The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-01-05
The Wanderer Affair.

| NC WanoSrer hUalr,
THIS base is being prosecuted in good
earnest, as appears from the proceedings of
tile United States Commissioners Court
Mt Savannah, published in the Savannah
Republican. We present below an abstract
from The report in that paper: p '.''
| WEDNESDAY,, December p0lh.-Pvrsu-
ant TO Adjournment, the Court assembled
this morning and proceeded to tie inves
,igation Of the Wanderer affair. The
vgor with which it is being prosecuted is
beginning To give very different aspect
TO the case. Ii was AT first thought to be
farce, mere form Of law TO be gone
through with, and then dropped and be
forgotten, without the Exposure of any
thing OF an unpleasant nature. Such, we
believe, was the general impression
Matters now look different, and the i'm.
prIsonment Of q witness yesterday bv
Judge Henry will doubtless give an addi
tional impetus to the case. District a,
torney Ganahl is in earnest and intends
to make no child's play of the matter.-
! He has full powers from the Government
to use all legal means to bring the pros
| ecutivn To n successful issue, while the en-
ergy and ability displayed by him and
his associate, Judge jackson, show that
the interests Of the public could not have
been intrustrd to safer hands.
Upon opening the case number of
witnesses appeared, Of whom the follow.
ing were sworn /:
James Clubb-sworn.-The District
Attorney asked this witness what his oc-
cupation was, which he declined to an.
swer, alleging that it would crimnale
himself Judge Henry told the witness
that he must answer the question, and
allowed him five minutes Cor considera
ton at the end Of ;he time. witness still
refused, when the Judge committed him
for contempt Of court and ordered him to
De confined in Jail until he did answer.
Capt. Hillary B. Frasar-sworn-Am
commander of steamboat Augusta, be,
longing to the Iron St"amboa, Company
About the 18th or 18Th instant, carried
up a number Of megros, about 10. They
were taken on board from the Carolina
shore, about fifteen or sixteen miles above
Savannah. Was ordered to 90 for them
!y the agent. lie did not tell me where
| would find them, nor where should
stop. Saw gang OF neeros on the shore
which induced me TO stop. In going up
was hailed by come white persons near
MIR. Pottcr's place, about six miles from
here, and sent small boat FOR them and
brought them on board. The negroes,
when seen, were in charge Of white
man who came on board with them.-
Was hailed by this man. After the ne.
gros were taken on board The parties who
came up from near Mr. Po,ier's place re
qnested witness to carry hem back in his
boat, as they had expected boat there
to Gerry them back, bat were disappoin
Ted; witness carried his boat back, AMI
alter 'anding them proceeded towards
! Augusta. The negros re,nsin.d in charge
-ot white man on board, who attended
to them AMI fed them.
Captain Luke Christie, swo.n.-Rms
tow boat called The Lamar, at present.
Carried her to Brunswick the first time
about the first or second inst Declined
to answer where he went TO from Bruins.
wick, AS it W would criInina,e himself
District Attorney GsnahI requested the
Court to Instruct the prisoner as to what
would crminate him. He knew from
the high character Of Capt. Christie ,ha,
he would not be engaged IN Lisreputa
ble transaction, and that he was under n
msaPprehension. The fact of hi, trans
porting the negros for hire inland was
not criminal.
The DIstric, Attorney spoke With mucl,
earnestness Of the vigor with which !;
WAS his intention 10 carry on the prosccu
ton of every one, either nearly or remote
ly connected with this affair. lie was
backed 10y the gnvernmeat. and no effort.
should be spared to sift the matter Thor
oughIv. No position should be shield
but high and low would Ls alike nrough,
before that bar, and il in his power
brought TO punishment.