The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-09
From the Charleston Netrs.. !.
TuE ANnERs0N PRISONERS

THE ANDERSON PRISONERS.
For several days past there have been rumcrs
afoa in this city regarding the fate of the Andcr
son prisoners, confined at Castle Pinckney, in
Charleston harbor. We heard these rumors on
Sunday but as we could not trace them at the time
TO any responsible source we refrained from CIV
ing them publicity. We now have ascertained the
facts, and take pleasure in laying them before our
readers
While their case Is famiiiarto many in our COM
munity, there may be others unacquainted with IT,
and for.their benefit will give brief resume Oh
these interesting trials
Three United States soldiers, two privates and
one corporal, belonging to the First Maine Bat
toEon of Volunteers. wero murdered at Browns
Ferry. Anderson District, S. c., on Sunday night,
October 8. 1865. Information was lodged next
morning with the commandant at Anderson, who
instituted an investigation, and upon the testi-
mony of persons living in the vicinity of the Ferry
ordered the arrest of several citizens. Some OF
these were afterwards released, but F. G. Showers,
of Hart county, Co., Crawford Keys, his son Robert
Keys, and Elisha Byrum, all three of Anderson
District, S. G., were sent on to Columbia for trial.
After they had remained in jail at that place some
weeks, they were brought to this city, and here
tried before Military Commission
The trial was very long and tedious, and at last
resulted in the conviction of the prisoners, who
were sentenced TO death. Gen. Sickles, in revising
the findings of the Commission, approved the SEN
tence of Showers and Crawford Keys, but commuted
that of the other two to Imprisonment for life in
the penitentiary of New Hampshire.
The time for the execution of the sentence had
been set, when executive clemency was interposed
in their favor,-the President of the United States
having sent reprieve.
Nothing further was heard or dore in the matter
till about three weeks ago, when application was
made to the Judge of the United States Court of
the District g. South Carolina for writ Of Ra6eas
Corpus to bo served on Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, the
Commanding General of this Department, requir-
ing him to produce the said prisoners confined
under his charge in Castle Pinckney. The writ
was issued, but the prisoners were not brought
into Court; Gen. Sickles assigning as his reasons,
l. That these parties had been tried, convicted,
and sentenced by Court, according to the procla-
nations and orders of the competent Department
Of the Government. q That these parties had laid
the whole matter before the President, whose order
touching their disposition is binding upon him
TGen. sickles. And, Sd. That ne had no power
by which he could sin any manner interfere with
the present disposition of these parties, without
the further order of the President of The United
States"
Upon motion of the prisoners counsel, the mat
ter was then referred 10 the President
The next fact that trcnspired in connection with
these prisoners is the rumor of their removal from
Castle Pinckney on Saturday night last, which will
be fully explained by the following orders:
Order from the President.
WAR DEPT. ADJ'T. GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON CITY, July %, 1866.
ORDERED:
That the sentences to be hanged, in the cases OF
Francis Gaines Showers, James c. Keys, Robert
Keys, and Elisha Byrum, citizens OF Georgia anu
South Carolina, be committed to Imprisonment for
life at the Tortugas.
Major General Sickles, U. S. Vols, commanding
the Department of the Carolinas, will cause the
above-named prisoners to be transported to the
Tortugas, and turned over to the commanding Off
Ger there, who will carry this order into effect.
BY order of the President
(Signed) E. D. TOWNSEND,
Asst. Adjutant- General.