracy, and then afterwards show the prisoners' participation in it. Mr. Johnson-Wo are well aware of that, may it please y oar Honors; bat the Government is uselessly cumulating its testimony. They have already proved, or claim to have proved, the conspiracy, and we objeot to the continued recital ol these disconnected facta, beoause it 'ic calculated to influence the minds of thc jurors, and because it is res inter alioi ada, until one prisoner is -connect?e with them in some way. The court decided that the Govern ment should be allowed to proceed it the examination of the witness. Ht continued: Two men came into m; bouse; they were pretty mach white al over. They asked if I had any gnns. answered, no. One said, I have huni Jim Williams to-night, and I intend t rule this County. They asked me how voted. I told them I was a Radical man and they told me next time to vote tb Democratic ticket. They rode off, an carried my shot-gun, I heard, nex morning, that Jim Williams was hunf I don't know tho ti.oo; I don't know i it was sales-day. Sales-day comes mot generally on the first Monday. I sa Andy Tims thai morning, and Bill Bra ton. Tho Ku Klux went towards Yorl ville; they carno from the direction < Jim Williams' house. John Caldwell was next oalled. M Johnson objected to his giving test mony, beoause he had been present i the court while the other witnesses wei being examined, contrary to tho order < the court. Mr. Corbin replied, that it was simp from inadvertence tbat tbe witness ht been in the court-room. He was one the prisoners, and had been brong from the jail with tbe rest, and seated conrt-room. The court ruled that the fact of I being present simply affected his orec bility, and not his competency. Witness-I was born and raised York; am twenty-seven years of age; joined tbe Ku Klux in 1868; Maj. J. > Avery initiated me; he came to me ai said he wanted me to join an order 1 self-defence; he administered the oat all I remember about it is the traito doom: death 1 death 1 death 1 I km Maj. Avery was chief of the kl an s in t County afterwards; I was present wb he was appointed; it was after the eli tion of 1863, may be in 1869 or 1870; was in the third story, over Brutton Mason's store; there were a good ma there; I know Robert Hayes Mitchell never saw him initiated; but I rec? nized him as a member on the night the Jim Williams' raid; I saw bim fi four miles from York, on the Fincki road; ho was with the crowd; I do know tbat I spoke to him; I got I order to go on that raid at Yorkvil Dr. Bratton told me they were going MoConnellsvillo that night for so guns. I told him tbat I couldn't , and that Wm. Johnson and Alot Brown were the leaders of the k about in my country. William Jol son told me to meet them at Bi Patch. Ho was chief of the Rat snakes. I went and met them there have a list of those I saw there. Mr. Stanberry-When was that made? Witness-It was ?nude by mc sinai have been here. The oourt ruled it out. Mr. Corbin then asked tho witness state from memory whom ho saw tbe Witness-I saw Wm. Johnson, Har Gunning, Chambers Brown. Halbn Good, James Neil, Sam. Fergus Robert Caldwell and Pinckney Caldw that was the first crowd; then I saw . Rufus Bratton, Rufus McLain i Alonzo Brown; there were n good mi others that I don't recollet. Wm. Jo son took command there; we went oi Pinckney road and put on our i guises; they wore black gowns, he and fulso faces; some had horns; I uot see a gun or pistol in the party; met another party at the Pinckney rc about three and a half miles from Ye ville, near Squire Wallace's hons saw there the fear Shearer boys, Roi Hayes Mitchell and Elias Ramsa; don't recollect any more. The I Shearer boys were initiated; I m James, William, Sylvanus and H Shearer. Wo started off to McOonn ville; Dr. J. Rufus Bratton wo.1? at head; we stopped in about 200 or yards of n bouse and some went for? to search for guns; they came buck w out any. Wo then went on to Mooro's and called out a black man, asked bim for guns; ho had none; said ho tboaght Jim Williams had tw or fifteen. We carried him apiece turned him loose. Wo went tw< three miles further, and rode off thicket in an old piney field, on tho of a hill. Ten men wout off and stt about an hour; I stayed with the ho I did not hear anything while they . gone; when they returned, I aske they had found Jim Williams; I go answer; they mounted and we rodi 1 asked Dr. Bratton, after