The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-30
THE PRISONERS FROM UNION:
How the Arrests were condaeted-A sad
Commentary on RAmerit.n: L. Citi1enship
NO WarrantE,ztaoCh Chefse, mo Bali

HOW G1e ArTcats HoHo So-sS
Commentary oRAmeritAnt CitiHenshiI
NO Warrauts=soC Chesge, mo Ball.
The Ku-Klux prisoners from Union County
whose arrival In this city was reported IN HE
NEWS of the 23d inst, are still at the County
Jail awaiting their mockery OF trial ~ Tue
next term of the United States Circuit Court
to begin in this city next Monday. The iist o,
arrivals, as published at the time, ine'uoeo
the names of three men arrested on cnarge oi
violating the revenue law, and OF thirty
whose alleged crime is supposed to be some
violation of the Enforcement or Ku-Klux act,
though. In the majority of the cases, the pris'
oners themselves have not the slightest Idea OF
the cause of their arrest, and havenever been
furnished with the charges against them, the
names of the persons making the charges, or
even shown warrant of arrest. They have
been confined in one Jail and another for
periods varying from two weeks to five months
with no opportunity to prepare for trlal.
because they have no means OF knowing tne
charges against them, and without being
allowed to give bail, although, in most OF the
cases, any reasonable amount OF security
could easily be obtained. Seven of the thirty
are colored men, and four Of these are Radi.
Gals and members Of the Loyal League.
OF the white prisoners, many are gentlemen
of education. refinement and high social and
professional position. One OF these is Colonel
]. F. Glst, one of the ablest attorneys and one
of the finest gentlemen in the State, and the
circumstances OF his arrest afford fair Illus
tration of the illegal and arbitrary manner in
which these proceedings have, from first to
last, been conducted.' The arrest was made
on Saturday, the 9Th Instant, at Unionville.
Deputy Marshal J. q. Williams, encountecing
Colonel Gist on the street, accosted him by
saying, "You are my prisoner" Colonel Gist
asked to bs shown his warrant OF arrest, but
Williams declined to show it. When asked If
he had any warrant, Williams replied that he
had, but that he had been ordered not to
show 1t. He said that he would show the
back of the warrant, and he held up paper
on which was endorsed. 1.-THE United States
against ]. +. Gist," and which he said was a
warrant of arrest issued by United States
Commissioner Byron. Colonel Gist not being
satisfied with this authority, declined to be
arrested, but told Williams that he would 60
to the commissioners Office and surrender
himself If proper warrant of arrest had been
issued against him. Colonel Gist then called
upon the commissioner and asked If a warrant
had been issued for his arrest, and was told
that it had. He asked to be shown the war
rant, but this was again refused. He then
asked If an affidavit had been made
against him upon which to predicate
q warrant of arrest. The commissioner
evaded the question for while, aud ther said
that an affidavit had been MADE by ]. d. Will
liams, the deputy marshal who had attempted
his arrest, and who Is recently discharged
soldier from the United States army. Colonel
Gist asked, as matter Of right, to be shown
this affidavit, 80 that he might know the
charge against him. This demand was posi-
lively refused, and to this day Colonel Gst has
not seen the affidavit, and does not know that
: any charge has been regularly preferred
against him.. Colonel Glst then asked to be
allowed to give bail for bis appearance. bat
this request was also positively refused by the
commissioner, !xho declared that he was act
ing under the Orders Of higher authority.
these most extraordinary circumstances, any
resistance by Colonel Gist would have been
worse than useless, and would only have be
seized upon as pretext tor additional insult,
he submitted to the arrest, and delivered him.
self up at the Union County jail, whence he
was transferred, as already. stated, to the jail
in this cites Since his arrival here, he has
been visited by the Hon. A. G. Magrath, Hon.
W. D. Porter and others of his legal brethren,
who have been profuse In their expressions OF
sympathy and offers of professional assistance.
It. is almost needless TO add that Colonel Gst
is prepared at any time to make the ciearest
defence upon any charge OF lawlessness that
can be brought against him, but it appears to
be the policy of the prosecution, as was shown
in the recent trials at Columbia, to keep him
and the rest of the prisoners in Ignorance of
the charges against them until the latest pos.
eible moment, 80 as to leave them little or no
time to prepare for trial.
TIE treatment of these prisoners Is every
thing that could be expected under the cir
, cumstances, and it is greatly to the credit Of
the efficient keeper oftne jail, Mr.. John Claus
sen, that, recognizing the fact that many Of
these prisoners are gentlemen Of high stand
ing, he has been careful not to add gratuitous
insults to the many discomtorts OF their posi-
ton, and has extended to them every atten-
ton and comfort that is consistent with the
faithful dischargegof his duty. The general
appearance and management OF the Jail is also
very creditable to Its keeper. One feature
of great interest Is the free school for such Of
the prisoners as desire to avail themselves Of
its advantages, which has been established In
the Jail by Mr.. Caussen. This enterprise has
been maintained for about one year without
any charge to the prisoners or to the county.
It is held in a large room on the second floor
of the jail, made BY the, removal Of partition.
and is attended daily BY; seventy or eighty of
the prisoners, mahysof whom, exhibit gratl-
flying degree of progress In the rudimentary
studies which are taught.
The following lis a list Of the prisoners
from Union County, who are supposed to have
been arrested on the charge of Ku-Kluxism,
"a with the dates of their arrests:
.Col..J. F. Gist, March 8, 1872.