Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-02

The Work of the Military Commission
The, Charleston correspondent of the Con-
s,itusionalist, under date OF the 22d April,
writes rs follows:
The findings of the military commission
which was engaged for more than two months
i'm tue trial Of Francis Gaines S.owers, Of
Hart county, Georgia, and James Crawford
Keys, his son, Robert Keys, and Elisha By
rem, all Of Anderson Court House, South
Carolina, charged with the murder Of three
Federal soldiers, at Browns Ferry, Anderson
District, on the 9Th of October last have JUS
teanspired, aud if anything has occurred since
the occupation of tue city by the Federal
forces in February of last year has excited
more surprise amongst our ci,izsns, your COR
respondent is at loss to remember it.
| have heretofore advised You of the pro-
gress of the case, and expressed our convic-
tions of the value of the testimony. unac
customed to the particular or peculiar logic
which may govern the diScrininative minds
of military men in balancing probabilities in
judicial investigation devoid of all positive
proof, (so Ear rs proof is deemed positive in
civil courts the public mind had prepared
itself for verdict Of acqutta. for all Of the
parties implicated. To .he after asto1ish
u,ent Of the whole community, the cour'
found all of the accused guilty, and sentenc-
eI hem 10 execution. The sentence, how
ever has been miigated, and Robert Keys
and Elisha Byrem ordered to be imprisoned
for life, whilst Showers and the elder Key
are Condemned to be hung at Castle Pinck-
ney, in this harbor, on Friday next, 9th OF
April.
This, of itself, is unfortunate enough, but
when add that the condemned are ordered
to be executed fire days Gfter hsir conriction,
aad before, by any possibility, they can hare
an opportunity Of taking learc Of their fanli-
lies, your readers will join me in the honest
modification which is felt BY our people at
this cxtra-judieial proceeding. An earnest
effort will be made BY their counsel, Arlni-
stead Burt and Gen. James Conner, to Oh
tain reprieye, with view to sue out writ
of AaLeas corpus. aud obtain new trial
aud unless the officer, upon whom will dcyolve
the responsibility of responding to their ap-
peal, is devoid of all magnanmity, they will
be successful. In the meanwhile, and up to
the time of my writing, the prisoners are net
a~are Of their sentences, bnt are ordered for
removal to Castle Pinckney, where they will
receive the FIRST iutiiaation Of it to morrow.
The findings of the court have occas ioncd
a great sensations. All of the accused are
persons of heretofore unblaneable character
and good position in their respective homes.
Showers has represented his District 10 your
State Senate, and was, as understand, de-
.servedly popular at hoinc. James Crawford
Kcvs has been the intimate friend Of Cover
nor Orr from early boyhood, and the Cover
nor appeared as witness TO his unexceptiona
sae ci:aracter. It is impossible to tell what
will he tie ultimate result OF this affair, but
L have an abiding hope that better oppor-
,unity will be aGcgded tbese men, whom ali.
but the military. regard as iuIoceut, for vim
dicating themselves.