The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-03-08
VOLUME NUMBER SO.


the accused on Sunday; we have proved
him across the river, on the Georgia side,
at dark, Sunday evening; there is no
proei that he ever recrossed and the
strongest reasons to show that he never
did recrcss There was no means OF
crossing except at McCurry 'sssFerry,
little over eight miles round; and not
sufficient time to do that: But supposing ].
that he did cross at Mcc curry's, why, after
the murder, should he return the way he
came; again risk recognition by Brown
and Howell, and at McCurry's, when he
could take the batteau, and recross to the
Georgia side unseen? Bear in mind that
Showers was known to Brown. and, How
eil-that the arrival OF the murderers fol
lowed close upon the crossing of the man
who was ferried over, whom Howell says
was Peter Keyes, and was in the party;
that the party thus knew that Brown
and Howell were awake; that Showers
could have gone to the river unnoticsd
by either; and is it not something highly
improbable that he should have yolnnts-
rily repassed by Brown and Howell? Was
any one ever known to act SO thought
lessly, SO recklessly, SO madly
Tben take his conduct after the nlur-
der. He continues the regular transac.
tion of his business.
Counsel here commented on the testi-
mony of Adjutant johnson, about the IN
cidents at Stinson's Ferry; and showed
that there never was any attempt, to- ar
rest; and the little zeal, intelligence, or
Judgment, which had characterized the
investigation.
To guilty man, the visit Of. the Uni.
ted States soldiers to- Stinson's Ferry
would have been warning enough-suffi-.
cient notice to escape. But Showers goes
quietly to Augusta; adopts no conceal
mcnt, lives atsthe hotel, and after arrest
ed, has still opportunities of escape, and
does not avail himself of them.
Against all this eight of evidence OF
the strongest character, because it is the
internal evidence of the case itself, what
is there? The doubtful testimony Of
single man [Brown.] $3.50. :
But two men, whose testimony IN the
slightest degree affects the accused.
Look at their position the only men
near the guard, both Confederate soldiers,
without any witnesses TO theirinnocence;
much in their position to alarm them as
to the probability that suspicion would
be directed to them incumbent on, them
to elucidatc the matter They felt that
they had to explain it, to divertsnspieion
from themselves. They we're not IN
position to note accurately, or relate dis
passionatcly. Their conclusion was the
result, not of what they saw, but OF what
they thought; they reasoned themselves
to their conclusion, and then swore to it.
Counsel next reviewed the testimony
of Howell, showing its Inconsistencies
and contradictions, and how it is neither
sustained by itself, nor by the testimony
of Brown; the inconsistencies in the mar
ratives of the two, as to the same. trans
action, viewed from the same standpoint.
Contradcted by itself, and the testimony
of Brown, it is utterly demolished by the
evidence of Howell's character. Never
was there a moro infamous character
proved upon mana liar from his youth
upwards. 1t is needless to bring witness
ses to the nfamy of his character. None
could mako any exposure of bis moral
delinquency equal to that which ne has
himself furnished. ...,ss-
On Friday he narrates the whole story
from tho. commencement to the end.
There is nothing material to add. He
closes with the declaration that he does
not know who Jones was, and did not
recognize any of the party. The next
day he contradicts it all, and Jones is
Jones no more, but Peter Kexes. He
not only knows Keyes, but he even knows
the horse it was the horse that hauled
the cotton, and he knew every man in
the party. Friday everything is sworn
one way; Saturday everything is sworn
the other way. There was fat perjury
one day or the other. I care not on
which side the perjury lies He is per-
jured, and being perjured, his whole tes-
timony must be cast aside. The rule is
too clear to admit of argument. An ac-
.complice, whose character is unimpeach-