The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-02-26
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Ns-f" I FfOnlNih he ChArlceLnn tNnms ]

N"'9 [ FfomNlhe Charleston News. !
Saved RON tie Gallons John jenkins
not Murderer Strlngs and Startling
Neyelation Tho Roal Murderer Dsaa :
Herrow Escape Of an Ianooent Han A
Tie Out &C., &c &c.
John Jenkins, freedman, who was
to have beepahung to-ucrrow, (l6th)
at the Jail in this city, for the murder
of Rs NJ, Brantford, during riot in
June, S66, has had his scntonc com
muted8by #his Exccllcncy Governor
Orr,t to Imprisonment in the State
Penltcntiary for five years. This is a
ease in which our community have
been deeply Interested, and in which
the military authorities have made
the most strenuous cndnavors to deter
mine the doubt whether John Jenkins
was the guilty person.
The following reasons for tho com
mutation Of The sentence will cx-
plain the character Of the evidence
upon which the action Of the Govern
or has been based
TIT, STATE rs. JOHN JENKINS AND scIp-
10 FRASER R--MuRDER.
The prisoners John jenkins and
Scipio Fraser were indicted for the
murder of II. NJ. Brantford, in the city
of Charleston, on the 2lth of June,
1866. Tlrcy were tried at the january
term, 1867, Of the Court of Sessions
before. Judge Dawkins, and convicted
Their counsel appealed, Pending the
appeal, one Of tho prisoners, S1irio
Fraser, died in Jail. At tho April
term ofthc Appeal Court, 1867, the
case of Jcnkins was heard, his motio,
for new trial refused, aud he WA.
sentenced to be executed in June. s
few days before The execution was tc
take place, | r".ri'3I The prisoner 10,
one month. Before the expiration ot
this timeI was applied to by the oil
Ger then coul oulmanding this Military
District for further respite. /
however, declined to grant it, and
assigned my reasons, at length, in &
ommunicatinn addressed to Genera
Sickles. The prisoner, John Jenkins
was then further ,csui}cI lv Tin, Milf
tary authorities. and evidence wa,
taken by General lIincks, the Proyns
Marshal.Gencral Of this District, il
the form Of atidoyits. from on;tn
number of witnesses who wrrc no,
sworn before the trial trnh;nr ,o sL,u
an altbi These pannrs were sphm;,.
ted to my considerations. and nnon
careful examination, was s;,tisGc,
that the effort of the priSioncr 70 cs
tablish an aliL, was unsuccessful an,
| that this surplcmcntal cvidcncr w,,
not entitled to o,twcirh and nvnr-;J,
the Testimony uiyc. hv witnesses ~,
the stand during The trial. sever,
witnesses then established to my salts
faction The fact that Jenkins w,s cn
gagged in tho riot ON tho B,v and y,
, Kino..,rcct Pm. ,,o nrI,.. 'n:t' n ~
who professed to have sccn .John Ion
kins inHict a blow unon Tho 1ccn,sc,
(BrantrorlN was ono t;rnrco + AL
rens. He stated. IN lis ,;mnn,
before judo Dawkins fiat Lo ..sav
! Innl;nc ,nl E,,co,. l. ~ I, -,
that took effect ON Brontforl Jen
kins thew one after he fell and stomn
ed upon him. They were tho )colcr
of the crowd and he knew them wnll
He further SAYS: t.rLc cxtdov Il,
saw Fraser, heard him saw in his var,
he had killed one white -liycrc1 son q
bitch and would XIII another. and h,
had him arrested" In his cross
examination he SAYS: ss.rcnkins luns
| the first brick and Scipio Frazer tho
second. Branford then ran. and wa,
by their house when jenkins hit him
again"
Upon the testimony Of Ahrcps then
solely depends the question whcthc,
Jenkins did or did not, mon tha,
occasion, inhict one or more of tho
blows which took the lif, of the dcceas.
cd. +h.h@f'9 1t' H'
Tn the two reviews Of the case here.
toforc made by me and transmitted
10 the military authorities, | assumed
that Ahrcns' testimony was true, and