The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-29
MORNING, JULY 20, 1869.
y Of an houri;;" 80
ivared, l perfectly
famed herself with the Ri
Ed. Yerger said. "but / cs
vanQuishpd her."
to my mind that
, yirraanOpaihle for

vanqushed her." R
1t is convincing evidenS to my mind that
Yerger is morally and legsTJ irresponsible for
the terrible deed he hay committed, that
he has, as am credibly iDfSrmed, no realizing
sense OF the Nervousness his offence. HIS
manner in the courtroom tere sted me. He
pretended to be reading az awspaper most Of
tho time, but when come foint in the testi-
mony would arrest his attestion. he would lift
his eyes over his glasses, az they were pei ched
upon his nose, direct them toward the witness
with sort or half inquiry. half plying con-
tempt, AZ much as to say: What will the
Idios say nextf" You could not say he was
IN the least interested in the testimony: at
the same time he seemed not unconscious
that it was testimony that might save his life
i reached the courtroom before the opening
OF the commission, and just as Yerger, his Eve
officer OF the guard came marching into the
room. Yerger was han 1cufed and manacled,
but the chain was long enough to permit q toll
cankiug his chain perfectly lnabashed, neither
broken nor bent. l caught his eye, at least I
have no doubt OF it, but he deigned no recog-
milton. His handouts were removed as soon
hardened 10 crime, which Yerger is not, could
bear up under this ordeal as this man does.
Colonel Yerger is fortunate in his counsel.
The most striking circumstance IN the court
roOm next 10 seeing CIVILIAN and an old trieHd
tried by United States officers in bullion epau-
lettes, was the aIrav OF counsel. Mississippi
might be searched in vain to match William
Yerger. Harris. Simrall, Ander son and Mar
flower of the State. And how admirably, how
patiently. how thoroughly they are managing
the Gaze ! All that ability and means can do is
being done for Yerger, aud let me say, in the
interests OF law and justice. ~
Inc commission are apparently officers OF in-
telhgence. Whatever their prejudlces may
be, they look like men quite able to decide,
even ~ an unusual case like this. with Justice
and judgment. The president OF the Commits
sion, General Swift, a medical Office. Judge
by his green sash, aud probably selected for
this reason ia a man o. Imposing appearance
and judging by O few words he ard II ON him
IN calling the commission to order, Is q person
of culture and ability.
The two judge advc Gates, who represent the
government in the prosecution, showed no
lack OF zeal in eDdeavoring to account for oil
OF poor Yerger's crazy tricks Oh the ground Of
who know YerXer would never attempt the So
luton OF the problem in this way. It ls not
your hard drinker, who, for instance, delivers
speech IN New Orleans, and is 30 overpleased
with his exploits that nothing short of presen-
ting himself with carriage, Ola behalf Of his
admirers. will satisfy him.
But enough. Poor Yerger should never have
been allowed to commit this deed. His friends
are to blame that he should have been allowed
to be habitually armed. Justice will not per-
init him to be hanged. but for the rest Of his
llfe he should be confined.
My gossip would be complete wers I to
omit saying that Colonel Yerger is not a. type
OF Southern man, and is very far from being
dear to Southern hearts. When conscrption
was the law OF our necessity. Colonel Yerger
forsoOk bis friends, sought shelter at the Fede-
ral headquarters at Vicksburg, and betrayed
ing all he knew or could learn OF the Con fede-
rate movements.