The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-18

lege under the law of having fair trial; that it
was incumbent on the Solicitor in this as in all
other cases, to make out the charge because every
one under the protection of the law is presumed
to be innocent until the contrary appears. He in
sisted that the whole testimony consisted Of Cir
cumstantial evidence or confessions. As to the
circumstances, he argued that, although seemingly
strong, the network was not complete-that the
matter of the pistol was not brought home salts
factorily to the prisoner-that the pistol was not
in Court, end not identified certainly as the pistol
of Henry. The nearest approach to idenhhcation
was the fact that the stock was found under the
house of William, where Henry was Temporarily
staying. This was stronger against William shan
Henry. Crcumstantial evidence, in one respect,
is like telegraphic wre-f it is bad in part 1t Is
bad in the whole-defect at any point of the con-
nection makes the whole useless. AS to the con-
fessons he argued that they are always unrelia-
ble. He read admonitions from the law books
against receiving them implicitly; that it was un-
safe sort of proof in any case because of the alarm
and apprehension under which confessions ore
usually made. If this is the general rule, it ap-
plies much more strongly to the case of an unedu-
Gated negro lately ancipated-unaccustomed
to elf-control-ignorant timid, bewildered, con-
fused and alarmed.
In conclusion, Gen. MCGOWAN invoked the jury
N c;ve the prisoner at the bar the full benefit of
all tha humane rules in favor Of human life that
this ought to be done only the more scrupulousy
because he was o freedman an uneducated negro
He rossessed goods image, though it was carved
in ebony" His condition of inferiority in color,
race and intelligence only appealed the more
strongly to every just and generous mind. tis
the characteristic of meanness and cowardice to
onnress the weak and dependent. Whatever may
be the faults of people, this has never been one
of them. They possess too much chivalry for that
The GOOD and brave are always just and generous
He wished the jury in this respect to be the true
exnonent of the country. We claim to be as intel
ligent and just as any people on earth We admit
inferiority to no one in regard to kindness and
Justice to the negroes amongst US. We deny that
others have monopoly of generosity and virtue,
and Won must render such verdict as will show
the determination of this people to administer
equal justice to all.
When the prisoners counsel concluded this IN
cenious and able argument, his Honor Judge Mum
RIO delivered brief and impartial charge to the
Jury, into whose hands the case was then hnaiiy
committed After careful deliberation, the verdict
was rendered, s'Guilty," and the prisoner remand
ed for sentence. On Saturday morning, the pris-
oner Henry Chcatham was brought into Court anu
the sentence of the law pronounced against him.
U;s Honor stated that it was not his habit to de-
liver long harangues upon such occasions; out the
magnitude of this crime, its atrocity and iendisn-
ness. induced him to indulge in a few remarks
Whatever benefits had been conferred upon MS
race by emancipation upon the prisoner at least IL
has been anything else than blessing 1t had
made him thief and murderer. In company
with others, he went out on thieving expedition
Unfortunately the property of young Geer was
seized, and the awful murder was committed upon
his detection of the theft, and to this murder the
prisoner readily assented. more deliberate and
atrocious murder had never been committed IN
South Carolina; throughout an experience OF forty
vears in the law his Honor failed to remember one
of equal magnitude, and he had not been able te
discover single mitigating circumstance. Al
though not undertaking to declare that Executive
clemency would not be exercised, he felt no heslta
ton in saying that it should not be interposed IN
this case. Admonishing the prisoner TO prepare
for eternity, his Honor pronounced the sentence o.
the Court to the effect that the prisoner be hung
on Friday, the 23d day of November next.
Thus closed one of the most interesting and i'm
portant criminal trials which has taken place fol
years. The novelty in arraigning the accused
before jury of his country, the preservation o.
all the forms of trial heretofore allowed, the con-
vincng testimony of his guilt, the ability and dis
tinruished character of his counsel, and the ope
ming case under the new Law whereby is admitted
to equal rights and privileges with their former
masters these people, lately slaves in oil their ig
norance.-these circumstances combined render
this trial of the utmost Importance, and hence 1T
appearance in our columns this morning. We orr
pleased to remark, in concluding this extended re
port that there was abundant evidence afforded IL
the progress of this trial to forever sweep away
the cautnny that our people are not willing to &C
cord handed justice to every class of the com
munity.
QUICK SALES AND SMALL PROFITS.
This is an excellent motto for business men
profitable alike for customer and merchant, and We
are always attracted to the man holding out these
;nducemanta He is sure TO succeed, and in at