The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-05-03

the laws 'thereunder made, if they suffer
death BY finding IF IF this Court, they die
murdered men. Up to the 22d day OF
this present month an acquittal wa. was
thought certain, but on that day the
shameful fiast went forth that they shonld
die on the 9th. Why this cruel haste,
we know not 1t may be.to cut off any
possible chance of Executive clemency,
but, .be that as it may, will surely bring
doMn the hedrt.curdling curse of Scrip
ture on them whose feet are swift to the
shedding Of blood. =
Annexed is the letter of the cerrespon-
dent alluded to in the above editorial:
j., 'CHAR1EsToN,. April %, 1866.
The findings of the Military Commis-
sion which wis engaged for more than
two months in the trial of Francis Gaines
Showers, of Hart county, Georgia, and
James Crawford Keys, his son, Robert
Keys, and Elisha Byrem, all of Anderson
Court House, South Carolina, charged
with the murderof three Federal soldiers,
Fat Browns Ferry, .Andsrssocnr District, On
the 9Th of October last, have just trans
pired, and if anything has occurred since
the occupation of the city by the Federal
forces in February of last year has ex-
cited more surprise amongst our citizens,
your correspondent is at a loss to remem-a
Der it.
I have heretofore advised you of the
progress of the case, and expressed Our
convictions of the value of the testimony.
Unaccustomed to the particular or pecu-.
liar logic which may govern the discrim-
inative minds Of military men in balan-
cling probabilities ihjudicial Investigation
devoid IF all positive proof, $50 tar as
proof is deemed positive in civil COURTS
. the public mind had prepared Itself for a
verdict of acauittal for all of the parties
implicated. To The utter astonishment
of the whole community, the court found
all of the accused guilty, and sentenced
them to execution. The sentence, how
ever, has been mitigatcd, and Robert
Keys and Elisha Byrcm ordered to be
imprisoned for life, whilst Showers and
the elder Keys are condemned to be hung
at Castle Pinckney, in this harbor, on
Friday next, 9th of April.
This, 'of. itself, is unfortunate enough,
but when 1 add that the condemned are
ordered to be erecuted fue days after
their convlction, and before, by any posi-
bility, they can haze an opportunity OF .ta-
king LEAVE of their families, your, readers
will Join me in the honest modification
which is felt by our people at this extra
judicial proceeding. An earnest effort
will be made by their counsel, Armistcad
Burt and Gen. James Conner, to obtain
repriye, with a view to sue out a
| writ of habeas corpus, and obtain new
trial and unless the officer, upon whom
will devolve the responsibility of respon-
ding to their appeal, is devoid of all mag
nanimity, they will be successful. In the
meanwhile, and up to the time of my
writing, the prisoners are not aware of
their sentences, but are ordered for re-
moval to Castle Pinckney, where they
will receive the first intlmation of it to-
morrow -.
The findings of the court have occa-
stoned great sensation. All of the ac-
cused are persons of heretofore unblame-
able character and good position I'm their
respective HOMES. Showers has represen-
ted his District in your State Senate, and
was, as 1 understand, deservedly popular
athome. James Crawford Keys has Been
the intimate friend Of Governor Orr from
early iooyhood and the Governor appear
ed as a witness to his nnexcept;onable
character 1t is impossible to tell what
will be the ultimate result of this affair,
butI have an abiding hope that better
opportunity will be afforded these men,
whom all, But the military, regard as in
nocent, for vindicating themselves.
The Columbia Caroliaidh this aliudes
to the petitions circulated in Charleston
for the respite of the prisoners:
THE UPPER AND Lower COUNTRY
The prompt action which the citizens of
Charleston have taken TO secure the re-
spite of Messrs. Keys, Showers and By
rem, should be strong evidence to the
Up-country Of the good feeling which ex-
lists in the "CitJ by the sea-" Without
exception, men, wofneh and children
united in bringing their influence to bear
in behalf OF The unfortunate gentlemen,
and sympathy never had more liberal
expression than it found in their fearful
eyes and saddened faces. :, From early
dawn until late at night, petitions were
circulating far and near, and when Pres
ident Johnson receives the lists, he will
find upon them the names of the highest,
truest, noblest citizens of Charleston.
The Charleston correspondent of the
same paper, writing on the 25th ultimo,
has the following:
Great rejoicing is experienced here at
the reprieve of Showers and his fellow
prisoners by order of the President. No
one believes them gtilty OF the crime Of
which they have been convicted, and it is
now hoped that they will be turned over
to the Courts of the State, where they