The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-20
Iu.KIux Trials at Columbia, $. I

ku.hIuX IriasS at SOiu"Dids -. -
The Columbia correspondent Of the
Charleston Ncws writing on the 18th
inst. says:
The proceedings in the Ku-Klux
Court to-day have been monotonous,
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 a
conspiracy as having existed in York
county. Additional witnesses were
called for this purpose, who testified
very much as if they had great hopes
of creating an impression favorable to
themselves, by making statements
that would admit of more than one
construction. Whether or not these
witnesses have learned their lesson
we'll, it appears as if they had tried
very hard to do so. The scrutiny OF
the counsel for defense reached the
bottom Of the matter, and in every
instance it appeared upon the cross
examination that there had existed, at
the time when it is alleged q secret
organization was formed, a terrible
state of fear and uncertainty az to
security Of life and property.
1t was shown that numerous GIN
houses had been burned, and in some
instances dwellings and barns had been
destroyed by the ruthless incendiaries.
The women of the county were living
in continual state of uncertainty, aud
when the father left his family in the
morning to pursue his daily advocation,
the feeling that he might return to find
his dwelling in ashes, and his family
homeless and houseless, accompanied
him. These are about the facts that
have been elected to day upon the
cross-examination Of the witnesses for
the prosecution.
1t is under this state Of feeling that
there might have been entered into
some kind Of concert Of action, in 1868,
for mutual protection against evils,
imaginary and real, and at the best, a
very uncertain state Of society; and it
is this that the Government seems
inclined to twist into conspiracy, so as
to bring it within the meaning of a
vague and uncertain law. 1t also ap-
peared in the cross-examination that
threats had been made that Yorkville
would be burned, and that if the
election at that time did not 60 as it
was desired it should by the blacks, the
rumor was prevalent there would be
killing which would embrace all, as it
was expressed, iron the cradle to the
grave"
The prosecution closed during the
afterl DON, and the defense was opened
by placing upon the stand Mrs. Julia
Rainey, who not only verified the facts
brought out on the cross-examination
concerning the burning Of houses and
other property, but stated that she
herself had thus lost q gin house and
twenty-five bales Of cotton by incen.
diarism.
At the close OF the testimony OF Mrs.
Rainey, which produced a profound
sensation, the Court adjourned until to.
morrow at ii o'clock.
The defense have many more wit.
nesses to testify as to the alarm, and the
cause of the alarm, that existed at the
time the people took precautionary
measures for safety. Among these wit.
nesses are many persons of more than
local good repute, who are cognizant of
and familiar with the state Of affairs
that existed, and the old saw. that it is
long lane that has no turn, now stands
a very good chance of being again YER
flied, as the facts will out. Among the
witnesses who have been subpened 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 audience in the court room
to-day than on any day preceding, and
among the crowd a number Of ladies