we bad g the road, if tbey had found Jim liants. He said yes. I said wbore ii Ho said I expect he is in boll by time. Dr. Bratton then pulled ou watch, and looking at it said, we not got time, or I would visit tw three more to-night. We went on to the Rrattonsvillo road; they s to at a house and got a gun; wo woi past Rrattonsvillo where tho road foi and there tho men split; I went on i direction of Yorkville, and sopa from tbe rest of tho orowd abo o'clock. Jim Williams was bung f 2 o'clock. I took tho right-hand at Rrattonsvillo and went home, lei Yorkville to my left. There was nol occurred ofter wo split; but wo on homo as fast ai we c There were but two men along York village, Dr. Rafas Bratton euc fus MoLaiu. There- wasn't anything said about outing after the killing; before that, some little distance above Brat toDBvillc, we got crackers and eheese, and there were two bottles of whiskey. Cross examined by the defenoo-I had known Robert Hayes Mitchell a good while. I was in the same regiment with him in the army. I never saw him at any other meeting or on any other raid. He was not disguised and didn't go with the ten to hang Williams. He stayed at the horses where I was. I was initiated in 1868, by Maj. Avery. He said the object was self-defence. I was not in the room over five minutes. There was nothing said abont preventing voting. Their purpose ou the Jim Williams raid was to get the militia guns; the negroes at Mr. Morris' said he had from twelve to fifteen. I never beard.that the object was to prevent voting. No fires bad oc? curred when I was initiated. I didn't hear of any threats of violence before I joined; I heard that threats of violence had been made before the Jim Williams raid; I heard that Jim Williams was forming a Ku Klux party against the whites, and that ho said ho iutended to kill from the oradle to the grave. We stopped at two other places before we I went to Jim Williams'; nt McOonnellB ! ville and at Dr. Love's. Black men wore called out; heard uothing said about voting. There were fires all about York ville after I joined the klun. I remem? ber of Dr. Allison's mill being burnt, j Widow Thomas' gin-house and Dr. Law? ry's gin-house, Mrs. Aloorn's and Mrs. Jacob Smith's. Tho burnings took place in January last, mostly. Dr. Alli son's mill was the first; that ocourred in October, 1870. There was a good deal of alarm in the country. I did hear thal a threat was made to burn Yorkville bj the negroes, on a Monday night. 1 think it was before I went on tho raid it was in January. Re-examined by Mr. Corbin-I novel myself heard the negroes tnako an] threats, nor did I ever see any man win said ho had heard them; it wan ouly ru mor. The grand jury here came in and re turned true bills in the following cases: The United States vs. Lawson Arm strong, John Olintou, James Barnett John Campbell, Leyburn Currents, Reu bon McCall, Robinson Miller, conspi racy against Audrow Slurgis. The United States vs. Thos. B. White side, John W. Mitchell, Milton Watson Joseph Mitchell, Robert MoCreight, W Good, Bud Neil, Charles Byers, Newto Osborn, Capers Scott, conspiracy agniut Chas. Leech. The Uuited States vs. Edward 1 Avery, Ernest Lowry, Johu P. Gag? Howard Davis, Henry Toole, Eran Cowan, Sam. Stowart, R. T. May, coi spiraoy against Sam. Sturgis; except i to R. T. May-as to him, no bill. The examination of the witness wi then oontinucd. Witness-I never heard that Alliso said his mill was burnt by whites; heard others say so. Most of the buri inga were in Junuary, about the midd of tho month. The tirst raid that heard of was against Rufus White, nboi a week after Allison's mill was barn The next raid was the Rouudtree rail They killed him; it was before Chris mas. The next raid was on John J Ferris; it was before Christmas. The wore rumors of raids nil about the cou try in January. Most of the raidii ooenrred in January and February. Tl rumor about Yorkville being burnt-, w in February or March. A young mi came out to my house, to ask me come in and help protect tho town, suppose they were uneasy, or else tin would not have sent out for people come in. I saw nothing of any fire th night. I heard that fire hud been pluc< under Mr. Graham's house. Hon dawson was the young man who cac to call me in. Cross-examined-Henry dawson is son of lawyer dawson, the Registrar Bankruptcy. I saw a crowd in Yor ville tbut night. Their object, th said, was to protect