Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-06-20
The Capture of DIR. sratton'' of York
Vile.


The identity of the hemysterious prisoner
who was recently kidnapped in Canada
and carried to Detroit, whGe he was ar
rosted is established at last He was no
other than DR.. ]. Rufus Bratton, OF York
vile, in this State, who left his home In
october. last, about the time President
Grant delegated to Merrill the power that
had been delegated to him by Congress.
to arrest and imprison citizens at his will
ond pleasure. At the December term q
the United States Court true bill for
conspiracy and for being connected with
the hanging of Jim Williams was found
against DIR. Bratton by the grand Jury.
He was brought to Yorkville on Monday
last in charge of the somewhat notorious
detective, Joseph H. Hester, and lodged
in Jail.
On Wednesday, last, a motion was made
before Judge Bryan in Charleston, for
the release Of DR.. Bratton on bail. and
the amount was fixed at twelve thousand
dollars. The required security being
promptly furnished, the doctor was re.
leased. and now awaits his turn for trial
at the August term Of, the court.
From the London (Canada) Herald. of
the 7tlt June, we gather the annexed. ac-
count of DIR. Bratton's abduction from the
Canada side, and the manner. in which he
was forclbly brought to Detroit, Michi-
gan, and formally arrested:
About two weeks ago a gentleman,
whose name wesuppress for reasons tnat
viii be aftetward explained, came to
this city from the South. BE was former
~ q resident Of York County, s, G. Du-
rfns the American war he served as q
surgeon in the Confederate army. At Its
conclusion he returned to his home, de-
ternined to make the best, Of existing
circumstances. He still, however, re-
tanned his belief in the principles for
which he had risked his life, and he
freely denounced the military despotism
which Grant has established In the con-
quered States. His popularity and local
influence made him particularly obno1-
ioussto the carpet-baggers, and when. 1t
was decided to suspend the habeas corpus
Act, in order to carry the elections, his
name was marked down as one Of the
victims. When he learned this, he i'm
'nediately started for Canada, closely fol-
loyxed by lone S. B. Cornell, .alYankee
snv. in the pay of Grants carpet-bagger-
in.chief Gov Robert K. Scott. The flu
gitive reached Ri +tish territory in safety,
and Cornell, seeing 'tnat GOV. SCOUTS
Carrant was no longer of a.,' use, Up
olied to the United States Secret ,1rfNS
Department f0l. assistance. They place.
I fellow named Joseph 6. Hester at his
service, and the two worthless lost no
time in coming on to London to secure
their game. There is reason tb believe
that they dogged him round the city for
some days before they got an opportuni-
y of carrying out their netarious project.
On Tuesday last, about P. M, he was
out for walk on one of the streets in
the Northern part Of the city, when he
observed two cabs approaching him at |
iull speed from opposite directions. When
opposite him they stopped, and two mon,
jumping out Of each cab, rushed at him. |
and before he could give an alarm, he |
was seized by the throat and choked un-
III he was insensible. He was then |
thrown into one of the cabs, the two de- |
tectives jumped in after him, and both |
pabs drove off in opposite directions. |
Several persons witnessed the occurrence. |
but presumed that the men were acting |
under. authority, as no one for q moment |
that an outrage of this descrip-
Ion would be attempted in our city.
When the men got him to Detroit they
warrant and formally arrested |
him. He refused to disclose his real
name to the authorities there, and the
NarranG was made out in the name of
James Simpson. 1t is this circumstance
.hat.llas induced us to withhold his name
0r the present. The first intelligence
his friends here received of, his fate wa,
n telegram which he sent them from
Leavittsburg, Ohio, III which he Uniformed
hem that he had been conveyed to De-
roit while under the influence Of chloro-
orm. He was well known to 4 lar.e
number Of Southern gentlemen in the
:ity, and they all unite in bearing the
highest testimony to his character.
A memorial has been dispatched to day
0 the Dominion Government, praying for
heir action in the matter. We trust to
zee it prompt and decisive. No ministry,
lowever popular, could afford to ignore
uch an outrage. I'VE trust that the mait= :
ulties, but whatever the cost may be,
mr. honor must be sustained. If crimi-
lai escapes to Canada, we have extradi-
ion laws which will secure his punish
nent. The very fact that the kidnappers
made no attempt to appeal to those laws
ully explains the nature of their mis-
ion. I'VE understand that one of our
Jounty sub-oticials is concerned in the
natter too, though to what extent we
re as yet unable to say.