The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-03-29
TRIAL BEFORE MILITARY COMMISSION.
FORTY-SIXTH DAY.

TRIAL BEFORE MILITARY COMMISSION.
FoRTY-sNTH DAY.
CITADEL, March 49, 1866.
The Commission met at 1890 A. H., and con.
tnued the trial of JAMES CRAWFORD KEYs, his
son, ROBERT KEYS. and ELISHA ByREM.
W. s. Williams, witness for the defence, de-
posed as follows: ! am 81 years OF age, and live
quaintance Of Largent, Marylander, in July last,
at COL Hamilton's, in Anderson District; he was
| said to have been soldier in the Confederate
army; he is 2l or "a years ofage, little over five
feet high, OF fair complexion with red features
| and hair; about the 1st November saw him rid
| ing small chestnut sorrel mare in the road near
Col. Hamilton's; this was the first time saw tho
| mare; last saw her about the lst of January IN
the possession Of the Provost Marshal at Wal
halla; know Martin, but never saw him in Lar
| gents company; have seen Hooper in Largent's
company; think Hooper was stranger in An
derson District; Largent's business was trading
in horses; he said he was on his way to another
State; gave him. in the latter part of October, a
letter to be carried to my uncle, Thomas r. Will
liams, living in Jacksonville, Alabama; l saw
Hooper and Martin together, after had seen the
sorrel mare, at Slabbourn, in Anderson District
eighteen miles in a northwesterly direction from
Anderson @. H.; Hamilton's is about the same dis
tance and in the same direction from Anderson
@. H.; the sorrel mare was taken from Largents
possession about the 1st January, at my brothers,
five miles from my house, where Largent was then
staying; Capt. Bray, Provost Marshal at Waihalla,
commanded the party that took the mare; the
same party arrested me at IL o'clock that night,
before they took the mare; Largent was not ar
rested that night
Being ss.examined by the Judge Advocate,
the witness deposed as follows: Largent bought,
among others, United States horses; it was NJ
derstood that the Government was about to CLAIM
horses branded U. s.; Largent bought horses for
the purpose Of removing them from the State; he
asked an introduction to my uncle, saying he
would probably have horses to sell; he did not say
United States horses; saw him with two or three
horses branded q. S.-a roan q bay and gray;
he had brown mare marked q. S. or c. g.; his sor-
rel mare has staid at my place. Largent was re-
garded in the community as a good citizen; since
my arrival in this city have lived with MIR. Jeers;
don't know whether he is the business agent or
intimate friend Of Crawford Keys; was in attend
ance this morning on the Commission at the re-
quest Of Colonel Burt, alter was discharged by
the Judge Advocate from attendance for the day
as witness; the letter shown me is in my hand
writing, and is the letter referred to by me in my
direct examination as having been given by me to
Largent.
The Judge Advocate read the letter, which is as
follows:
October ~, 1855. !
DEAR UNCLE: have an opportunity perhaps, OF send
ing you short letter time more. We are all well
hear6, doing the De6t we can. 1ue CCOp5 III
section of country are only tonerabe good.
Allow me to introduce 10 your acquaintance my
friend Mr. W. Largent, who is Maryander, renugeo
who has been battling Tor our cause lot the 1885 iouf
years and now he cannot go home, as there Is large
majority of Union men in his country. He Is now
going farther South looking out for businessf He hsa
done about all no can doe heare and ne mas done
service He may have some horses for sale that he
traded for here, horses that we-c subject uuppoeo 70
the Yankee authorities. he has taken the wrsk OF buy
ing them, and run the chances Of making what he can
n he calls on VI u please give him what assistance you
cam he can tell you all about this country better than
can write it. Write to me you ever get on opportu
wright and was we'll pleased with relations in Alabama
A'"- A- ". s. WILLIAMS.
To THos R. WILLIAMS, OF Jacksonville, Calhoun Coun'
", Alabama
The horses referred to in the above letter are
those mentioned in my testimony; at the time the
letter was written l did not know ,Largent nso
the sorrel mare; he did not 60 to Alabama, as he
could not collect money due to him; Largent did
not conceal himself between the 9Th October,
1866, and my arrest, but iwent back and forth IN
his ordinary manner during that time; he did not
attempt to conceal the fact of having the sorrei
mare;- never heard him speak of the murder at
Browns Ferry; Largent is friend OF mine.
. Being re-examned, the witness stated that Col
Hamilton has grandson named Walker Russell
20 or 81 years Of age living with him; that he
(witness) keeps public house, and mas Deen
merchant for several years.
The accused introduced the record in the Gaze
OF F. G. Showers, to show that on the first day Of
that trial. Warren Howell, witness for the prose-
cution. deposed that he went to the Ferry two
hours after the murder; that the party made its
appearance not more than half an hour after the
man Jones left; also, to show that ". P. Brown, q
witness for the prosecution, did not state, IN his
evidence, on the 4th and 18th days Of the trial,
that he recognized the voice Of Crawford Keys on
the night of the murder, that the moon was shin
ing, nor that he recognized the features Of any
OF the party.
The Judge Advocate showed from the record,
that Brown was not asked, on the days referred
to, whether he recognized the voice Of Keys,
whether the moon was shining, nor whether he
recognized the features Of any Of the party.
The accused showed nom the record in the case
Of Showers that Brown had said that 'iust his
general appearance" induced him to believe he
saw Crawford Keys the night Of the murder;
that Brown in reply to q question said, IT can't
think am mistaken in the man Crawford Keys);
took it to be him; and that Brown did not mem
ton the voice of Keys as one Of the means Of
recognition"
The accused, by their counsel, read from Mil
ler's Almanac the statement that on the morning
Of the 9th October, 1865, the sun rose at 5h. I'm.
o'clock A. NJ, and the Judge Advocate read the
moon rose on the 9th OF October, 1865, at S55 P.
NJ, and had become full on the 4th October SIS
P. NJ, and went into its last quarter on the 11th
October, 1865, at 10.5 P. NJ.
The Commission adjourned to meet on the goth
instant TT 1890 A. NJ.
The FIRST CoLoRED JURY IN GEoRG1A-A novel
proceeding was before Judge DAVIS (Freedmen's
Court) yesterday afternoon. To wit
Il