the town. The was a company of colored men in t town. They were armed, and Blay down about the lower end of the tow The whites were in tho centro of t town. I heard tho drum of tho neg company beat-at least, the souud cai from that direction. I had a doub barrel gun. I wont there to protect t town against conflagration. Andrew Kirkpatrick was next calle He Maid: I live seven aud a half mi from Yorkville, on tho Pinckney Ron I was twenty yenrs old b'.st Juno. I w initiated into tho Ku Klux Klan li Fobruary, at borne, by Chambers Bro" Ho was chief of tho klan. I cau't : member the oath; the last words we "Tho traitor's doom shall bo deal death, death!" I attended ono regu meeting at Sharon Church. Tho fe Shearer boys were there, Banks K< Robert Hays Mitchell, ChambersBrov Hugh Kell, Elias Ramsay, Alex. Ste art, Sam. Ferguson, Polo Miller, Jo Miller, Sam, Urowu, Robert Riggi and Henry Wurliok. I don't mi whether there were any moro or u Thoy elected a new chief and a tu Robert Higgins was chief, and Polo A 1er turk; Chambers Brown was elco mouurcb. I did not attend any otl regulur meeting. 1 think it was af corn-planting time. I was on tho J Williams' raid. We mot at Briar Pat I saw there Harvey Gunning, Will Jol sou, Bascom Kennedy, Ugbrook Goi Chambers Brown, Alonzo Brown, Dil Bigham, Pole Miller, Sam ii ul Fergus John Caldwell, Robert Caldwell, Pin ney Caldwell, Jioa Neil, Milos Carr Addison Carroll, Dr. Rufus Brutt Rufus McLaiu, They were armed, so with pistols, so m o with gnns. They 1 diff?rent disguise-sumo white, so red; anti tho/ had a cap on aud n fa face; some hud little; horns. The hoi of somo wero covered with blankets, think tbore wore two klaus-Will Jo sou's and Chambers Brown's klan. Tl were thirty or forty in all. We star off, and rode to tho cross road ou Pinckney Road, just abovo Squiro V lace's. There wc found tho four Shen boys, Robert Hayes Mitchell, Elias Ri say and Hugh Koli. Tho Shearer b were initiated there. We went on Squiro Wallace's, took tho left-li road, and rodo on to McConnullsvi Wo stopped at Mr. Joe Moore's, calle colored man out, and somo of tl talked to hiui. I didn't hear what said. We then rode on und stopped colored man's house, but didn't i him. Then we rodo on to tho big rc then, after n little, turned ol? and v, into a thicket on tho side of a hill, bert Riggins and I sat down nour horses. Homo of the men went oil bouse; they stayed about n half in When they came back, I heard s< man say they lind hung him. I di? hear any profane remarks. Wo thou on our horses and started for hom I got homo about daylight. Cross-examined-I don't think Hajes Mitchell went to Jim Williams' house; he stayed with the horses. Elias Ramsay, white, was next oalled. He said: I live in York County; I was boru and raised there. My nome is about ten miles from Yorkville. I joined tbe Kn Klux Klan the 26th of February, 1871-Chambers Brown's klan. Cham? bers Brown swore me in. The object stated was to pot do wn -tho Radical party. The doom was, death 1 death 1 death 1 I attended one meeting at Sharon Ohnroh. I saw there S. G. Brown, Chambers Brown, Robert Biggins, Hugh Kell, Sberod Childers, Pole Miller, John Mil? ler, Samnel Ramsay, Robert Harkness, the fonr Shearer boys, and Robert Hayes Mitchell. I have known Robert Hayes Mitchell about eighteen months. There was no raid the night of the meeting at Sharon Ohuroh. The raid was soon after; I think about ten days or two weeks after. I was ordered by Robert Higgins, but I didn't go; I didn't think it waa right. The object of the organi? zation was to go around and visit co? lored people, for the pnrpoBe of controll? ing their voting. I heard some say so. Robert Higgins was ohief; Chambers Brown, monarch; Pole Miller, turk. 1 was appointed, with Wm. Shearer and Banks Kell, a oommittee on member? ship. I was on the Jim Williams raid. Robert RigginB gave me the order to go. I heard tho objeob was to get tbe gu OB. I wont with the fonr Shearer boys, Hen? ry Warliok and Robert Hayes Mitchell They all had on their disguises, exoop the four Shearer boys. I have knowt the prisoner in tbe war and since, talked with him that night before w< got to Squire Wallace's. We waite? there about an hour for the rest to oom* up. We halted them as they rodo up the words used were: "Who come there?" "Friends." "Friends to whom? "Friends to our country." Chamber Brown sworo the four Shearer boys ii thou. Wo startod