The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-15
THE KU-KLUI Trials.
The Evidence for the Defence-Judge
Carpenter on the Siand-Further Ae-
tton OF the Grand Jury, Sc.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TIE NEWS. ]


In the UHited States Court to-day, the de-
fence placed upon the stand a number of wit
nesses, who testified 10 the great excitement
and fear caused by the organization OF the
negro militia during the last election, and
that much alarm existed among all classes In
York County at that time, occasloned by the
apprehension of an outbreak. Judge r. b.
Carpenter, Bill Lindsay. (colored,) and other
witnesses substantiate the statement. The
defence has still other witnesses to examine.
The grand jury to-day found true bills
against John A. Mitchell ct al, John Lytt'e ct
al, and John L. Parker, ct al, all of York
County, and charged with conspiracy. In the
cases of Bishop Sandlfer and William Thomas
son, the grand jury returned no bill.
Details by Mail.
COLUMBIA, S. c., December 49,
The proceedings In the Ku-Klux Court To-
day have been mouotonous, the same ground
having been gone over by the prosecution in
the case of R. II. Mitchell as on yesterday, for
the purpose OF proving some kind OF con.
spiracy as having existed in York County.
Additional witnesses were called for this pur-
pose, who testified very much as If they had
great hopes OF creating an impression favora-
BILE to themselves, by making statements that
would admit of more than one construction.
Whether or not these witnesses have learned
their lesson well, 1t appears as If they had tried
very hard to do so. The scrutiny OF the couR-
sel for the defence reached the bottom Of the
matter, and in every Instance 1t appeared
upon the cross-examination that there had eX-
listed, at the time when 1t Is alleged secret
organic alton was formed, terrible state or
fear and uncertainty as to security OF lie and
property.
It was shown that numerous gln-houses had
been burned, and IN some instances dwellings
and barns had been DESTROYED 6y the ruthiess
incendiaries. The women of the county were
living In a continued slate of uncertainty. and
when the father left his family In the morning
to pursue his daily avocation, the feeling that
he might return TO find his dwelling IN ashes,
aud his family homeless and houseless, accom-
panied him. These are about the facts that
have been elected to-day upon the cross-ex-
animation Of the witnesses for the prosecu-
lion.
It is under this state Of feeling that there
might have been entered into some kind OF
concert OF action, In 1868, for mutual protec-
tion against evils, imaginary and real, and at
the best, a very uncertain state OF society; ana
i
to twist into some kind of conspiracy, 80 as In
some way to bring 1t within the meaning of a
vague and uncertain law. 1t also appeared In the
cr0ss-pxaminalion that threats had been made
that Yorkville would be burned, and that If
the election at that time did not 70 as 1t was
desired 1t should by the blacks, the rumor was
prevalent there would be killing which
would embrace oil, as 1t was expressed, from
the cradle to the grave"
The prosecution closed during the afternoon,
and the defence was opened by pacing upon
the stand Mrs. Julia Rainey, who not only
verified the facts brought ont on the cross. eX-
animation concerning the burning OF houses
and other property, bnt stated that She her.
self had thus lost clubhouse and twenty-five
bales of cotton by incendiarism.
At the close of the testimony of Mrs. Rainey,
which produced profound sensation, the
court adjourned until tomorrow, at eleven
o'clock
The defence have many more witnesses to
testify as tu the alarm, and the cause of the
alarm, that existed at the time the people took
precautionary measures for safety. Among
these witnesses are many persons of more
than local good repute, who are cognizant OF
and perfectly familiar with the state of affairs
that then existed, and the old saw, that it is
long lane that has no turn, now slands very
good chance of being again verified, as the facts
will out. Among the witnesses who have been
subpenej Is Judge R. B. Carpenter, who had
ample opportunity during the campaign OF
1870 to observe the condition of the country.
The interest manifested in this case does not
abate, and If anything there was larger au-
dience in the court room to-day than on any
day preceding, and among the crowd num-
Der Of ladies whose attention to the details OF
the evidence was more than observable.
The grand jury returned true bills against
Edward T. avery and others, Lawson Arm
strong and others, and Thomas b. Whitesides
and oIh, RS, ali charged with conspiracy, and
all of York County.
FIRE IN YORK CoUNTY.-On Monday Imorn-
Ing last, about two O'Clock. the gn.house
situated on the plantation in York County be-
longing to our townsmap, Mr. W. w. Thom-
SON, was burned, and lis entire contents de.
stroyed. There were about fifteen bales of
cotton In the house. The building was broken
anan II is snnnnaed and the fra started on