The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-01-28
The Despotism and Horrors of Reeonstruc,
ton

tlon.
The following interesting extract from letter
addressed by Gov. WORTH of North Carolina, to
President johnson, dated Dec 81, 1867, will serve
TO show the cnormities of Reconstruction and the
tyranny of an irresponsible military rule. 1t will
be remembered that Capt. Tolar and others re-
manned in close confinement until a few months
ago. when they were released by pardon granted
by the President In the light of the facts here
detailed, there can be no wonder that the South
ern people were bitterly opposed to the "plan'
authorized by Congress:
In February or, March last, q poor
Young woman of good family and exem-
plary character, residing some two miles
from Fayetteville, on her way home from
church, on Sunday, was way-laid by :.
negro named Bebee. He seized her and
bore heerr. into the woods, violently cho-
king her to suppress her cries, but her
screams reached the ears Of an old ne
gress in time to prevent the monster from
Derpetrating the crime he meditated. On
the approach of the old negress he ran
off. The next day he was arrested and
taken before Duncan G.. McRae, Esq, for
preliminaryatrial The trial was held in
:he upper ssoryoof the Market House, in
Fayetteville .ed
An uncle of the accused was allowed to
employ "a lawyer, who appeared in de-
fence of the accused. The young woman
and old negress identified the villain, and
the bruised neck of the young lady bore
the imprint of his internal clutches. No
doubt was felt then, OF has been express
ed since, by black or white, as to his
guilt. a. o.
The shocking character Of the offence
drew together about the Market House a
large crowd, most of whom were excluded
from the hall where the trial was going
on. The Sheriff was on the gfound'~ith
the whole pJlce force of the town, armed
with their clubs, to guard the negro from
the appreheuded vengeance Of the crowd.
He was committed for trial and placed in
the custody of the Sheriff, to be Carried
to she lar. He was carried down the
stairs, an officer of the police at either
arm. and the Sheriff at his. back. On
landing below he made Il violent attempt
to escape, but WAS held firmly by his Gus
todans. In the struggle he fell. AS he
rose, some one behind fired pistol shot,
the ball passing through the hair Of the
Sheriff head. 1t took effect in the head
ot Bcbee, who instantly expired.
A Coroner's inquest was held and many
witnesses were examined. One or more
of them swore that Captain Toar shot
him. Capt Tolar. us learn, was quiet,
rood citizen, Il member OF u religious So
cietv and of the Masonic order. and held
in hirh eSterm By all lis aceualntances.
Other witnesses, deemed more worthy OF
credit, sworc that they were near Capt
Tolar when the pistol fired, and that they
knew he did not fire it. One Phillips,
and,perhaps others, displayed weapons on
the occasion The jury reported chat
they could not satisfactorily ascertain
who committed the homicide. ?.
The first Court having cognizance OF
the alleged crime commenced its sitting
ON the 18th OF May, 1861. a few days
before the sitting of this Court, General
Avery applied to Gen. Sckles for the ar
rest and trial, before a Military Court, OF
Capt. Tolar, Powers and Watkins, and
Duncan G.. McRae Gen. Sickles ordered
the arrest. Before the prisoners were
carried off by the military, the Grand Ju-
ry of the county, upon bill preferred by
the Solicitor, against Tolar for murder,
found it true Jil, and a captaS issued
accordingly, which the Sheriff could not
execute, because the military refused to
surrender him. No bill was sent against
the others, because the attention OF the
Solicitor was not called to any witnesses,
who would swear TO facts waranting the
sending Of bill. These arrests, there
fore, could not be based on any pretext
that the Court was in any way in fault.
Duncan G. McRae had long been lead
ing Justice of the Peace Of his county,
was Il member Of the State Convention
of 1865, and was widely known as man
of exemplary character and streng Union
procIivities. On his way to Fort Macon
the military prison designated for his con
finement, distant some two hundred miles
from his home and family, he got a friend
to send q telegram 10 Gen. Sickles. nqulr
ing for what cause, and by whose order
he had been arrested, and whether he
could be allowed to give bail. He deciln
ed to accept the bail, and referred TO Gen
Miles, Chief of the Freedmen's Bureau
stationed here, as to the charge, &c. Up
on application by me to Gen. Miles, he
said the arrest had been made by order ol
Gen. Sickles, upon the application ofGcn'
.eral Avery, and that he had rot power to
release McRae upon bail, or onhis parole;
that Gen. Sicklcs alone had this power;
that Gen. Avery was not then in his office;
rhat, as soon as he came in, he would ask
him to call at my office and explain. The
conduct of Gen. Miles was entirely salts.
factory to me. Gen. Avery called on me
soon after, and stated that the charge
against the prisoners would be specitical
ly made out and sent to Headquarters
soon; that nc then could only state to me
tL.,t nsi Ia %