off from there; too! the left hand road, and stopped at Hour Latham's for some water. We the went on to McOonnellsville. Wheu nea there, the order was given to keep quiel for we are going to soizo some guns t McGonnellsville. Wo went on near house and Btopped. Chambers Brow ordered mo to stay behind with tb horses. If a pistol tired, we were t come up with those who had gone oi While we were waitiug there, a part came np behind. They were Dr. Loi and Boss Nathau, fox hunting. Alouz Brown went out to speak to Dr. Lov He asked him if he knew where the gut were. Dr. Love said he didn't know; 1 thought they were at Bethesda Cburol We then crossed over to another ron* they called out a colored mau and toe him np behind, but Dr. Bratton was o] posed to carrying him along and th< put him down. We then got into country that I didn't know anything c After riding about two miles, some oi four or fire horses ahead of me said tin were goiug to hang Jim Williams. V rode on about a mile, then took into tl woods and stopped and dis mo un te The biggest part of the crowd then we off. John Caldwell stayed with me; 1 said he had colic; also, tbe four Shear boys and Robert Hayes Mitchell, heard nothing of the purty in frot they were gone about thirty minutes b Tore they came back. I heard uothii said at first, but after a while I bea Jim Neil say "some mon are powerl hard-hearted." We stopped near Jol S. Bratton's house and got some crae ers and whiskey. While there, sot man said: "Hold up the guns; let's e what we've got." I looked and the appeared about twelve or fifteen. B Johuaon said he wanted a squad to go John S. Bratton's bouse. He got thc and went and oalled Mr. Bratton o and asked him what he meant by havi tboeo guns on bis place? He said he h nothing to do with it, and that it look hard that he should be censured for wi tho State authorities did. He said had neither voted the Radical ticket r armed the negroes. We stopped several houses and got guns, and tb went on home. I heard Cbambi Brown say Williams was a leading Ra cul down in his part of the County, a consumed a great deal of time with ', drilling. I was arrested on tho 20th October. Chambers Brown had left I country. Cross-examined-I didn't know of a raid on Democratic negroes, nor of a being arrested by tho military. I do know how many places were visited tl night; tho only object seemed to be get guns; the guns were army breei loaders. The raid waa ou the 6th Mardi. There had been several bu ings in tho neighborhood, and I hei that some of the blacks had mi threats to kill from the cradle to I grave. Sam. Ferguson, (white,) was m oalled. He said-I am sixteen years c I was initiated a member of the Klux on the Otb of Marah, by Har' (running, nt Yorkville. He told mo go down to Briar Patch, that event When ho initiated mo, he blind-foh me, and administered tho oath, the nalty of which was death! deathl des They didn't tell inewhatthoy were go to do on tho raid. I went with V Miller and Josiah Martin. I don't kr i how many came to the Briar Pat They had e?n disguises. Don't know ! leader. We went from there to I cross road on thu Pinckuey Road, u I Squiro Wallace's; there saw Robert 1 I gins, Hugh Kell and tho four Shoe i boys. The four Shearer boys w ! sworn in there. I Then followed a description of ! raid, not differing from the others in i ' importaut particulars. The next witness called was A ! Rainoy, (colored.) He Buid-I iivt j York County. 1 am thirty-eight yi ' of ago, and J. voted the Republican tic 1 at the last election. On n Satur night, towards tho last of March, nt 1 IU o'clock ut night, four or five disgui J men came to my house. They ms up, crying ont: "Q-d d-u, opon door! opeu the door! open the door!' ran up into tho loft. They broke 1 door olT the hinges. My wifo thou bolted it, nm) they knocked her do They made Sum. Good get a torch, they came up in the loft and found where I had hidden myself in a 1 They dragged me ont of doors. Si of them went back and beat my v aud drew a pistol and threatened to her. They knocked me down. My tie daughter ran out und bogged tl not to kill pappy. They commet firing off pistols. They shot s fifteen times. They shot my daug in the forehead; the shot glanced she bled very tnnob; eho came to door wbilo they had mo outside, threw *>ut a double hand-fill of b! that carne from her wound. They I mo off up the road-some wanted to mo. One said: "No, don't kill