The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-23

TIE Court OF GENERAL SESSIONS AND Com.
MON PLEAS Hon. F. J. MOSES PREsDNa.-.The
case of the State us. James Thomas (colored),
arson, which had been assigned for this day,
was taken up. T. G. Barker, Esq, and w.
James Whaley, Esq, appeared for the de-
fence.
The prisoner was q repulsive, idiotic looking
negro, who, Camanche-like, had q blanket
wrapped around him. He took little interest
in the proceedings, his impassiye countenance
showing no signs Of intelligence.
Mr.. A. Z. Knox testified that he lived in
Christ Church Parish, seven miles from the
village. His brother and wife and MIR. Ken.
nedy occupied the house with him. On the
morning of November Sd he Was reused by
Mr. Kennedy, who told him the house wss on
fire. He went out and found the fire SET un-
der the rear piazza. All the plantation hands
were at once reused, but they found il i'm
possible to save the house. James Thomas
had been very bad hand all the summer, be-
ing both lazy and impudent. The week pre-
vious he did not work more than two days, and
his nations were stopped on Saturday. He
went away very much dissatisfied. On Mon
day or Tuesday the prisoner brought letter
summoning witness to the Bureau. Thomas
was arrested, but he got away that night. He
was rearrested after the fire. Thomas and
Beck Green lived about half mile from the
dwelling house. Joe Richardson and Aurelia
Canace lived in the same house.
Joe Richardson (colored) testified that in
November he was on the plantation Of Mr..
Knox; knew Thomas and lived in the same
house, in different rooms, with thin partition
between them, but could hear what was said in
next room. Knew nothing until the next day
about the fre-was asleep at the time.
Back Green said that she had known the
prisoner since March, and they had lived to-
gether as man and wife, though each drew r.
tions separately. She remembered the night
the house was burnt. 1t was on Sunday
night. jim and herself were together, and
Jim said that when he went to the village and
came back he would have satisfaction. They
went to bed together, but Jim came to her in
the night and called her to see the fro. In
the early part Of the night he said he was going
after what he had to do; she went asleep after
wards, and did not know anything until Jim
called her to see the fire. Jim said it Was Mr..
Knox's house, and that he had set tie fire.
The prisoner here interrupted the witness with
an emphatic denial, and asked permission to
question her. The witness mentioned the dif-
ticulty between Jim and Mr.. Knox, and Jim
threatening at the time that he would have
satisfaction.
Aureha Canace, in many respects, slbstan-
tiated che testimony ofthe previous witness.
It. B. Chapman, officer OF the city detective
force, testified as to the arrest of the parties
and the testimony taken before the magistrate.
The Attorney-GeneraI closed for the prose-
cution. and the defence put the prisoner,
James Thomas, ON the stand. His testimony
Was confined to statement Of his actions,
and he denied positively having anything to
do with the fire, or having ever made the as
sertions stated by the previous Witnesses. Said
that he had lost one days work on account Of
The weather, and had complained to MI. Knox,
on Sunday, for stopping his rations, out was
told that be could attend to no business on
that day. The witness then went to hin house,
and remained there until awakened by the fire.
He got up ind looked out, but had no CONVEX
sation with any one but Becky Green, and went
back to bed until daylight. In the morning he
went to the village and reported the fact Of his
not receiving any rations, but said nothing
about the burning Of the house. On his re-
turn he was arrested by Mr.. Knox, and subse-
quently brought to the city.
The defence having no other witnesses, the
argument was opened by W. James Whaley,
ESQ.,, who summed up the evidence, and pre-
sented the case to the jury in an eloquent,
clear and forcible speech. The case, while per-
haps not the best young advocate could wish
for his maiden effort, presented some good
points, and these MIR. Whaley knew how to
turn to good account. He was followed by
Iheo. G. Barker, Esq, also for the defence,
Attorney-General Hayne closing. The Judge
charged the Jury, who had not returned YER
dict to late hour yesterday evening.
1t may, perhaps, not be amiss to state In
this connection, that MIR. Knox, the prosecut-
ing witness is Northern man, an ek-Federal
volunteer army officer, who has been planting
in Christ Church since the close OF the war.
Mrs. FREY AeAN.-From the ''Chsrlestoner
zeitung," of yesterday, We translate as fol-
lows: "Mrs. Frey, German, we'll known In
this city, is now sMd to live in New York, and