The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-19
THE SCOTT REGIME.
TWO PARALLEL TILLANIES OF THE
COLUMBIA RING.
THE "AEFAIRE ToLBERT'' AND THE "AF.
FARE SAMPsONn ANALYZED.
STARTLING REVELATIONS.
WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN PUR.
SUETHn
[FRoN OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


In order to see the significance Of the style
of proceeding in the Sampson-Metcalf case, we
must recall some OF the circumstances Of the
Tolbert murder case, nearly, two years ago.
Randolph was murdered. Tolbert came for
ward and announced himselfas one Of the muir
derers. He was sent to jail; stayed there some
months. Two sessions Of the regular court
were held IN Columbia during this imprison-
ment of Tolbert. Why was he not tried
Everybody knows that Tolbert was not tried
because such a trial would have brought to
light facts which the Scott faction could not
stand-facts which, put in the form of legal
evidence, would damn the faction beyond all
hope-would, possibly, expose the fact that
Randolph was murdered for political ef-
feet by his friends. But Tolbert was on
hand. What to do with him? Happy
thought He is sent to the penitentiary,
from which convicts were escaping every few
weeks. Might they not get quit of him this
way? 1t is tried. He is sent to the penlten-
tisry, and in few weeks-he escapes Good.
What then? The trick began to be too plain.
The newspapers talked Of it. Itwas too bad.
Something must be done to revive the droop-
ing reputation OF the faction for virtue. But it
evidently would not do to get Tolbert again
on their hands. What then? A coup d'etat.
he is bullied into drawing his pistol, and is
shot to death with revolvers alta negro frollc
They had given him money for this story and
his risk. They had promised him immunity
from the gallows. They gave 1t as Tamures
kept faith with the garrison OF sebastia. They
shot him. That closed the aGdire Tolbert.
Now, what is the Sampson case? A fraud
involving thousands to the detriment of South
Carolina and her credit is entered upon. Mr..
Klmpton allows six or seven weeks to elapse;
and after all, never raised finger to arrest
the fraud, although ne had information of 1t,
both from Superintendent Kennedy and from
the printing establishment in auburn. Won
derful apathy! Amazing Indifference to the
very life of his Office! 1t began to become too
bad. The chief constable worked up the case.
Sampson was lodged in Jail here, and Metcalf
in New York. When Sampson was arrested,
he uolunteers the information that he has no
associates in the crime except Metcalf. This
astonishing revelation is paraded in the Scott
faction organ. 1t is absolutely thrust under.
our noses. We cannot hear it often enough.
Nobody else guilty9 Who had raised the ques-
tion? The Governor himself was present at
that volunteer revelation. 1t makes the case
ugly for Sampson-very. But then it acquits
others aoho had not been Charged aoiM partici-
patton. Magnanimous prisoner!
The crime charged upon Mr.. Sampson is a
grave one-a very grave one. Yesterday ap-
pllcation was made for bail The trial justice
granted it readily, putting the bond at $4,000.
This is no doubt oil right. 1t is not my desire
to discuss the proceeding. The officers know
their duty. But what Is to be the result? Is
there sane man in South Carolina who i'm
agines that Sampson will not rather forfeit
$4,000 than appear at the next session Of the
court May be. Your correspondent is not
OF the number. Why not? Because-and
this reason affects Sampson less than it does
others-because judicial investigation would
involve more astounding revelations, and be
fraught with more risk to others, than even
trial of Tolbert would have been in 1868.
Is Sampson not to be tried at all here? Of
course not; unless, by confession or other
means, all arraying Of evidence in the case
can be STAYED of.
The a6aire Sampson and the a1aire Tolbert
have one OF two points in common.
Some well-informed parties are very much
mistaken if there are not some persons con-
nected with the present government Of South
Carolina who would rather pay $4,000, or
twice that sum, than have the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, told about
these money matters Of Souu, Carolina.
The aGaire Sampson is one full OF terror to
more than those two persons arrested. In
deed, the danger to themlis probably nothing.
CoRsAR.