hi They mado me swear never to vote other Radical ticket, and then let me go. They mado Sam. Qood swear the same thing. I did not know any of the men. The next and last witness for the pro- ' a ecu ti on was Dick Wilson (colored.) He said: I live in York, on Dr. Lowrey's place. I voted at the last election; voted the whole Republican ticket; Mr. Wallace was one of the men I voted for; nobody questioned my right to vote. The Ku Klux visited me on the 11th of April, abont 2 or li o'clock; two rode np to my boneo; others went to my son Riobard's house; they halloed "open the door!" then "make up a light!" "who lives hore?" I said Dick Wilson. "Is this old Dick?" Yes, sir. "Where's yoong Dick?" I don't know, air. "Yon are a d-n liar!" They then took me and carried mo with them to my son's house. There were four there searching for Dick; they did not find him. They asked me where he was? I said gentle? men, I don't know. "Don't call us gentlemen," they said; "wo are jost from hell, and haveu't beou here since the first battle of Manossas; wo'ro come to change all this Radical rule." The; then took me out; mado me stretch onl on my face on the ground; thoy said, "Stretch yourself, d-n you, stretch 1' I stretched all I kuew how; I woulc have stretched longer if I could; thej whipped mo with rum-rods; I think om was iron; they whipped me badly; thoi likod to have ruined mo; thoy whippet me nil iu one place. I promised to voti the Demooratio ticket, and they modi me promise that I would go with my soi and put a card in Grist's paper, and sa; that we had quit Scott and his ring. . 6aw two pieces of tho ram-rods nex morning; whito oak ram-rods. I dido' put a card in the pnper. I wusn't abl to do a day's work for two weeks; I hai to get about with a stick nud sit on pillow. I saw nix mon. Gross examined-I know SODIO of th men: Dr. Parker, James Miller, Joh Little and Bill Lowrej. Ididnotkno' for certain about the other two; Ithougb one waa Bishop Laudifor, and the othc -Tbomasson. They had gowns an false faces on; I know thuin by tho bands and their shoos, and their und? dress, and I hud a full understanding < tho voices of those four I meutionet Wm. Lowrey's hand hud a linger tin stood off like, aud had sores on it. Ti rest bad whito hunns, of course, i kue somo by their bauds and some by the voices. 1 did not publish the curd, an they never came buck. I don't recoj nize tho prisoner, Robt. Huyes Mitchel The prosecution closed hore, and tl defenoe entered upon the examination < their witnesses. The first witness w; Mrs. Julin H uney. She said: I live : Chester County, just over tho York lin Jim Williams, alias Jim ll liney, lived : two miles of me. Ho was formerly tl slave of my husband, who is now dem Jim went off with Sherman's army, ai stayed about ti year. When ho can baok, hu came to see his old master, n husband. Ho was very polite to us, at we always treated bim very kindl Most of my old servants remained wi me ou my place. Jim lived iu two mile sud used to como about the place and my kitchen frequently. I beard, thrum the house servants, of threats that had made. He was c.ipUiu of a inilil oompany, aud they were urmod. I si them occasionally. They caused a gre deal of uneasiness iu the commtiuil They were very disorderly, and coi pletely nuder the thumb of their cn taiu. There wero fires frequently in t neighborhood. I kuow they were met diary fire?, because my own gin-hot was burnt, with twenty-live bales of c( tou; and I frequently saw the horizon up with lire around iu thonctghborhoc I had not heard of uuy ruids of wh men before that time. The people wt io a great state of alarm from tire, a just before Jim's death, there was gn fear of au attack by the negroes. I v alarmed myself, and left my homo a went to my father's, in Union. Cross-examined-I did not myself hi Jim make any threats, nor did I see oompany commit any disorderly a under his command. The witness WUH thea permitted como down, and tho court adjourned II A. M., to-morrow. The grand jury made tho followi returns: The United States rs. John Lytl John Ii. Parkor, Wm. Tbomasson, W Lowrey, Johu Miller, Bishop Saudi! conspiracy against Dick Wilson. Ti bil), except ns to Wm. Tbomasson t Bishop Sandifer; as to thom, no bill. B. P. JACKSON, Foreman Tho United States rs. tho same above. Conspiracy uguinst Hir Alexander. Sume finding Tho United States rs. John W. Mit ell, Jos. Mitchell, Thos. B. Whitest Melton Watson, Wm. Qood, Bob McCroight, Newton Osborne, Hoi Neal, Churlos Byers, John Davis, Cap Scott Neal, Pincknoy Webber, o spiracy against Charles Good. T bill. THUKSIMY'S ritOCEEDlKOS. Mr. Hart applied for tho release bail of William Burnes, of York, was released on a bond of S.i.OOO. J A. Sanders and T. J. Gibson were cepted as su ret? CH. The trial" of Robert Hayes Mitel was continued. Mr. Johnsou stated that there w six or seven witnesses material for defence who had not boon sutnnior. and requested that subpuiuas might issued for thoir appearance. The first witness called was John Moroso. Ho said: I liva iu Charles! 