The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, January 30, 1879, Image 1
Thi-WEEKL EITIN.} WINSBPO.S. ..THU~DAY.JANUARY 301187Th IVOL NO13
THE END OF A L1BEL SUIT.
---_-_
VOL. IClIT' AG.IFNi' vT IEI NIC 1V
YoiC TIMECS.
The Law and the Facts in the Caso
$50,000 Damages A .ked for--The
Jury Give the Plaintiff a Verdict for
Six Cents.
(MFrmim hew ot York T7bnev.]
Early in September, 1877, Thom
as Keitt, a mulatto member [f the
South Carolina Legislatm-c, residing
at Newberry Court..honrso, in tit
St-Ito, all sOlletimUos called, mulr)Ing
his intilmto associatos, "Col. Keitt,"
was arrested at Nowberry and coim
mited to jail on a chargo of bigamy.
The fact of his arrest was comnmu
nicated to the Times on Scpt. 5th,
in a special dispatch from Washing
ton, Which was publi:3hed in the
Times on Sopt. Gth. On this pub
lication Ellison S. Keitt. a brother
of the lato Lawronco M. Keitt, sued
the Times, in the Ui 3 1tates
Circuit Court for libil, claim
i' tit I 113 V b 1 ) il, "Col.
litt" residing at Nowherry Court
house ; that the dispatch referred to
and reflected injuriously upon him,
and that it was fi:lse. Ho asked for
$50,000 damages. Tho trial wasd
begun on Wednesday last, before
Judge Shipman and a jury, in this
city, and yo.3terday tho plaintiil
received a verdict awarding hi1 siN
c.nts damages. The priiited dia.
patch from Watzshington set fortU
that one "Col. eitt, of r
S- G-," had been arrested and held tc
await the action of the ora:d - utiy
at that place, on a chargo of bigamy
that he was a near rolativo of .[AW
ronce M. Koitf, who was somewhat
conspicuous inl Congress be fore th(
war, and that the (X)ose would mac
a stir among the Lest people in that
section. The plailifl, in his com,
plaint, set forth that he was widely
and favorably known and respected
in South Caro:iia and other States ;
that the publication il question was
false, defamatory, wicked, and
malicious, and was published witi
intent to injuro him in his good
name and reputation. Nolson
Smith and William A. Boech allppear'
od as counsol for the plaintiff, n d
Joseph H-. Choato and Allen W.
Evarts for the defendant. On
behalf of tle plaintifT a largo number
of depositions were road, among tihe
doponents being Gov. Wade Hi mp
ton, Gen. John S. Preston, A-ch
bishop Lynch, of Charleston, Attor
ney-Genecal Youmans, and other
eminent residents of tho Palmetto
State. Tloe gentlemon ail depos,
ed, in effect, that they had known
Ellison S. Keitt for periods, varying
from ten to twenty- fivo years ; that
they know his brothor Lawrence Ml.
Koitt, who had been for yo-irs a
member of Congress, and who was
killed il hattle near Richmond, in
June, 1864 ; that since his
death the plaintiff was known to
them) and generally throughout thec
State as "Col. Keitt," or as "Col,
Koitt, of Newberry," and that they
knew of no other Col. Keitt. Mr.
Choate asked the witness wvhether
Lawvrence M. Keitt was not the
same Keitt wh~o was commlonly
known as having assisted Pr oston
S. Brooks in his assault on Chmarles
Sumner, on the floor of the United
States Senate in 1856, but the
qnestion was excluded by the couri
on general groundls of thme avoid
anco of acerbity anid upleasani
reminiscences on this trial. Mr.
Choate claimed the right to prove ii
as an element tending to show ir
what respect the Keitt family had
won its most historical renowvn.
Ellison S. Keitt testified in sub,
stance that lhe was a citizen of
South Carolinr, born at Orangeburg
and had lived since 1862 at Now
berry; in 1863 lhe went into th<
Confederate Army as a Captian ; or
the evacuation of (Charleosion he wam
placed in command at Saullivan'm
Island, and, after that period, wvas
called.Col. Kcitt, and hocame sc
knowvn throughout the State ; i
1868, 1869, 1871, and 1872 he visit
ed the North, and was wvidely intro
duced as Colonel Keitt ; he kneow r
colored man named Tom K~eitt, whc
achieved political, distinction and
was born a slave in tihe Keitt house
hold, but he had never held any
military rank or title. It was
common thing for slaves and ex
slaves to adopt the names of theia
former masters-sometimes thiey
adopt fancy names, the names o:
distinguished men-they had num
bers of Washinigtons and Jacksom
down there, and there was also
Eu~insw Qhoate, This informatioi
creatod a lively ripple of amusoment
in court, which Mr. Chonto hoarti
ly enjoyed, and thoroupon Io pro
ceeded to cross--examino Mr. Keitt.
