The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-03-01
LETTER FROM JUDGE THOMAS.
why the stevens Murderers were to
Have Been Removed to Columbia.

Have Been Renewed to Columbia.
TO THE ErIToR OF TIE CHARLESTON
NEWS.
AS Judge should, have remained
silent until efforts ere made to make me
the scapc-goat to bear the responsibility
of the Union troubles. Allow me to
make a short statement.
On the morning of the first Thursday
in January, left Columbia for Spar
tanburg. In passing up the railroad, I
found that the people Of Union we're
very much excited by the murder Of a
cue.armcd man b7 detail of the State
miIitia-all colored because he would
not give them whiskey. Upon passing
Union, l found that a large baud Of
armed men, in disguise, had taken out
FIVE of the prisoners who had been put
in the jail, killed two, aud badly
xoubded three. Upon inquiry, ! found
that the impression of the people was
that. bad they have been tried, shey
would have been pardoned and escaped.
/ also found that large meeting had
been held that day, condemniug the
action of the night before. As soon az
I had finished the object of my visit to
Spartauburg, / hired vehicle and went
to Union, not waiting for the Monday
train. % Monday I held court at
Union, and I succeeded iu spreading
the Aegis Of law once more over the
community. l shrank from no res
possibility, and brough. away with me
the assurances of many of tha best
citizens that quiet had been restored.
On arriving 10 Columbia L sent for
Governor Scott, and informed "him l
had held the civil courts in Union, and
thought that law and order was re-
stored.
On the first Tuesday in this month,
being in Columbia, and ready to leave
for Charleston, three Influential citizens
desired me to have personal interview
with Governor Scott, and give him a
plain statement Of what I thought of
the troubles in the up country. My
idea was that the disease was constitu-
tional, and not local. did so, and as
part of the interview, succeeded in
having some Of the best men Of the up
country appointed to Office. One of the
difficulties which had presented itself
to my mind was that this class Of citi.
zens took no interestin the government,
and l hand found an apathy among
them so far that they would not risk
their lives when called upon to act as a
posse to execute the laws in some
respects.
This interview detained me until after
the train left for Charleston, and while
waiting for the next train, General An
derson, OF the State militia, approached
me with petition for habeas corpus for
three prisoners at Union, the petition
alleging that they we're insecure in their
lives at Union, aud asking to be removed
to place Of safety. Mr.. Brawley, the
solicitor of the Sixth Circuit, went with
me to the Governor, and he guaranteed
20 us that they should be returned to US
at Union for trial.
Beng surprised at the allegation iu
the petition, | had Mr. Brawley to make
inquiries concerning the condition Of
affairs at Union, and found that those
who came down that night were not
uneasy, and apprenended no trouble
Upon reflection concluded that some
thing other than their safety was the
cause of the application for removal
The three men sought fer removal were
the three who had been badly wounded
in the first raid on the jail. and were
likely to know the raiders it any one
did. Knowing the dis:rust which many
of the citizens had in the State Gov
crnment, stipulated with General
Anderson that the prisoners should be
kept in separate cells so as not tc
concoct story, and secondly. that nc
one should see them except BY special
order from him or myself.
Upon the evening when the writ vas
to have been returned with the prison
ers, and after hearing that the sheriff
would not obey it, was waited on BY
Mr. Dunbar, the attorney Of the prison
ers, with another writ of haJeas corpus
This declined to sign as mere "brmtum
falmen," but indicated to him that al
that was left of ciioH authority was foI
me to "rule the sheriff" He said he
would prepare the rule and return tina,
night with it. This was not done and
the rule was issued of my own motion
late that night aud sent of on the cars
One Of the leading members Of the bar
of the Sixth Circuit, and the candidate
of the Conservatives for the seat on the
bench, was present, advising and urging
this as my only course. I had consult
ed with two Of my brethren on the
bench ard several lawyers, who agreed
with me in the view that, as judge ol
the State, had nothing to do with the
execution Of the processes OF the court
These were for the sheriff and The coro
ner. II they could not carry into exc
cution the processes BY calling out the
posse, then the responsibility was upor
those who refused to act as pose. o.
upon that constitutional ficulty which
divested these people Of the interes
they had in obcying the orders of TIT
sheriff or executive officer.
On Sunday night, the ahcrif's guart
at the Jail iD Union was overpowered