1 am on tho editorial stnlT of tho Cour III 1870, I visited York and other Co lies to report the gubernatorial can1 and the state of tho country. I truvi in Chester aud in York; *vas at Lu! Ford and at Rock Hil!. This was ah six weeks prior to the eleotiou. ' election was for Governor and merni of Congress. Tho condition of tin at Yorkvillo was quito excitiug. Tl wero reports of tho negroes coming : town, i saw live negroes ride into to and ride down to the plaoe where negroes had tho arm? of the militia o puny. Tho Reform meeting was at Court House. There was a great b ing of drums, hn.m aud kettle. A Wallace spoke; also, Judge Carpe and others. Tho meeting was brc up iu consequence of the drum-beat and a riot seemed imminent. The roar was greatest when Judge Carpo spoke. There were a crowd of neg down nt tho barracks, where tho urn. tho militia were said to be, Some wero addressing them, and seemed t excitiug thom. J couldn't hour A wus said, but I heard enough to int mo to think that the danger was in tient. I was present at a Reform n ing at Rock Hill. Col. McKissick, ( Butler uud Judge Carpenter, aud imps some others, spoke; there w large attendance, but no disturba Previous to that though there was a form meeting ab Quester. There was a big row. Mr. Corbin hero objected to ?he ad? mission of such testimony, as being irrelevant. Judge Bond enid: Mr. Stan berry, I don't see the relevancy of any of this testimony, unless you menu lo pr<>vt> that Kn Klux were at the meeting and created no disturbance, and thus rciHe a presumption in their favor. Mr. Htanberry-May it please yonr Honors, we uro charged with having formed a general conspiracy to interfere with and prevent the free exercise of the elective franchise. Wo aro, by this tes? timony, going to show that the parties here indicted did Dot interfere or molest any one in the exercise of that right, either at the hustings or at the polls; that, on the otber band, the only at? tempted interference was by the other party-the negroes. Wo intend to show that the object of this so-called conspi? racy was to guard rights far more sacred than tho electivo franchise; that there were bands of negroes, armed with the most improved guns, traversing thc country, creating a general feeling ol alarm and anxiety, and threatening tc kill from the cradle to the grave, so thal the people bad no other resource lofi but to disarm them; and that the de? fendant engaged in this so-called conspi racy only fur that purpose. Tho oourt ruled tho question iuadmis Bible. Mr. Moroso was cross-examined 03 Mr. Corbin. He said: I did not soe anj militia at Yorkville; I BUW a orowd o negroes arouud the place where tho armi were kept. There was a great ?tate o uneasiness pervading the whole country on aocouut of tbe negro militia march ing about, armed, through the country Judge R. B. Carpenter was next culled He Bui ti: I wuB a candidate for Governo of the State in tko fall of 187U; I visitei York and thc surrounding Counties; think I was there in the latter part o August or 1st of September; it wus afte the negro militia were organized an armed; there was a generul feeling c alarm in tho country; tbe cause of i was that the militia were marching abou armed throughout the country, aud tba a buttle might occur at any time; tb whites did not seem so much alarmed 0 that portion of the blacks who wore nc armed, but they were nil more or loss un easy; the militia wore composed of tb party supporting the present Stat dynasty-Radicals. Mr. Stanberry-Of what party wei i you a candidate? A. I can't call it j party; it had no national significant whatever, but aimed solely at local rt form. Q. K-eform what; the Rep?blica party? A. No, not exactly that; for wus conceded by tho gentlemen assooi ted with me that the reform