The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-06-24
From the Charleston Mcrcury.1
Trial for Murder by Military Commits

Trial for Murder by Military Commits
sion.
On the night OF Saturday, the llth
} ..uary, S6S, the smoxehonsc of Isaac
Ovens resident Of Kersl,aw District,
was broken open aud robbed, the
smokrhouse being within curlilage. only
a few steps from the house, and the
broomseJge within Ike enclosure and
the fence constituting the enclosure, sci
fire 10 in several places and in direction
from the house reverse Of the position of
the smokehouse. These ou,ragrs were
perpetrated under the most aggravated
circnms,anc There was small su-
cial party at Mr.. Robert Smyrl's a
neighbor, that evening; Mr. Isaac Owen
and his son William, youth Of sixteen,
were absent from homr and a, Mr.. Rob.
ert Smyrrs. The only members OF the
family at home, were old Richard Ow.
ems, aged, hcl plrss and a cripple. Be.
sides him were his aged vile, and Their
mothrrlrss little ones, the children Of
Isaac Owens.
The tracks Of the party who had per.
petrated the felony were followed to
within lew hundcrd yards Of Mr.. Rich
ard G. Drakeiord's that night. Early
the next morning the accused procured
warrant from James II. Cauthen, II
magistrate in Kershaw District to search
for Jhe stolen goods, and to arrest the
offenders.
The regular constable being sick, Mr.
Ovens by authority Of the magistrate,
called to his assistance his neighb ,rs, 4. .
j. Mcdowell John O'Shaler. his son
William, and the freedmen Nelson
Kirkland and Wesley Aredge.
The party we're armed for the search
and arrest, as well they might be, for
outlaws who had committed the heinons
offences, the double crimes Of the night,
before. The search was rcgulaly and
lawfully made, without violence or
threat, after repeated resistance by the
ielons who first demanded writing au,
thority," and when that was shown,
they still denauded authority from the
"head man at Camden" meaning the
"Bureau Agent. or as he is called by
these people, ''the Yankee Commander"
Yet these officers of the law do not exc.
cute the warrant. They sent for Mr..
Richard @. Drakeford. the owner of the
premises and houses who read the war.
rant to them, and said the houses, his
houses must be searched, and he led the
search, which was then quietly acqnes
cad in; the stolen bacon, or, salt pork,
was found-eleyen pieces full load
for two mon to carry, was identified by
Nelson Kirkland, freedman, as Mr..
lsSsS Ovens meat, as he, Kirkland, had
CIT one Of the pieces before, in particu
iier manner.
The party then arrested the thieves,
York Owens and William Mickle, and
carried thom to Camden, where the
Courthouse is at one end of the town,
while their approach was from the other
end. They met Edward Il. Sill, the
SSherlG of Kershaw District; they ten.
dered him the prisoner and ordered them
to deliver them to the ijiior, Mr..
Sheorn, in Camden. When they reach.
ed thejailit was not open, and they at.
tempted to enter the yard through gate
inapening which there was some diff
Guilty. While MIR. Ovens was STOPPING
down Ito open The gate with one hand,
his gun being gtin- the other the barrel
resting on the inside of his elbow, the
prisoners who were tied together ran
by 9him. Y,o rk Owens attempted
toPull the gun away from him. The
gun went off and killed Mickle, the 9th
erprisoner, and York ierkingloose ran
of. Such are the plain facts OF the
case, gathered from a mass Of owl
dence.aA i4s 80 ,aeitP. Gf FdhE aF q
Isaac Owens was brought,to trial be.
fore q military commission for this Of
fence and entered plea objccting 20 the