The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-03-15

Possseos.sseS' AA0 'issu oAAS "
good the wrong, caused by his weakness
and irresoluteness the day previous, be
fore the conclusion of his testimony.
AS to the alleged contradictory state
ments, made to irresponsible parties, JUS
before and after his examination at An
derson, these scarcely merit our attention
The parties interrogating him had not
the right thus to question him. The sans
reasons that led the military officers tc
instruct him not to communicate any.
thing about the matter, made it right and
proper Tor him to withhold such infornla.
ton from others-as mere matter OF
prudence:
Moreover, Howell is corroborated by
other witnesses in every particular, to the
utmost extent the nature of such evi-
denee admits of and is therefore entitled
to full credence. -
Next; as to the. evidence adduced, to
show that the accused was not and could
not have been, at the Ferry, at the time
Of the murder. AS to the time, the weight
of evidence goes to showthat the crime
was committed about midnight Thede-
fence intimated that it was committed at
a much earlier hour; but this they did
not even attempt until at late stage Of
the trial. The accused probably crossed
the river elsewhere, than at any Of the
ferries; and must have left home by IL
o'clock. -
Noclass Of proofs has been so much
abused as dzibis Parties have the choice
as to place, witnesses, and circumstances;
and almost certain of impunity as to any
chance of detection or conviction of per-
jury. Theysare only limited as to time.
In regard to Edmund and Squire, wefnd
that the accused attempted to make good
lis defence by perjury. An attempt to
cvadc the law is, in itself, an evidence of
guilt. Moreover, il marks the accused a
corrupt and bad man and suspicion is
thrown upon all the ott er wit
ncssos who have been produced to cor
roborate this testimony 1.-THE aHbi.]
He next reviewed the testimony of Ed
and Squire; spoke of the improhability
of the circumstances about the brandy.
That two negroes, recently slaves, should
be at the liquor room at midnight, both
by accident, at the same time; and this,
too, just at the critical moment when Mr.
Showers life depends upon it. Cesar is
also asked to tell the same story. The
story is made up in the same manner in
which oziIis are usually made: partly of
truth and partly of falsehood. Ed had
gone TO Showers for brandy, but it was in
the evening, and Showers told him that
he could not7let him have any.
What conceivable motive could have
impelled the witnesses to such a course
The public men OF South Carolina tell us
that testimony Of colored people is not to
be relied on, because they will either nd
here to their former masters, from mo.
tives of attachment, friendship and de-
pendence, and support them at all haz-
ards; or else, if impelled by motives of
malignity, they will.n scruple to. swear
away the civil rights of their superiors.
In the case before us, we find precisely
such relationship and state,of things as
is set forth in the former of the two Ca
ses supposed. But we find this relation
ruptured; these slaves (formorally they
are stillsuch) are mannmitted through
the reaction from the crime they were
called on to commit, and a growing sense
of duty to the Government. The accu.
sed Is morally and legally responsible for
an attempt to falsify evidence.
Henry Preston stands in the same re.
lation to the accused as Ed and Squire
To merit credence, his statements need
corroboration.; only supported by the
testimony of sallie Showers; contradict.
ed by Ed in numerous points, and must
be rejected. Shots not heard by sallie
Showers, Ed or Caesar, all equally in a
position to hear them as Henry.
Sallie Showers testimony cannot bear
investigation; the eliquor story being with.
out foundation, of course her corrobora.
tion is proved false, and with that falls all
her other testimony; she is either men
tally or morally deficient.
AS to the testimony about the suppo
sed Tennesseeans, if it is worth anything
= onlu nrouns that thnv were In cnmhi