of those i power was a hopeless task. We aime solely nt a reform of the corrupt adm uistration of the State government. Wm. Lindsay, (colored,) was ne: called. He said-1 live in York, aboi three and a half miles from whore Ji Rainey lived. I know him well; ba' knowu him four or five years. He ht a ?mili tia company; he waa captain; tl company waa formed last year; they ht no muskets at first, but got the about two months afterward?, and mu tereil with them; they had ammucitic too-cartridges. Allen Bretton, a lie tenant in tho company, brought tl ummunition and distributed it. He sa Mr. Rose, at York, gave it to bim. Ant Tims and Jim Williams sent for i They got three rounds ut first. Th mustered n't night twioo a week, ai ouco a week before the election. Ji Williams told me that be was going get ammunition from York, aud k from tho cradle up. He told me that 1 the Friday before he was killed. V wore riding to Yorkviilo together. I w going to pay my taxes. I don't think got any ammunition that day. Mic McConnell heard of his threats, too; th were generally known through t County. There had been no raids I fore that time. There was no int? furenco at the election. I voted at M Con nellyville. Williams voted there, tc There had been no fires about tut except tho gin house of Mr. Brattc folks thought that Jaok Brooks did th be is a oolored man. I hoard of fit above Yorkville. I was at home t night Jim Williams was killed. T Ku Klux came up to my house; tb said they wero Ku Klux; they were r disguised; they asked me if I had a gt: I told them I did not have auy bu squirrel tillo. I Lauded it to them; tb gave ii back to mo, and said they ( not want that. There waa u big ero of them in the road, some twenty thirty. A militia party came afterwar Andy Tims was at tho hoad of the they came up to my house and ballot "Como out, d-n you, como ont qui Havo any Ku Klux been here?" I si yes; two. They said, "Get your g and come on." I said come who Thoy said, "After them Ku Klux." ; told them I would not go. Hot Haynes cocked his gun iu my fuco a said, "D-a you, you've got to go, or kill you." I told thom I reokoned might as wull die there us anywhere el They took my gun off, and promised ? send it back next day; they did nomi back. I saw the militia company ut election; they did not carry their ai that I know of; they had their s arms on, bayonets, accoutrements, < They mustered the night before election nt Wallace's old field. I s some of them going to tho electi I they went iu squads, mostly of six j seven. j Cross-oxnmineil by Mr. Corbin-I known as Gentleman Bill; I live 00 J( S. Bratton's placo. Jim Williams t me ho was going to kill from tho c. np. Mr. Hassell brought him wore give up his guns; he said he wouk nutil Mr. Scott ordered him. He aeeu to bo in earnest when ho made the tun I told a good many people about it told Mr. Lowiov and Mr. Wallace. Q. What Mr! Wallace? Squired lace? A. No; Squire Wallace's e Maj. Wallace, they call him. I t Minor McConnell; I might have t more; I don't recollect now. I thin was ten days afterwards that I told ', Wallace. Q. What was your politics? A. Wi -then? I never had no politics thoi was always a Democrat. I wasn't son of the Kn Klux. They didn't ask what my politics were. I heard plo of colored men express fear. I ki that Minor McConnell and Dave 1 masson are Democrats. Tbe men I came to my house said they was Klux. Tbey halloed. "Wake up, 1 geri open tho door! here we aro." A i Tims' party acted moro like Ku K ? tbtiu they did. He said he was a bi I ing Ku Klux. They said they wc ; kill me if I didn't go. The other c never said that. I never knew Jim 1 1 limns todo anything bad. ocal Ito XXL mm CITY MATTXBS.-The price of single oopies of the PHOENIX is five cents. The PIIONIX office ie supplied with all necessary material for as handsome cards, bill heads, posters, pamphlets, hand-bills, oiroalars, and other printing that maybe desired, as any office in the South. Give us a oall and test oar work. The premiums to be awarded at the "ol lie ken fair," next week, are on exhi? bition at the Exchange House. Con? testants can obtain either greenbaoka or silver as awards. We have been requested to state that Miss M. A. Quirk will deliver a lecture I at Bethel A. M. E. Church, corner Tay? lor and Sumter streets, this (Friday) evening, December 15,1871, at balf-past 7 o'clock. Subject: "The Bible-a Cyclopedia of Sciences." The publie