The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-09-13

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out. and at whose instigation they
were arrested. Upon the testimony of
soldiers, who were present, the officer
in command was indicted as accessory
to this murder, yet he was not delivered
up for trial.
The following is a specimen of some
of the orders that have been issued
this by an officer of the grade of first
lieutenant:
Special Orders No. s.
1t having come to my knowledge
that lawless men, perjured traitors, en-
emies of law, order, and of the United
States, sympathizers, aiders and abet-
tors of the Burns and Clarks' thieves,
outlaws, and assassins, have been en-
gagged in making threats, and in other
notorious, disorderly land dislOyal con-
duct; and it having come to my knowl
edge that certain numerous citizens
here and in the vicinity of this post,
profess to be opposed to these lawless
scoundrels, and to be friendly to and
willing to aid in maintaining the au-
thOrity of the United States govern
ment: This is, therefore, to notify the
former that for the first OUer act no
quarter aoiU be girea, and the later that
they loiU be held responsible in person and
property.
Under order ofthis officer for arrest
of citizens, a house was surrounded at
night, two of the inmates were shot,
bayOneted and beaten with the butt of
guns. The excuse was that resistance
was made and the sOldiery fired on.
The dying declaration of one of the
men slain, corroborated by the sworn
statement of survivors of the family,
were, that the house was surrounded
by men unknown to them, and their
surrender demanded, which at first
was refused, but when the father was
informed that the military authority
of the United States demanded the ar
rest of his two sons, the officer was in
formed that they would yield, and he
was invited to come into the house,
and that upon the entrance of the Off
Ger, followed by some of the men, the
work of death commenced. This man
TALLY revived from the wounds he had
received, hearing the crowd in the
yard, he seized his gun and fired on
them, and then craWled out and eX-
tinguished the fire at the end of the
house. The Executive of the State in
formed Major Griffin ofthe oc-
currences, and without expressing cen
sure or exculpating the citinens of any
offence, expressed the fear that great
wrong had been committed, and made
a respectful request that a commission
of army officers should investigate the
acts. His request was not complied
with.
Certain laws of the State are set "a
side, and others are not allowed to be
enforced.
In accordance with the constitution
the Legislature abolished five of the
Judicial Districts of the State, and five
judges and the same number of district
attorneys went out of office. Two of
these districts have been revived, and
two judges restored by military re-
script The other three districts are
not restored, probably because the po-
litical faith of the judges is not of
character TO suit those who exercise
the power.
The Jury laws of the State, if not a
bolished, have been amended by an
edict, and new qualifications are requir-
ed. In many counties a jury cannot be
had in others, only by taking negroes
on the panel, who have only the nee0
qualification, and none of the other
requisites demanded by the law. In
many counties the courts cannot be
held for the trial of criminal offences,
and the counties are burdened with ac-
cumulating debts. In others, the lives,
liberty, and property Of the people are
determined and adjudicated by class
ofjurors not qualified by law, and to-
tally unfit, from their previous condi
ton in life, to discharge properly the
responsibility so suddenly thrust upon
them.
Recently respectable citizen, up
wards of70years ofage, in feeble health,
upon the complaint of freedman that
he had obstructed his gistration, was
arrested and confined by the military in
this city. Notwithstanding his own
ill health, the sickness of his family,
his asseveratiOns Ofinnocence, and that
he could so prove by white and black
testimony, and his offer to furnish any
amount of pecuniary bail, as well as
the pledge of individuals of the first re-
spectability, to be present for trial when
required, yet this was refused. He
was placed in hospital, and finally,
but not until he was dying, the request
ofhis friends, that he might be removed
to more comfortable quarters, was COM
piled with. He died in few hours af-
ter his removal.
The frontier OF this State has been
one continuous scene of butchery and
devastation. 162 persons have been
murdered; a wounded, and 10 women
and children carried into captivity by
the Indians within the last two wears.