New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-07
coLoRED JURORS IN SOUTH c4RoLINA.
THE NEGRO MURDERER HoLNEs-vERDIcr FROM


JUROR OF BLACK MEN.
The Beaufort correspondent OF Ibe ChqHeS-
t2a 6ePgDe4 SAYS inc eei r9 n o Tar dSIsd
present term, is that Of The state ag Peter Holmes
excited tie killing OF Mr.. J. Fraser Matthews, u,
der circumstances OF very aggravated character aud
brought justice because of the peculiar locality in
which the event occurred, and the alleged mpossibihty
Of finding a Jury in Beaufort County who would be
honest aud impartial enough to render verdict of guilty
against any colored man no might be Implicated FetSr
Holmes was arrested for the crime and tried by Mill
ary commission but a. the state was IN the proce - OF
declined approve tie finding of the court martial ana
ordered the prisoner TO he renanGcd for trial beos the
returned to the vicinity Of his old home on kean's
another, be succeeded Tor time IN ending atr5SI
At last, however, his haunts were discovered, and
posse of The state Consabuary and ctzens-a strong
and Wei armed party, Tor IL was kho~h mar lhe h-
dcIer spcrad0-surrOunGed the premises IN
muske ana refused to obey the summons to surrender
until ne PARTY were about To resort to s'ui.dTy t
his gum in the act Of shooting down one OF ne party,
when revolver. presented by the magistrate, brought
him 10 his senses and he was secured. Aftcrwsrd he
was caught by John l. rOreus in the act Of driving
knife into the body of one OF his captors biOught
then to Beaufort he gned the charge Of mur
der before the Court in Session. but 1t being the last lay
OF the tei1n the trai was postponed LNO days aier
that arrai -nmelt Ioimes maze ms escape q sfcohd
FINALLY however, he was discovered az the PhoNpmle
Works, on the NORTHEASTERN Railroad, by brave
brought his prisoner to the Beaufort jan This occurred
two months ago within the last three days he has been
u
own and color end convicted Of murder, and the
question Is thereby set at rest Whether jury Of cOored
De found in South Carolina who care do justice
when the lie welfare OF of their own people IA
concerned The prisoner is short. heavily built black
man, with low brow, cCOn-ike eyes, and massive jaws.
ferocOus expression il written every feature. lie
is evidently by nature what Victor Hugo calls nan
tiger"
in his charge to the jury the Judge said:
The law tod that facts rake ont ofmuie' and
believe the facts 10 is duy % Cad scc, Ci guilt 0. nld
It has been said hundreds 4 uescry n .Ais courtroom las
heard hat is not safe % coord DAB on ajur D Of
hat black
BIS people lti 70
abroad h, place that have been prompted by
Suppose should ones M him
sefdecared Boosting that be had Killed h make hs
mausaugher what would the educated PARTON of he
community who have been predicting that tie co people OF
the South unit 20 sit jury, yerlc acuat
Why, would be evidence o. them OF De trutl OF
their assertion, and the case Noad be gaofd far and
the law cannot be justly and faithfully lmuel by
aceWhen coored concerned In Ike this.
There portion community South Carolina who Gxays
cOueuded that the ooore though well educated bis former
s and determined "a DO bis czn,
should De
withdraw
tegy which have heretofore entertained H. the otler hata
~ %
at
where)
found South Carolina Who 90 their dI and thus e their
L capacity honesty, and ttliglneSs public servants
The prisoner after verdict OF guilty, ramanded
ojail. IL will be sheer good luck he does not
more manage To escape for he has all around
him, wAo Will leave no means spared To his
lease. Strong efforts will be uade ~ obtain for HIM
either full PARDON remission Of the death penalty
by Ills Excellency Gov Scott.