are invited to attend. A collection will a be taken ap after the lecture, for the * benefit of the City Mission Obnrch. Messrs. C E. Thomas k Co., at the Charlotto, Columbia and Angosta Bail road Depot, are now prepared to supply our citizens with wood. We know these parties, aud deem them in all respecta reliable. Good mensuro well laid on may be expeeted, and good wood also. If you want to be supplied, give yonr orders. Their motto is promptness and good measure. There was an intimation, yesterday, that winter was npon as. The Pollock House thermometer recorded thusly: 9 A. M., 46; 2 P. M., 48; 9 P. M., 40. About 1 o'clock this morning, snow began falling in large flakes. MAH, ARRANGEMENTS.-The Northern mail opens at 3.00 P. M.; closes 7.16 A. M. Charleston day mail opens 4.00 P. M.; closes 6.00 A. M. Charleston night mail opens 6.30 A. M.; doses 6.00 P. M. Greenville mail opens 6.45 P. M. ; closes 6.00 A. M. Western mail opens 9.00 A. M.; closes 1.30 P. M. On Sunday office open from 3 to 4 P. M. SUPREME COURT, THURSDAY, Decem? ber 14.-The conrt met at 10 A. M. Pre? sent-Chief Justice Moses and Associate Justices Willard and Wright. Charles M. Furman, Trustee, vs. the Greenville and Columbia Railroad Com? pany. To be submitted on printed ar? gument. Lawrence F. Campbell, Receiver, vs. the Bank of Charleston. Mr. Whaley for appellant; Mr. Seabrook for respond? ent; Mr. Conner in reply. Thomas S. Dupont et al. vs. M. H. Collins. Mr. Phillips was heard for ap? pellant; Mr. Young for respondent. Mrs. E. L. Smith el al. vs. Mrs. M. M. Gatewood et al. Mr. Menimiuger was beard for appellant*; Mr. Stone tor re? spondents. At 3 P. M., the Court adjourned until Thursday, Deoember 21st, when the Third Circuit will be culled. We call attention to the development of tho business of that working man, Mr. E. R. Stokes. His book bindery has been developed. He bas advanced his lines and now keeps a fall supply of well assorted stationery, Ac. That bright youth, young Simonton, is on the skirmish line, whilst the Messrs. Stokes, father and sou, and oar friend Mr. Dor? sey and other.-?, are busy workers in the rear. We propose a sentiment in favor of all self-made and well-made men. Drink it in cold water, or go next door and drink it in QUEEN'S DEUOHT. THE GREAT CIRCUS.-Relying solely upon our exchanges, we must believe that Dan Rioe hus readied the crowning ambition of his life-that of sole man? ager and proprietor of the largest and most expensive arenio exhibition in this country. His monster troupe of gym? nasts, acrobats, equestrians and trapeze performers, entails a cost that woald be considered next to bankruptcy by any less wealthy and energetic manager than Dan Rice. The veteran clown seems to have profitted by his thirty years' expe? rience, and uow introduces only snob talent as have a national reputation. H?B trained horses, educated mules and wonderful troupe of performing dogs have a special interest to all lovers of cultivated instinct, and in Norfolk the exhibition was attended by the public sohools en massa. The great canvass is heated by immeuso furnaces, and is warm aud comfortable. This is Dan Rico's first visit to tbis section of the South, uud our citizens eau rest assured that lie is the genuine "Old original Jacobs." They open on the 19tb, con? tinuing tho 20th-two exhibitions each day. The Lexington Dispatch p*ys the fol? lowing well-merited compliments to two deserving young men, respectively of the Columbia and Edgefield bar. lt says: Lewis E. LoConte, Esq., of the firm 0 i ??O?? uster & LoConte, attorneys, cf Columbia, spent two days in onr village last week, on business. Mr. LeConte, though a young mau, is already a dis? tinguished member of the bar. ? Riobard Bonham, Esq., of the firm of I Bonham & Bonham, of Edgefield, was 1 also here one day on business. He has j just como to the bar, and bids fair to be ? in all respects worthy of his father, Gov. Bonham. Au old bachelor, who bears bis lonely state with much equanimity, says: "It is better to bo laughed at for not being married than he unable to laugh because you are." New clothes wout give a follow a olean couccience. -? t ? ? - LIST OP NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Hostetter's Stomaoh Bitters. E. Hope-Buffalo Tongues. James Ohesnut-Executive Commit'e. P. Cantwell-Cow Feed. R. O'Neale, Jr.-For Sale. I. E. Orchard-Notice. Residence Wanted. E. Pollard-Fire Works.