The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-03

first are These helpless youths, so ruthIessly torn
nom their homes, we're spared TO again beg for
mercy But the remorseless Keith ordered .
second fire and the remaining Innocent victims
usbered into the presence OF Just God. Nearly all
OF them were pierced by number OF bullets ana,
excepting the boys, they an expired almost IN
The following Is list Of the vlctms:James Shell
ton, ST., James shelton, Jr., Dsv,d Snenon' ST.
David Sheh0n, Jr., Roderick shelton Mliiiam smell
ton, Isaiah Shelton, Anderson King, Joseph WOODS
james Metcalf, Halen Moore, Wade Moore ana Jas
After the perpetration OF this revolving deed Il was
at least TO be expected that The muruerers Wouiu
accord their victims soldiers graves ou. order
OF Keith the bodies, lying close together wcIo Wv
cred with stones In a most savage ana rude manneI'
which manged their features that IN siort tImc;
when their friends dared to remove them they couid
not be recognized. These details are but imperfect
and fail 70 portray the savage atrocty and barbarty
OF .sThe Laurel Valley Massacre"
ARREST AND TRIAL OF KEITH By THE coSfhDsHAfS
For considerable e' length Of time nothing was
known OF this inhuman outrage; Dut AZ len8tn -
reached the ears OF Zebuon Vance, then Governor
seldom, then the Confederate Secretary OF
War, the arrest, trial and summary punish PUNISH,
mens o. the murderer Lieutenant With ths
imperative demand Keith was placed under an
onicers arrest I'm his quarters) and short time
afterwards was called before military court mar
tal, which probably bore all the semblance OF sucn
tribunal without being IN fact or character as
far as the administration OF justice was concerned.
Keith after mock trial, upon the plea that he was
acting under orders from General Harry Heth, now
OF Virginia, was discharged or cashiered the service
but acquitted OF all other charges. Thus criminal
who has no equal as u barbarOus monster in modern
times has been 10 the present allowed to escape the
SUBSEQUENT CAREER or KEITH
Free again and without the trammels Of military
restraint, Keith, with knowledge or the terror MS
name produced In this county, returned here, ana
more organized band OF outlaws, OF which no
made himself commander Az the head Q, imes Sor ne
Carolina, plunderng and numbering, IL Is aegeu. as
II suited his convenience. With the proceeds OF ths
robbery he purchased u farm on south niger river,
where his wife and family resided TIL me SURRENDER
During this period, 1864 there is since the sworn
testimony OF Mary Franklin, who alleges that. accom-
panied by his band, he visited her house IN this
county, his first act being TO A her son Ballus.
OF the dwelling while another, James, ran to effect
his escape. Keith fired the house. causing JOSIAH 10
come out, when he was brutaiiy murdered. James
was pursued and he shared the same rate. Inc
house was consumed by the Ilames and the bereaved
mother sought protection within The federal lines
HIS LAST ACT.
Strange TO say, Keith remained In the county
In which all his alleged outrage5 had been
been indicted Tor murder and arson committed 2lst
May OF that year. He was then sought and would
have been summary dealt WITH but that he effected
his escape TO Greenvile district 81 o., where ne re-
sided eighteen miles north OF the Court House, IN
neat residence at the foot OF the Blue Ridge until his
FINAL ARREST.
Upon charges made and numerous indictments
found against him his arrest was effected by the mil
itary. under orders from General Candy. He was
lodged IN Castle Pinckney, where he remained 1or
considerable period-the people IN his county all the
whlo earnestly soliciting his trial by military COM
mission. Afdavita in effect above were forwarded,
but alter due consideration General Candy decided
that the military had jurisdiction in the case and
among number OF other prisoners Of like class lie
was turned over to the civil authorities for trial.
will be seen by the following order-
SPECIAL oRDERs-No. 70.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND MILITARY DIsTRICr,l
CHARLESTON, s. O., july 81 1858. {
XVII. The commanding officer, military post OF Charles
ton s. ca will forward under reliable guard prisoner James
A.
crimes Ralcigh g. where the prisoner will be turned
TO the commanding ocer of thai post to be BY him held
subject to the equson of the Attorney General OF the State
OF North Carolina. 1874
The Quarteaser's Department viii furnish the necessary
transportation the OF such transportation TO be REIN
bursed from Reconstruction fund.
BY command Of
Brevet Major General Ed r. s. CANDY.
LOUIS v. CAzIKRE, AddeCamp, Acting Asst Adjt Cen.
While imprisoned at Castle Pinckney Keith strong
ly protested against being returned to MS natlvel
county, on the grounds that his life would not be-
Jail here until recently, when he was taken TO the
Jail OF BuncOnbe county, TO be held until trial.
James A. Keith Is Six feet high, dark hair. dark
complexion, has heavy black beard unusually long.
wears sinister expression OF countenance ana 10
powerfully built, weighing probably 1856 or 100. He
OF bis eyes shut while speaking, from habit ls
intelligent and has a thorough knowledge OF history.
He served in the Mexican war, from which he re-
turned physician, with an Idea OF military affairs
which served to advance him to the rank he held IN
the Confederate service EsEOusing that government!
at the secession OF South Carolina he became unpop
ular with the Union people Of this county, and hence
probably his barbarous course towards them subse
quenty. Nobody expresses the slightest sympathy
FOR hin.