The witness admittod that ho never
had received an actw'd commi3sion
for any rank in tho rebel service,
and that it was only after the war
closed he was known as Colonel,
having boon, as Mr. Choate phrased
it, "a Captain in war and a Colonel
in peaco." Mr. Kcitt said hol did
not think it was a very common
thing for persons ait the South to
call each otLher "Colonol" or "Major'
whlen they had not been in the
military. The namo Koitt belonged
to Tom. the colored man, only by
adoption.
From this point Mr. Choato led
I tho witncss to admit squarely that
lie wasi well known whorovor he was
known at all, and that anion g thoso
who know him ho was still as well
th ;ght of as over. -To had been at
widower since MAlay, 1862, and that
fact also was generally known to all
his personal friends. "Thou" rejoin
cd Mr. Choate, "no one would havc
supp)osed that you could commit ti
crimo of bigamy ?" The witness
replied in effect that some of his
friends, who had not heard from
him for somo time, and did not
know whether lie wias married oi
not, wrote to him, and as time.
were very corrupt in South Carolinn
then, there was no telling what a
man might do. His friend Gen,
Garlington wrote asking if it was
t-rue, and offering to defend him on
trial if it was a fact that ho hal
beenl so charg ed.
For the dlefense it was shown, by
deposit ions~ of m~Imer('ous residenft!
of Newborry, that the negro Torw
Kettt wast reputed by local gossip il
tihe comvy to be the natural son o1
s01110 iCmber of the Keitt family
by a slave mother, among the afli
ants being many county officials and
old settlers in Newberry ; that he
had hold varionis public positions,
and was ultimatoly convicted of
biganly. Witnesses were examined
orally also, showing that the writerh
and the publisher of the dispatch
had never heard of di plaintiff, noi
that he was known as Col. Kitt ;
that the dispatch containing the
;lleged libol was published as ordi
nary current news, and was in
tended by the correspondent who
wroto and sent it to refer to a negro,
thero being a political contest it
tho time for the possession of hi
soat as a member of the Legislature,
and it was thought this arrest was a
means resorted to to got rid of him
politically. Gen. Carlos J. Stolbrand,
now a resident of Columbia, S. C.,
but who had been chiof of artillery
of the fifteentli and seventconth
army corps, under Generais Me
Pherson and Sherman, during the
war, testified, ah:o, that lhe know
Tom Keitt as a member of the
Legislaturo and that Io had at first
been pointed out to him as Colonel
Keitt, a member of tho Logislature
from Newberry county, Keitt being
at the time a member of a commit.
too before which th)e witness had]
o.)licial business p)ending.
Ablo argument was heard on both
sid1es, the judge delivoered his charge
and the jury, after three hours,
brought in a verdict of six cents
for the plaintiff, throwving the Times
in the costs.
P rANos A-n1 Or~oxNs A'r FACTr
IBA TEs. - Gran(d In trold~ctO)?,/ Sale,
commencing Nov. 1, 1,000 Magnifi
cent Instruments from t mnakers
to be placed, for introduction and]
advertisement, inl Sou thcern homes
at Aqgenet' Wholesale ra(teS. E logant
7 Oct. PiaTos only $125. Magnili
cent Squar-o Grands, catalogue pr'ice
$1,000, only $250. Handsome (J
Stop Organs, $58 ; 13 Steps, $71i
Mirror Top, 13 Stops, $86. Choice
intruments at lowest prices ever
known. Six years written guaran.
tee. Fifteen days test trial. Writ(
for Introdaction Sale circular.
Address LUDDEN &5 BATEs' Southern
Music 1-onse, Savannah, Ga. The
Great Wholesale Piano and Organ
Depot of the South. 'Nov 12-x3m
The following anecdote, which is
Irein ted of Governor Garcelon, of
Maine, is said to have added greatliy
to thle popular esteem in which bo n
held. During the spring of 1870,
in Augusta, an Irish woman had]
fallen, helplessly intoxicated, and]
was floundering about in the mud
and mire. Surrounding her was ai
crowd of men and boys, and as she
made repeated attempts to rise ahd
fell back again-making a most
immodest spetacle-a loud jeering
laugh arose from the bystanders.
Dr. Gaieelon, riding through the
streets in his privat e carriage, was
dr'awn to the spot, and immlediately1
getting out of his carriage, lifted]
tthe senseless woman into it and
c arried her-to her home.
G.IC EMNIRACKS AYD GOL D.
( !)-om the New York 1krad. I
BosTON, January 11, 1879.-A
fow days ago you published somo
remarks I mado at tho Greenback
Conference in this city. The report
was correct as far as it wont, but
was imperfect.
