The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-02-09
Startling Sta,temenst From Union.

The Unionville Times prints the
following article on the subject of the
assassination plot:
1t will be remembered by our readers
that we stated some weeks ago, that we
thought it a very suspicious circum'
stance that just before Baker got up
his lying tale about being shot by
certain parties, he was in correspondence
with Crews. We then supposed there
was some deviltry on foot by these
men, but We had no idea they had be-
come so completely lost to all sense of
decency as to hire men in New York
to come to South Carolina and mur
der many of our best citizens. But
there is no doubt now on our mind that
such was the intention of Crews and
Baker, for there are circumstances and
matters stated, in Hoggett's communi-
cation particularly, which strangers
would not be likely to know, and 60
far towards fastening the guilt upon
them. For instance, the $4,000 in
Mr.. Todd's safe, we learn belongs to
the estate of the late Mr.. Dial, Joe
Cregs's father-in-law, of which MIR.
Todd is either administrator, or in
some way connected as lawyer.
Again, in Kerrigau's statement, Mr..
Rutherford P. Todd is called by the
familiar name of "Ford" by which he
has been known among his friends and
neighbors all his life, and Crews, no
doubt, told Kerrigau he wanted "Ford
put out Of the way" for we know of no
man more likely to be feared and hated
by rascal than Mr.. Todd. Hoggetts
copy of Hubbard's commission is un-
doubtcdly correct, for such a com.
mission was seen in the possession of
one of Bakers men, while in Union.
The story about the party being thrice
attacked by Ku. Klux. is all bosh. If
there was any shooting at or near the
party, Baker did it himself, as he did
when he shot his own coat, and then
cried out Ku.Klux. We have noticed
that the Ku.Klux always hit what they
fire at. The tracks of the horses ~
"fastened at distance" were examined
by persons living near and proved to
be COW tracks. There are some errors
in Hoggetts statement as t, names OF
persons in this county, who were muir
dcred, but Kcrrigan has them right,
with the addition of DR.. Pearson.
The distance of Union from Columbia
is probably a typographical errCr.-
We feel convinced that Governor Scotts
statement, so far as he is individually
concerned, is true. That he con-
vcrsed with the men, he acknowledges;
but the further fact that when the
messenger from the gold mines Wis
tied him and disclosed the state Of at
fairs, he Immediately sent United
States marshal and had thom removed
out of the States, is strong proof to
our mind. that he knew nothing of the
infamous designs of Crews and Baker,
and that this pair of gallows-descrvirg
scoundreis were alone in the murderous
plot, and they alone should be i'm
mcdiatcly arrested and made to an
swcr for it. With all Governor SCOTS
faults, we cannot think he is such
fool rs to engage in scheme that
would so surely be discovered and so
completely rNs him aud his party,
morally and politicaily; nor do we
think him capable of premelitatlng or
ountcnanc;ng such murderous act.
Again we say, we take Governor
SCOTS statement, or as far as he is con-
cerned, as true and honest veaslon OF
the affair; but we do belive that Crews
and Baker did hire the men to come to
South Carolina, and, when they arrived
in Columbia, made the proposition and
laid the scheme to murder Il. Z. Todd,
J. Kylc-McCurly, Of Laurens; David
Gist, Jasper Gibbs, Asa Smith, j;
Rice Rogers, Henry West and Samuel
Summer, of Union. The man that
will encourage negroes to seal and
burn, as Crews did before the election,
would hire men to murder the best
citizens of the county. And this is the
man put forward by the Legislature to
investigate the riot he instigated, and
and is one Of the foremost to sit IN
judgment upon the impeachment Of
Judge Vernon. Such a fellow, as a
leader, or even an equal of the colorcd
people, is but mockery of decency
and common honesty. So long as such
men are countcranced by any class,
and permitted to participate in our
legislative councils, there can be no
hope for peace at home or respect
abroad. Crews has now proven hlm-
self to be capable of aiding and abet-
ting every species of crime in the deca-
logue, and those who affiliate or asso-
ciate with him will bear close Watcn~
ing by all honest people.