Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-05-23

Yesterday witnessed scene of intense excite;
ment in the United States District Court for Viri
ginia, Judge Underwood presiding It being
known that Hon. Jefferson Davis, late President
of the Confederate States, would be produced in
been sued out in his behalf, the court room was
filled at the eariestmoment allowed by the officers
in charge.
Among those present. were many prominent Cit
liens and officials, civil and military, of this and
other States.
A little before II o'clock Mr.. Davis counsel en-
tered and took their seats within the bar.
This being the first appearance Of Mr.. O'Conol
in Richmond, curiosity, combined with his great
fame as lawyer, his spotless reputation as gen
tleman, and the extraordinary interest felt in the
case Of which he was the leading counsel, was suf
fcient to render him the focus Of all eyes. Heis
very pleasant looking gentleman, about FIVE feet
nine or ten inches in height rather slight of frame
ed by the white hair which was brushed across it.
whiskers grey, closely trimmed and extending from
ear to ear, head not large nor forehead massive al
though high and free from wrinkles His glance
is quick and pleasant, his action is also quick but
gentle and graceful. His countenance beams with
a cheerful benignity Only his eyes bespeak hin
the full man that he is They glow like diamonds
of first water He does not use glasses.
Next to Mr.. OConor, and engaged in an ami
mated conversation with him, sat the Hon. VIM
B. Reed of Philadelphia, who has been among us
before. Mr.. r. is rather portly, with large head
prominent forehead, is slightly bald, ruddy in com
plexion, and wears neither whiskers nor moustache.
Next came Hon. James Lyons, of this city, Mr..
the opposite side Of the table, sat Mr. Ould, the
ramoininp counsel for Mr. Davis
On the same side with Mr.. Ould, and confront
ing Mr.. O'Conor, sat Mr.. Chandler, the U. S. Dis
trict Attorney, and W. NJ. Evarts, Esq, of New
York, who had been engaged by the Government
to assist in the prosecution.
Mr. Evarts, who is distinguished lawyer, is Of
medium height, spare Of frame, pale, and of grave
aspect.
At about IL o'clock buzz which ran through
the room announced the entrance of Horace Gree.
ley who took seat at the foot Of the table beside
Mr.. Augustus Schell, of New York. These two
citizens are as opposite as the poles in politics, but
were present for common purpose--that Of enter
ing surety for Mr.. Davis should he be admitted to
bail. Mr.. Schell is prominent Democrat, Mr..
Greeley everything else. The former is a stout
gentleman with strongly marked features, grey
side-whiskers, and wears glasses. Mr. Greeley is
as understandable in his personal appearances as in
his politics His ruling expression is that of gener'
Gus good nature, with an appearance Of istessness
utterly at war with his restless activity His face
and head are round, the latter bald, with firing
ing Of whitish-yellow hair around the base. He
wears glasses. His motion is shambing and don't
care, and his attitude awkward. On the whole,
his appearance is striking, and while eciting criti
cism, conciliates kind judgment. The mission
most favorable disposition of our people. Probably
to no one man is the liberation of Mr. Davis SO
much due as to Horace Greeley. The position he
occupied with respect to the party most disposed
Ito seventies, enabled him to speak with powerful
effect and to furnish shelter for those who might
follow his counses, but with less claim to the in
diligence of the dominant faction.
But few ladies.were present, but in the solitude
Of many chamber went up fervent prayers In be-
half of the accused Shortly before II o'clock the
doors were opened to the eager throng, who, al
though unable to procure tickets, besieged the
stairs and every foot of standing room was soon
filed
Eleven o'clock arrived, but neither Judge nor
prisoner appeared in the COURTROOM, although the
roll Of carriages, resounding above the hum and
buzz OF the excited throng, announced the arrival
of Mr.. Davis.
The sidewalks between the hotel and the court
room were thronged with curious spectators, and
it was with difficulty that strong police force, aud;
ed by detachment of the Eleventh infantry, could
keep passage clear for pedestrians.
So great was the concourse in front OF the Spots
wood, that q stratagem was resorted to. MIR. Da-
Wis was escorted by Mr.. Millward lone OF the pro
prietors) to the store-room, and thence made his
exit into the alley at the rear Of the hote between
sth and 9th streets. Here, accompanied by Gen;
Burton, DR.. Cooper and Maj. Elrath, he entered
carriage owned and driven by Mr.. VIM. NJ. Led
ob kho Ill fo 9th tho
ty stole march on the throng in front ofthe ho-
tel, and passing up 9th to Main, down Main to
10th, up 10th to Bank, reached the courthouse
without obstruction, and on arriving, Mr. Davis
was assigned to private room.
At quarter after II o'clock Judge Underwood
took his seat, and the Court was opened In the u
sual FORM
Expectation now stood on tiptoe, and five min
utes later Mr. Davis entered by the door on the
left of the Judge, and was escorted to seat IN the
northeastern corner of the room: He was dressed
in suit of fine black cloth, feeked with tiny gray
spots, and bowed in pleasant recognition of the 81
lent greetings which were lavished upon him. de
wore gloves of dark green kid.
Judge Underwood remarked, that as the Court
was honored by the presence of many Of the bra.
vest and most ionized defenders Of the national
honor, he would dispense with the usual routine,
and was now ready to receive any communication
which General Burton might have to make in an
swer to the writ that had been directed to him.
General Burton thereupon escorted his distin-
guished prisoner into the bar, where he took seat
between Mr. OConor and Mr.. Reed Mr.. Davis
was thinner and apparently more feeble than when
the writer saw him last autumn, 1t was impossi-
bic to look upon him without both proud and ten
der emotion, as he sat there the calmest man in
the whole assembly. His eye was as tranquil and
his nerve as steady as though he had no concern
in the scene around him, and giving proof Of the
nobility of soul that is proof against external cir
cumstances
Mr.. O'Conor then rose and said that the coun-
sci of Mr.. Davis were ready to proceed. He then
read the order directed by Judge Chase to General
Burton, as follows
The President of the United States to Brigadier
General H. s. Burton, and to any other person
or persons having the custody Of Jefferson Da-
Wis, greeting: .
We command you that you have the body of
Jefferson Davis, by you imprisoned and detained
as it is said, together with the cause of such i'm
prisonment and detention, by whatsoever name the
said Jefferson Davis may be called or charged, be-
fore our Circuit Court of the United States for the