Allow me to state my views a lit
tlo moro definitely. %
I think the greenback party, or
the new finance party. has been
thus far uniformly victorious and
has gained everything it has askod.
First-The party deoianded the
remontization of ilver. It is
done, and the stop is ot likely to
bo reversed.
Second-Wo claim that tho
greenback should not be destroved,
but b reissued. Tho Secretary of .
the Treasury, who was in his usual
chronic state of perplexity and be
wildermont, gladly submitted to
this compulsion ; indeed welcome
our victory. Thus tho derided
"rag" tho "dishonored rag," is tho
nationil currency to-day aid likely
to remain so.
Third-Wo asserted that if the
greenbacks were mado receivable at
the Custom House and for all debts
due the Government, coin and
greonbacks would be c(ual in nine
ty days, and that this was the
proper step to be taken.
For this we begged, argued and
petitioned throo years ago. Then
we got no attention. Now the
Secretary, without law or authority,
has ordered lis3 stop to be tceii,
and Congress is about to sanction
what lie illegally did. Without thi8
stop resumption would be impossi
bl. or ext remely dangerous if pos
siblo- Without this hll) resump
tion would ho a failure. 'Whon, in
Ma'.ch, 1876, I argued for such.a
step before the Boston Board of
trade, the Solvmons of that body
hold up thoir hands in holy
horror, iL'sistiing Chat the Govern
mont was pledged to tho public
creditor to demand its customs in
c0in. It was a very convenient
d odge-a plausible exeuse-but one
easily forgotten the moment the
Govereiiont needed -tho help of
such a meaeuro as I proposod
That pledge to the national creditor
is as binding to-day as it was in
March, 1876. But the men who
screamed themselves hoarse in.
lying talk about tho greenback as a
dishonoi ed note now clamor that
the Government shall break its
pledge to its creditors by receiving
greenbLacks at the Custom House.
"When I said I would die a Baclho,
lor," cried Benedict, "I did not
think I shonld live till I were
married." When I said I would die
a hard rioney man, exclaims Sherman,
I did not think I should live to
owe my salvaticn to greenbacks.
With those three victorio3 behind
us we now advanco to the next
outwork of the enemy. In the
future, as in the past, the true
poihcy is to attack one thing at a
time-to pledge the mov'ement to
eonly one claim at a time. The peop)lo
can attend to only one issue at a
time. Every unnecessary word in a
platform robs it of v'oters by the
thousand. The next point to
attack is bank issues of currency.
Put only one line on our flag, "No
State or National B~anks of Issue."
Lot the Government issue all the
currency the nation uses. This
claim--that the nation shall resume
its sovereignty over the currency,
and not share it as heretofore, with
privato corporation s-is debated
to-day and well received in England.
All commercial naitionis mst soon1
see its importance and all free
nations its necessity.
Lot journals and coventions
discuss all points as freely as they
please- bonds or no bonds;
Idemonetiz'tion of gold and of all
coin ; funding the debt or paying it
in greenbacks, and all methods of
regulating the amount of the cur,
rency ; but lot the party-tihe
movement-be responsible for only
this one claim, an exelusive national
currency. When that stop is gained
we will rally on1 tihe next. Planted
now on this one issue ' we, shall not
wait long for victory. Buit the
moment that point is gained the
Republican party and ' John Shere
man wvill claim it as "their thunder."
Let all good people remember this,
my prophecy, and when, a few years
hence, they hear the loud party
bpasts of what wonders they have
done and how muclh ,we owe them,
it will be seen I prophesied truly as
to their self-.conceit and adroit
pretense of being themselves vietor
rious, while they have only - been|
slyly stealing the measures and
prmneipl9e they have all al ~rg deih
nouncnd. ' ant Pmzrsap
EXCHANGE !
OME TO-DAY,
COME EVERY DAY,
Tnd Exchange YOUR CASH for
DRY GOODS,
CLOTHING AND HATS,
BOOTS AND SHOES.
-o
GROCERIES.
Dofee at from 15 ets. to 20 ots. por
pound.
Bugar at 12 pounds for $1.00.
Parched Rio Coffee, Ground Coffee,
Brown Sugar, Extra C, Granu
lated Sugar, Pulverized Su
gar, Candy, Crackers,
Cheese, Macaroni,
Raisins, &c.
300D GOODS AT LOW PRICES
Romember those substantial B)ots
uid Shoes, the "Bay State" stan
lard screwed und wire sewed.
J. M. BEATY.
If you detest a bursting lamp buy
Ihm Vestal Oil. If you like a bril
tnt light buy the Vestal Oil.
dce 24- J. M. BEATY.
