The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-05
BLOODY WORK IN UNION.
WHITE MAN MURDERED By
STATE MILITIA
Both Sides of the Case.

The Columbia Phoenix prints the following
account Of cold murder committed
In Union County by the State militia:
On Saturday night last, while Mr.. Nat. Ste
vens-a peaceable man, who lost an arm In
the Confederate serVice-was on his way to
Union, with load OF goods IN his wagon
was halted by q party of militia, numbering
about twenty-five under command OF Captain
Walker, and q demand made upon him for
whfskey. Stevens gave them q bottle full,
which was Immediately consumed, md he
was ordered to give them more. This ne
declined, stating that the liquor belonged
to other parties. They then threatened
would be at their peril. The answer was
q yolley OF bullets, which killed him in
stan,ly. A white man named Robertson was
in company with Stevens, but. succeeded In
making his escape. On Sunday the body OF
the poor drsyinan was found about two hum
dred yards from the road, and underneath The
body were two breeeh-loading cartridges; the
rants were issued and fifteen colored men ar
rested on suspicion. On Sunday night acting
Deputy Sheriff Daniel Smith, with a. posse,
went to a house to arrest party Of tonr, but
they were denied admission. The inmates
were informed that Smith had warrant for
their arrest, and they must surrender. The
parties inside Immediately commenced firing,
and Mr. Smith was severely wounded. Finding
that harsh measures were about being re-
sorted to. the inmates surrendered. While In
iail one Of the militia made full confession
and statement of the case-charging Captain
Walker and his militia with the whole affair.
Walker attempted TO escape, but was over
hauled about twenty miles from Unlon, as ne
was getting on railroad train. He refused
to give himselfup at first, but when told that
there was O warrant for his arrest, and he must
90 bach, he gave In. There Is intense excitement
In Union, and on Monday night, as we learn
from passengers, the town was fired In four
places but no damage was done. proml-
nent colored man, named Bates, who is now
In Columbla-with the intention, as he de-
cares, of laying the whole matter before the
Governor - also charges Walker with the
crime, and declares, also, that he knows who
fired the first shot. II the arms are to be used
for numbering unoffending whites, the sooner
the militia ore deprived OF them the better.
The Columbia Union gives the Radical YER
sion OF the affair, which must be taken with
about bushel Of salt:
Somewhat conflicting reports OF serious
trouble at Union Courthouse reached here on
Monday, and from what could be gathered, the
following appears to be the gist OF the matter:
II anpears that on Saturday, white man
named Stevens was killed In the highway a
few miles from the Town of Unionville, and
that the news OF this event having reached
the town, squads of men, Of six and eiShE
were formed. taking upon themselves tha re-
sponsibillly of visiting the houses OF th0se
persons who were known to belong TO the
compauy of State militia organized there, aud
iakitl, from them the State arms. They sue
ceeded without serious moestation In this,
until they visited the house where three broth
era by The name of Ellison, or Ellis, resided,
when they were refused admittaDce, upon
which q large party collected outside, and an
firing commenced, in which
one other white man was killed, andsone Whlte
and one colored man were severely wounded.
was sent to the parties in the house, advising
them to surrender, which they did, ard were
from thence carried to jail.
Mr.. Mobley, member of the General AS
semblF, fearing The rage oil the citlZens; took
refuge in hayIOft, where he remained Sc
creted until about o'clock Monday morning,
when he, In company with another coiored
man, BY the name Of Walker, who ls employed
as pare in the House Of Representatives,
Alston. After proceeding so far on their
tourney as to cross Broad River, into Fairfield
County. LTo men on the train undertook to
arrest them, presenting warrants for the arrest
of both Mr. Mobley and Walker. The former
resisted arrest forelbly, and Walker resisted
under advice that the constables had no au-
thority to arrest him in Fairfield County, when
Conductor Hill was prevailed upon to run the
cars back over the river into Union County
again, where Walker was arrested and taken 4
away by the two men.
It Is reported that much excitement prevails
at Union Courthouse, many OF the people !:
being employed standing guard at tho street
corners, on account OF tears OF fire.