The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-21
Special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.

Srccial dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.
Sentences by Military Commission
Prayers for Pardon The North
Carolina Outrage and Homicide of
Bcebe-ReIease of ToIar and Others
by Executive Order-The Minister
10 Austria.
WASHINGTON, August l9.-There are
seyeral murder cases pending before the
President, in which the Executive clemency
y prayed for, wherein the military autho-
rites have assumed jurisdiction, and
whilst the civil courts Of the southern
States were open and competent to try the
Issues Of law and fact involved.
One Of the most remarkable cases Of this
class is that of William J. Tolar, Thomas
Power, and David Watkins, found guilty
and sentenced to be hanged by military
commission ut Raleigh, !. c., for the al
eyed murder of Archie Beebe, negro
nan. These prisoners were arrested and
tried conformity with Duncan G. McRae and
Samuel Phillips, as to whom a m0Ue pro-
Sal6 was entered, Phillips turning States
EVIDENCE, and it being decided by the mill
"ry commission that there was no evidence
!nplicating Mr.. McRae.
Inc facts Of the case, as admitted sub
s'antlally by the prosecution and defence,
are That on Sunday evening Goth Febru-
saIry, 1867, O respectable young white girl,
hiss Massey, returning from church to her
nome, IN the vicinity of Fayetteville, North
'Arolna, was met on the suburbs of the
SSo"N, assaulted, dragged from the public
dgAway, and brutally outraged; that on
Inc same day one archie Beebe, o colored
Gan, was arrested by the police OF Fayette-
we charged with the crime, and the next
nay was brought before magistrates for pre-
uultary examination. At that examipa-
Won beeoe was fully identified by the oath
VI me young lady upon whom the assault
n"i been committed, and by other testimony,
"I1 was BY the magistrates committed to
I"N' MS trial at the next term of the
'uPeFior Court for Cumberland county.
iae report OF the crime produced great
,554'saa'ion IN the minds Of the people of
VIZ; community, and a large crowd, both
INV nv ana colored, assembled to hear the
S,,sVl1ulihary examination above mentioned.
W v''er the examination the young lady, Miss
,4aSSey, passed through the crowd from the
co. to JON 10 a carriage, and handker-
aa st 'aiiinS from her neck, revealed the
,-iHo u Tie brutal clutch of the ravisher's
- -,SS5' upon her throat, and then all the
VIM: already excited, became furious
IN, 'HaiSnetIon. The prisoner, brought
ni.,o1 lew moments after, was killed by
c r,,,oi shot fired from the midst of the
Il ~ Wy afterwards the defendants, Tolar,
Sjctir1 were arrested by order of General
,s ra' q, then commanding the second mill
,ri.d 9's'rct, and were in July following
sI.s.so before a military commission, as
pe.. a1y stated. A large number of wit
ge"s sS were examined, and the testimony
.ons 'a o. was of conflicting character,
sTa' s Of the witnesses for the prosecution
Pos'iog that Tolar fred the shot, and that
oS !, and Watkins joined in the assault.
WHINE other hand, a majority OF the
Tia, , ,s Tor the defence testified positively
were 10y ~ heard the report of the pistol, and
ouIy 5 iS;%I%'"s at Tolar, and saw 1lat he not
noli; %a hot FIRE the pistol, but that he had
Same 70 90 with the attack on Beebe.
rber w. " The witnesses swore unqualifiedly
-'y cav the shoe fired by Phillips, as