FRESH GOODS !
JUST RECEIVED.
-CONSISTING IN PART OF
24 bbls. Molasses-all grades,
[00 lbs. Choice Buckwheat Flour,
LO boxes Cream Cheese,
) boxes best Italian Maccaroni,
[2 bbls. Sugar, all grades,
[4 sacks of Coffee-10 Rio, 4 best
Java,
50 bbls. Choice Family Flour.
BAGGING AND TIES.
GARD in bble., cans and buckets
Bacon, Best Sugar Cured Hams.
Choice ]Red Rust Proof Oats, Seed
Rye and Barley.
Rails, Trace Chains, Horse and Mule
Shoes, Axle Grease, White
Wine and Cider Vinegar,
Smoking Tobacco
Durham's best,
Chewing To
bacco.
Raisins, Currants and Citron.
ALSO,
Fresh Canned Salmon, Peaches and
Tomatoes, Mixed Pickles, Chow
Chov and Pepper Sauce.
ALSO,
i. fino lot of BOOTS AND SHOES.
till of which will be sold cheap for
nov 9 D, R. FLENNIKEN.
FACT.
IN order to prepare for our spring
stock, we from this day offer extra
inducsments to
CASH CUSTOMERS.
Dross Goods,
Shawvls,
Jeans,
Blankets,
Flannels,
Dassimeres and Clothing at prices
bhat will
ASTONISH YOU.
McMASTER & BRICE.
jan 28
BOOTS AND SHOES.
pHE largest stock of the above ever
lofeebyhim. Great inducemen~te
o eanh customerse.
REMOVAL.
---
MESSRS. F. Gorig & Son would
inform their friends and cus
tomers, and the public generally,
that they have removed into their
own storo, next to Sugenheimor A
Groesehel's-combining the two
stocks into one, and making a
COMPLETE STOCK OF
Hardware, Tinware, Woodenware,
Saddlory, &c.
ALL PARTIES indebted to F.
GERIG or to F. GERIG & SON
are requested to settle at once, as
we expect to keep only one set of
books.
F. GERIG & SON.
jan 15-t&x3mos.
DANA BICKFORD'S
NEW GARDEN and FIRE PUMP.
Thin novel and ox..
traordinary machine
is invaluable at the
outbreak of fire, and
for wvatering gardens
&c. Its construction
dispenses with hoth
Piston and Stuflen
v Box,doing aw it P
all Friction, LvIakage, &c. It is9 worked
so easily that with it, a lndy or child can
th'mrow a steady stiea-.n of water over an
area of ninety foot. Patented January 14
and 15, 1867, March 11, 1873. Send for
Circular.
PRICE, $6 AND $8.
' Agents wanted everywhere.
THE DAN A BICKFOIRD CO.,
689 Broadway, New York.
Offiee of Danoa Bickford's,
Family Knitting Machine.
doc 28-3m
THE BURLINGTON
-0
$1,000 IN THREE PREMIUMS.
W E will pay tho agent sending us the
largest list of subscribers before
March 1, 1879, one first-clans 74 octavo,
rosewood or walnut, NEW soALE, UPRon
PIANo, $860.00. This list to be at least
850 names,
For the second list. not to be loss
th'an 200 names, $100 in gold.
For the third lint, not to be less than
100 names, $50 in gold.
For $13.00, at one time, we will send
ten copies one year.
For $7.00, at one time, wowill send five
copies one year.
For three names and $6.00 we will
send the Companion Scroll Saw and
Drill, value $3.50, as a special premium.
For five names and $10.00 we will send
the Conipanion Scroll Saw, Drill, and
Lathe, value $5.00, an a special premium.
We wvill send TuHE [IAwEYE anud "GLEAN
INos FOn TH E CUazous" to agents at $3.00
and return $2.00, if the bookc is not wvantedl
en examination, for its return, post-paid,
if returned at once. Address
HIAWKEYE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
doo 5 Burlington, Iowa.
New Summer Cook.
The Safety
HOT BLAST
OIL .
p@ DOES NOT HI EAT THE HOUSB
Perfect for all kinds of Cooking and Heat
ing Irone.
Always ready and reliable,
The most satisfaetory Stove made and tho
Cheapest.
Ji Send for oirculIars.
WHITNEY & HALL MF'G. CO.,
?-ly 123Ohestigut St., Phila.
TII&f WINNSB ORG HOTEiL
--BY
MRS. M. W,. BROWNi
rHIS Hotel, situated in the oentre of
he town, offat and guarantees to the
public inducemet0 fltzidryaged by ani
other house hil the pft#e ,'alo'sp.
plied with the best 14 the nmaiket. 06na.
fortable rooms and polite at it .
Term*460 %ior da)' M4