Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-04-08

Monday before the Thursday on which the
homicidcs we're committed, three barrels of
"bald face" were delivered at Cartersville
for him. AS soon as this was known, some
of the citizens of his neighborhood assem-
bled for the purpose of waiting on him and
spilling the liquor. This was on Wednes-
day, the Sd inst. Windham having been
notified of their intentions, assembled his
friends to defend his rights (?); the conse-
quence was that the other party had to de.
sist BY the next morning, however, the
members of the different Vigilant Societies
and others had assembled, to the number of
seventy.fve Or eighty, many of whom were
armed, and proceeded to the shop. As up
on the day before, they found the Wiudham
family with some of their friends, prepared
to defend the wbiskey; they were we'll
armed. The Vigilant party was under the
command of General Carter, and his orders,
proved to have been frequently repeated
within the hearing of the Windham's, were,
Don't fire a gun unless you are fired upon
or strike blow unless you are struck; if
assailed, defend yourselves
Before the Vigilant party reached the
shop, it was halted, and two of the elder
gentlemen were sent to inform the Wind
hams of their intention they expostulated
in vain, and were called away by their
friends, who, seeing evidences of hostility
on the side of the Windhams, called out to
them to "staDd aside, for if the opposite
party fired, they would return it." The
Vigilant party approached the shop, which
they partly surrounded. A company, COM
manded by Captain Giles Carter, being in
the road Immediately in front of and facing
the shop door, before which the Windhams
were standing, others of the Vigilant party
were nearer the house and in very few
PAGES of the door. While in this position,
Gen. Carter informed the Windham party
that his intention was 'tnot to iDjure any of
them, unless they began the attack; that the
party had come to empty Ack Windham's
whiskey, and they intended to do it." At
this time Ack Windham told his party to
come away and let them have the whiskey,
and he would law them; this they refused
to do, swearing that they would die rather
than give it up. While they were parleying
thus, Caleb Freeman, whom it was proved
had sworn to kill Giles Carter upon the first
opportunity, stepped off from his company,
and exclaiming, 81 see you, Giles Carter;
you are the first man intend to kill, fired,
the shot passing through his coat and strik-
ing Samuel Robinson, wounding him severe
ly; he endeavored to fire second time, and
while in the act of doing so, he was shot,
and falling, discharged his gun in the air
AS soon as the first gun was fired, General
Carter gave the command, "Take them,
men," and rush was instantly made upon
them. Mr.. A. N. Stuckey grasped one Of
the Windhams around the body, aud while
holding him, Abe Windham rushed upon
him from behind, and plunged his knife in
to him twice, but before he could infict q
third blow, he received one over the head
with gun or stick, from which he died.
The Windhams were soon overpowered, the
fight not lasting, according to the testimony,
over minute.
Ack Windham was tied, and required to
tell where the whiskey was, for on opening
the shopit was found to be empty; he gave
them his crib key, saying it was there
Here was found barrel, with few gallons
in it, and this was, he said, all that remain
ed of the three barrels hauled from Carriers
vile three days before. Where was the
balance?
The testimony closed on Friday afternoon,
when the argument was commenced by Mr..
Richardson for the State He was followed
by Messrs. Spain and Inglis for the priso-
ners, when the Court adjourned. On Satur-
day morning, the argument was resumed by
Mr.. J. A. Dargan, followed by Col. Moses,
for the prisoners, who was succeeded by
Solicitor McIver. The names of the several
speakers is sufficient proof of the great a.
bility with which this great case was argued.
The Judge having charged the jury, they
retired to their room about o'clock p. M,
from which they returned, after short abb
sence, having found, in both cases, averdict
of "not guilty"
Thus ended the most interesting case ever
tried on the criminal side of the court
From its commencement to its close the
court room was densely crowded, within and
without the bar. Every place was occu-
pied.
We acknowledge ourself highly gratifed
at the result. We believe it will have a
salutary effect, not only in our community,
but throughout the State.
Our statement, condensed as it is, is of
caurse imperfect at the same time it is cor
rect We have only undertaken to give the
main points in the case, as made by the tes-
timony, and we think all who heard the
trial will say we have done so.
MoHAMMED PAsHA.-Leo, the CORES
pundent of the Charleston Courier says: