The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-21
4 gENSATION IN SUMTER. !
Trial of the Ku-K1u1-Klan before
Judge Green-Acquittalo Of the Terri
bic Gentlemen.

The Sumter Watchman publishes a full
statement of the facts as developed by the
trial last week before the Court of General
Sessions, Judge John T. Green, presiding,) at
that place, of the supposed Ku-Klux-Klan of
Sumter, for the burning of stores Of Robert
son and DuBose in October last. The testi-
mony, though voluminous, encitcd no new
facts against the accused. The Watchman
says:
1t will be remembered that on the night of
the 2lst of October last the store Of D. G. Rob-
ertson, in this district, was destroyed by fire
having been burnt by party Of men In dis
guise; and on the night of the Goth of the
same month the store Of E. G. DuBose, Jr.,
shared the same fate from o like source.
On the first of November last, upon affidavit
OF one John B. Hubbard, ''chief constable" !"
made before A. L. Solomon, magistrate, IN
Richland County, warrant was issued by the
said A. L. Solomon for the arrest of John
Brown, = Miller and - Watts, upon the
warrant left in blank until the present writing,
and without bonds from any one to appear and
prosecute. John s. R. Brown, DIR. John /.
Miller and Charles H. Watts, three of our most
respectable citizens, were arrested and made
to enter into recognizances to appear and an
swer-(some Of the most responsible, trust
rudely rejected by the sheriff rs sureties.)
Upon other atfidavlts Of said John B. Hub
bard chief constable, no less than twenty-five
OF the first citizens OF the district, residing in
different portions 1t, and, in many instances,
at considerable distances from the locality OF
the burning, were arrested and made to enter
into bonds to appear and be tried.
Being put. upon trial last week, deal of
evidence was adduced on behalf both of the
nrOsecuti0n and of the defence,
The solicitor, Mr.. s. T. Atkinson, addressed
the Jury on the part of the State, In short
but pointed speech. He was followed by
Messrs. E. ". Noise and John 8. Richardson,
Jr., Esqs., in behalf Of the accused, and Mr.. j.
j. Fleming closed on the side OF the State.
Judge Green charged the jury on the law
bearing on the case, and read over the testl-
mony from his notes, which were very accu-
rate and complete.
The iury retired for about ten minutes and
returned a verdict of mot guilty"
On the call of the other cases the next morn
ing, the State entered q mol pros. on each one,
and titus ended the trial OF the supposed X.
X. KS.
The Watchman remarks
The law was administered by the presiding
Judge in its dignity, It's JUSTICE and strictly In
its impartialty, and according to the rules OF
common practice, and the facts speak for them
selves. prOclaiming q most complete and TIL
,lmphant vindcati0n Of the respected citizens
arraigncd.
The charge made by us at the time of indis-
crimnate and arbitrary arrest of our good citl-
Zens, is abundantly sustained In the facts de-
yeloped by the attendant proceedings, and es-
pecially in this {: that Of twenty-five persons
brought by the armed constabulary of the
State under arrest, true bills were found, (by q
grand Jury composed Of all colOred men but
lhrce) against but seven, and in the further.
and, If possible, more conclusive fact, that OF
the seven arraigned, in no single instance was
there failure to prove an alibi, by more than
one witness above suspicion. Never, proba-
bly, in the history of the country, did State,
with so much exhibition OF her authority and
power so press felonious charges against go
many of her worthy citizens, with SO utterly
groundlcss basis
and his constabulary force gave such prOmi-
nent @ and special attention as to attract the
notice of the State at large, the distinctive
anomaly in Jurisprudence Is presented, OF
warrants issued, arrests made, indictments
preferred, true bills found, and oil the other
machinery of the law put In operation against
the alleged offenders, with the absence OF
bonds for the prosecution. And Ia the midst
of all this, we find the Attorney General visi-
ting the scene OF action. discovering the utter
hopeessness OF the situation, and endcayorlnS
to Shift the responsibility, by a speedy depar-
ture, with instructions to continue" Without
the shadow of ground for continuance.
In the interest Of peace and good order, we
ask Mr.. Hubbard and Governor Scott to perpe-
trate no more such outrages rs those which
attended the arrest and trial Of these citizens
Of Sumter County.