The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-11-29
xEvs- sToWNRs. AND BYRUsl.

The many friends Of J. C. and r. 1 KEYS, F. e..
srowEas ..and E. ". BrnuM, viii be glad to hear.
that they arrived Ii our. town on Inst Thursday
evening, looking innuch better health and spirits
than was toiheye been expected, after undergoing
so long and cruel an imprisonment. Our readers
will remember, that these gentlemen were arrested
by the Military authorities on the llth day OF oc
tober, 1866, On suspicion of numbering three United
States soldiers, stationed as guard at Browns
Ferry, on Savannah River. They were taken hrst
to Columbia, and then to Charleston, where they
were tried by Military Commission, convicted Oh
murder upon infamous testimony that would not
have been received or accredited by any other
Court in the world, and condemnedto death. Tney
were then transferred to Castle Pinckney, IN
Charleston Harbor, and imprisoned after the man
ner of the most. abandoned felons. Upon an at-
tempt being made to bring them before Judge
BRYAN, of the United States District Court, to Sc
cure their discharge upon writ Of ha6eas corpus,
by their counsel Messrs. CONNER and BURT, Gen.
SIcKLEs refused to obey the writ, and IN contempt
Of the Court and as We understand, without orders
or authority TO do so had them put on board YES
sci at night and spirited away to that modern nell
tho Dry Tortugas. off the coast OF Florida IN the
Gulf Of Mexico. They fully confirm the state
ments o;yen through the press, Of the barbarous
and inhuman treatment CT prisoners at that place.
and We can scarcely imagine the tortures OF mind
and body they endured. At length, upon being
apprised of the unauthorized action Of Gen. SICK
LES. President JOHNSON had them transferred from
Dry Tortngas TO Fort Delaware, near the city Of
Wilmington, in State. of Delaware. Here, Maj.
ToMrK1Ks, q prominent lawyer Of Illinois and for
merly an officer on Gen. SHEnNAN' g Staff, who
took deep interestin their case, and of whose un-
firing efforts in their behalf, these gentlemen speak
most gratefully, sued out D writ Of ha6eas corpus,
and had them brought before Judge HALL, Of the
United States Court. After examining the cause
of their detention, and hearing the argument Of
Major ToMpKIss, Judge HALL declared their trial
and conviction by o Military Commission, uncon-
stiutional and irregular their imprisonment lille
gal, and ordered their immediate release. Upon
their discharge, Judge HALL called them forward
in open Court, shook hands with them, congratu-
lated them upon the termination Of their cruel per-
secution and Imprisonment, and bid them hearty
God-speed to their homes and families. Although
taken to Fort Delaware by order Of the President
they were compelled to pay their passage home.
These gentlemen express themselves highly
gratifed with the kindness shown them by the citi
zens of Wilmington their doors we're thrown open,
pressing invitations to spend some time with them
were freely given, and everything that could sup
ply their wants or contribute to their comfort was
pressed upon their acceptance. But they hastened
away to SUMMER Skies make glad their presence
hearts that had long. been bowed with sorrow, and
to exchange happy greetings with their true and
anxious friends. Thank God their cruel perse-
cution and infamous Imprisonment is ended at last,
and most gladly do we welcome them to their home
and friends and for oil their days Of bitter suffer-
ing, may kind Providence grant them additional
years Of. prosperity and happiness.
The case Of KEYS, Showers and BYRUM, will
perpetually remind this community of the tyranny
and infamy Of Military Commissions, and of many
sorrcwful days Of oppression which, like JOSEPH
HoLr and his infamous conductors have passed for
ever away, we trust. >,
All of these gentlemen are looking well, except
the Hon. F. G. SHOWERS, upon whom imprison-
ment seems to have borne most heavily.