Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-12-28
The Ku Klux Trials.

mony in the case against THos. B. White
sides and John w. Mitchell (says tele-
gram to the Charleston Courier,) was
continued for the prosecution. On Tues
day the witnesses, who were put on the
stand, told a tale of cruelty, which is al
most incredible.s lam not prepared to
say what amount Of credence is to be
placed in their testimony, but if they are
to be believed, the parties engaged in
the outrages, CT which they testify, rich
ly deserve the utmost punishment in the
world for theperpetration of such crimes
as the witnesses testify, and every one
will'agree with the distinguished counsel
for the defence, Mr.. Johnson, when he
says the men who were engaged in these
transactions are nothing less than brutes.
Even these crimes, however, afford no
excuse for the exercise OF. the military
despotism which has been called forth.
The State laws and State Courts should COR
rect the evil, and there is no more reason
why South Carolina should be placed I'M
der martial law, because crime is COM
mitted in the borders, than that New
York or Massachusetts, should be sub
iected to the tender law of the bayonet
because murder and arson have been
committed. AS outrageous as are these
crimes, they ara not more so than those
'. that are recorded in the local papers of
: the Northern and Northwestern States.
, Every lover OF law and order in the ST ate
will rejoice as heartily to hear that che
, wrongdoers are brought to justice as they
| will to hear that the usurpations of Con-
gress and the President are rebuked by
the Supreme Court. -
But i'll the case under trial although
, the Government have brought out a re-
cital of crime narrowing in its detail al
lowance must be made for the exaggera-
tions of the witnesses, who are mostly
/ ignorant negroes. The defence for the
? case now under trial have succeeded
pretty well in establishing their inno-
cence by proof that would secure them O
verdict of acquittal from any but a pack.
ed iury. Although several witnesses
, pr ended to be able to identity DR..
a e7s I'D John W. Mitchell as be-
], 'u- see outrages alluded to-
: d. '' 10 lefrnce, succeeded
, a "a whence in proving
IN ..:testion Mitchell,
70 .edside of his sick
des was also, there
Is cA ing the division Of
t. art wasr closed on the
WILDE heard before
"rtOl the United States
Il. ON the question of the
.! tho United States Court
crimes punishable by the
Johnson and S;..ay; ,rry left
~ Saturday fois4 Ssl lington
pose of carIyiT thc case UP
creme Court.
2lst, in The u Couin,, .ns (says
ainnia ar,rs e9nrsesl 1na nnv for t. Char, = r
was s,l Continued a. 1.S 11.SSored wit Sesses he ses
that before any whippings W raids
occurred threats had been ,Iiade to
= many houses, includi y. NJ, lose OF
..iitesides, Smith and Mitchell. of York
i unity, and Sam. Jeffreys, John McCul-
Och and Colonel Je1freys, of Union
County. y colored witness named Gui-
rlon, !sworc also that the prisoner Mitchell
had notified, through him, several other
colored men Of the danger of whipping.
Mitchell had found litHsr containing
the names OF the coiorAi men to bewhip-
ped, and gave this notice that they might
get out of the way.
The evidence having been concluded,
Messrs Wilson and Melton summed up
for the defence, showing chat their clients
had no completely with the outrages
which had been proved. They admitted
their membership in certain organiza-
ton for the purposes of protection, but
showed that they had used their influ.
ence to prevent the lnoro rash members
from committing unprovoked outrages.
number Of indictments were pre-
sented by the grand jury, and they were
discharged until next week; after which
the Court adjourned.
On Friday, the 22d, in the United
States Court, Attorney General Cham
berlain delivered lengthy argu-
ment for the prosecution in the case of
DR.. Thomas 3. Whitesides and Captain
j. w. Mitchell, indicted for conspiracy
against colored voters.
The case went to the jury shortly after
three O'Clock and the Court adjourned to
6 o'clock awaiting verdict. At o'clock
the jury came III, reporting a failure to
greeuponayerdict, and were sentback by
Judge Bond. The Court adjourned to
Wednesday next directing the jury to
be locked up.
The Phoe1ti1, of Sunday says: "The
Court met at IL A. NJ, OH Saturday, to
receive the verdict Of the jury. Present
Ibis Honor Judge Hugh L. Bond.
The jury returned verdict of guilty
against Thomas B. Whitesides and John
w. Mitchell, under the find third counts
Of the Indictment. The first count con-
tained charge of general conspiracy to
hinder and prevent divers male citizens,
of African descent, from the free exer.
! else of the right of voting, a: an election
to be held on the third Wednesday of
October, 1872. The third charges spe
cial conspiracy against Charles Leach,
(colored, to hinder and prevent his vo.
ting at the same election.
The defence moved for new trial and
in arrest of judgment,
Mr.. Corbin submitted an order that
the defendants be turned over to the GUS
tody of the Marshal, to await the SEN
tence Of the court.
The court then adjourned to Wednes-
day next, at IL o'clock.
'.