The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-02-01


shares in tho gold mines and all
they could mako by robbery, be-
sides their regular pay as con-
stables.
"Among tho mon who wcrc thus
to he summarily cleaned out were
tho obnoxious Democrats. Mossrs.
Pearson, Smith, Gibbcs, West and
Sumner, all wealthy men, and con-
trolling tho County. Mr.. West,
who was captain of a company of
men formed for supprcssing dis-
orders, was particularly obnoxious
to tho Governor, and he designa-
ted them to bo Iost.'
"Mr. Hague, the Governors pri-
vatc secretary, told all ofthc TWEEN
ty-fivo men in Roses Hotel Colum-
bia, S. c., that it was intended
that they should 'clcan out seventy
citizens of the County, and that
the Governor would sec that they
camo out Of any legal trial with
flying colors. At this interview
with the mon, Baker, Runlklc and
Putlcr were present, and acquiesc-
cd in all that Hague said, Repre-
sentative Joe Crews, of Laurcns,
also wanted S. B. Ford, J. Kyle
and A. McCurlcy, Of Laurcns,
robbed and murdered. Crews
wouldpay literally, and ifdctcctcd,
tho Governor, he guaranteed,
would pardon any ono who was
captured. Ono OF tho above three
citizens, it WAS stated by Crews,
had safo in his residence, which,
it was reported, containcd SIS, 900
or $4,000. This money was to
belong to the men who captured
it. These mon were to be kill
cd anyhow. Crews WAS so anx.
ious that he grew rrnutic, and he
told two of the party who went
from hcrc-Mcssrs. Cochrano and
Barrow-that he would give them
anything they wished if they
would only murder Ford, Kyle and
McCurlcy. Larkin Lancashire, u
distillcr of Union County, was also
to be put out Of the way.
"Co'oncl kcrrigan counscllcd his
men not to do rs Governor Scott,
Hague, Baker and Crews desired,
but to hold their commissions
as long rs possible, so rs to get all
tho money possible for their
services. When it was found that
Kcrrigan and his men would not
assassinatc or rob, they were re-
called by Captain Hubbard Off
cially, and paid off by Governor
Scott. They have all arrived here,
ana arc present IN the city"
This communication is so cir
cumstantial in its statements that
wo did not feel at liberty TO treat
it rs IL malicious fabrication. On
tho other hand, VIC arc unwilling
to print it without giving Gov.
Scott the opportunity Of making
such explanation or denial as to
him might seem fit. We accord
ingly forwarded a copy of the
statement Of Col. Kcrrigan to
Governor Scott, with the request
that ho would give tho matter his
Immediate attention. Upon the
18th instant VIC received by mail
tho following lcttcr, which We
now feel at liberty to publish:
"ExEcUrIvE DEPARTMENT.,
"CoLuMpIA, S. c., Jan. II, 1871.
"Mcssrs. Riordan, Dawson .c Co.
"GENTLEMEN | have to thank
you for the act Of courtesy on
your part in sending copy Of
tho nero tissue Of falschood,
emanating from Colonel Kcrrigan,
for publication. Tho statcmonts
contained therein arc so crronc-
Gus that they bear upon their face
falschood and malignity Of such
positive character as to bo beyond
bc..cf of tho most crodulous.
"The simple facts Of tho case
arc as follows: Colonel c.. G. Ba-
ker, who was working q gold
mine in Union County, had dini-
cultics with persons in that neigh
borhood, and alleges that they at
tempted to take his life by shoot
ing at him. He accordingly went
to Now York city and employed
q number Of mon under various
promises of high wages and pros
pcctivo interest in his gold mine,
among whom was this man Kcrri-
gan. On their arrival in this city,
Baker. Kcrrigan and Lindsay
called at my residence for the
purpose Of securing appointments
for somo Of their party to act as