The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-28
TERRORISM IN CHESTER.
Presentment of the Grand Jury-The
Presidents Allega atfons Withou,
Foundation.

We find in the Chester Reporter the present
ment of the grand jury of the county which
disproves entirely the charges contained in the
Presidential proclamation. The grand jury
(six whites and six blacks) say:
In consequence of our having seen in the
public press proclamation Of the President
of the United States stating, in substance,
among other things, that public justice could
not be administered by either the State or
Federal judiciary or the officers thereof, and
the rights of citizens could not be protected by
the ordinary means heretofore provided for
such purposes, and not being cognizant of a
single case In which an executive officer of the
State or Federal Government has been resisted
by either an Individual or combination of indi-
viduals in this county. we thought proper to
inquire of the commandant OF this post Tor any
facts that he might have ascertained which
would tend to verify the allegations contained
in the said proclamation.
THE so-cALLEb KU KLUX CASES.
The only facts which the said commandaat
communicated to us was notices to two freed
men, ole of which is dated August 22d, signed
TX. K. k commanding the freedman to
leave the State in two days from the date
thereof: the other, without date, signed by
TX. +. f." saying that he was traitor, and
that he would receive traitors doom IN two
DAYS, with the picture of the coffin drawn
thereon. These two freedmen we're brought
before us and examined by us, and their testl-
mony is submitted with this report, from which
it will appear that no violence has been done
to either of them, who still reside at their for
mer places of abode. We also examined seve-
raj other freedmen, to wit: Steven Gray,
Fleming Gray, Guy Owens and Isaac Castles,
and also Abner Holey, who depose In SUBJ
stance as follows: Steven Gray says that Jerry
Walker, Charles Smith, - Dunlap and =
Beamguard, white, and Green Davis, colored.
visited his place, about The lst OF March, In
disguise; they did not find him at home, but
carried off his gun-a Confederate musket.
Fleming Gray says his house was visited,
about the lst of March, by Green Davis, color
ed, James GLADDEN. and Lawson Dunlap, dis
guised; they entered his house; they did no
injury, but threatened him. Guy Owens says
that about the lst of March three persons, dis
guised, unknown to him entered his house,
took him out and whipped him well, and he
believes that Adam Hardin knows who they
are. Isaac Castles says that, on the 24th OF
February last, he was visited by Garland
Smith, William Carter, Walker Smith, Rhett
McCollum and Isaac Prysock, colored. all dis
guised; that they took hold OF him and carried
him out Of his house and then called for
Number Two" when he made his escape;
shots where fired after him, but he does not
know how many; when they came they said
they wanted his gun, but he told them that 1t
was not there-t6at he had left it at the mus
tering ground. Abner Holley says that he
lives on Mr.. David Pendergrast's place, and
that he was visited, about the I'd of March, by
persons In disgulse-how many in number he
does not knoW-and that he was struck thirty
nine lashes by three persons, whom he be-
lieves to be DR.. William McCollum, Hugh
Pendergrast and John Chalk, and that the
said lashes were inflicted with the strap OF his
gun.
ONLY TWO MURDERs-A SOLEMN DECLARATION.
Since the last sitting of the court, we have
only heard OF two murders committed IN the
county by white persons one was committed
in apersonal quarrel about some property, and
the murderer Immediately fled and has not yet
been arrested q true bill has been found
against him at this terri for the offence. The
other murder was committed by four white
persons, in the night time, undisgu!sed the
two colored persons that saw them did not
know any OF them, and it Is not known for
what he was murdered.
We, the grand jurors, upon our oaths. are
compelled to say, from the testimony which
we have taken and from our knowledge OF the
different parts of the county, that the allega-
lions contained In the proclamation OF the
President of the United States are without
foundation aud must be the result OF falsehood
communicated to him by persons equally re.
gardless of good order and the peace of
society, aud whose only aim is their elevation
to public place as reward Tor their excessive
partisan zeal.
THE M'LURE MURDER.
We would say that, in regard to the murder
of Bird Mcclure, we examined the Hon. Bar
ney Humphries, but We could elicit no facts
from him that would lead to the discovery OF his
murderers. We also examined Squire Sims
and Margaret Mcclure, brother and wife of
the deceased, who informed US that John Jag
gers had told Squire Sims that he knew some
OF the parties that were connected with the
murder of Bird McLure, and also that Lewis
Jeter had told Margaret Mcclure that he Lewis
Jeter) knew the parties. We sent Squire Sims
to bring Lewis Jeter before us, but he said
that Lewis Jeter was sick and could not at
tend, and, further, that John Jaggers lived fiji.
teen miles from here and that we could not
send for him.