The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-23

~ uuOtlCl mdu Y OC OuShSo hoA 40 VAL
'rlght.' An election had been ordered for two
county commissioner to fill q vacancy, and the
J defendant and Mr. VIM. Carlyle were nominated.
The defendant wal present and declined at first,
but afterward accepted the nomination. Some
| complaint vas afterward made OF these nomina-
lions, and o public meeting was called and other
| nominations were made. 1t was said that the
first nominations had been made by q little clique
In town, and for this reason they we're not salts.
factory. About a dozen men were present at the
meeting, and Isaac G. McKlssIck presided. The
two county commissioners whose places were to
be supplied by the election had left their places on
account OF q Ku.Klux notice posted in town warn
ing them to leave within fifteen days. Witness
saw the first raid on Union jail. Was tod that five
negroes we're taken out, Of whom two were killed
and three wounded, but escaped. Was also told
that eight men had been killed on the second raid.
On being cross-examined by Colonel McMaster,
the witness said he joined the Ku.Kl11 about
April !, 1871, after the raids on Union Jail. Was
Initiated In 8 room back OF the defendants store.
L. was at night, and the store was not open. MIR.
Farr slept there. The defendant was not alb nut.
Apy one could have used the room without his
knowledge. The store was hardly ever open at
night. Defendant lived half a mile away. Did
not know that the men at the meeting at Masonic
Hall were all Ku.Kiux. Supposed so because It
was a secret meeting. Did not know that the
defendant vas a Ku-KluX. G. S. Nolan had told
witness ina he was, and that he belonged to his
(Nolarrs) Khan. Witness had never been to any
other Ku.Klux meeting. Fad never attended
a private political caucus. At the same
meeting they had taken a vote upon the
question OF hanging Mr. d. W. Duncan,
| the senator from Union. That was done as q
joke. witness was arrested November 8, ISL.
| Gave Information against the others March IL,
1872. Had several reasons for informing o. them.
Was in a tIcklish place; las charged with things
he was not guilty Of; had always thought the Ru'
Klux wrong; thought he had been punished long
enou III, and wanted som: b ody else punished
Had told the defendant that he had never known
any thing against him, except his being at the
meeting In Unionvlle. The defendant had re.
pliel that that was not q Ku.Klux meeting, or II
it were he did not know 1t. He did not pretend
to deny being at the meeting. Witness had been
released, a ter giving information, upon his "
bond for two thousand dollars.
William Mullinax, white, WAS the next with So.
He testified that he belonged to the Ku.Klux.
Was living at A. D. OWENS house the night he
was killed. The party came and fired around the
| house, then broke In and pulled the witness out
OF bed, but did not harm him. Then Owens
jumped out Of q window on the other side or the
house and ran, but after running about one hun.
dred and seventy.nve yards was hit by the bullets
and killed. He received four or five bullet
wounds. and lived but fifteen minutes. owens
was q leading Republican, O trial justice and
selectmau, AMI a quiet, peaceable citizen, but WAS
not generally respected on account OF his politics.
Witness had known defendant two or three years.
Had been told by Richard John ION and Benjamin
Bonner that he was a grand :uncllman OF the
Ku.Klux Klans.
Major Buist objected that this testimony could
not be received as evidence. 1t was hearsay ties.
timonv, and the statements OF Tom. Dick and
Harry, given to the witnesses without being sworn
to, could carry no weight with them.
Judge Bond overruled the point, and decided
that the statements or one cooonspirator could be
taken against another, but 1t must be shown that
the persons making the statements were mem
bers OF the conspiracy.
The witnesses stated that Richard johnson and
Benjamin Bonner we're both members OF Klans,
and that johnson was a grand councilman.
On being cross. exa mined by Colonel McMaster
the witness stated that he lived nineteen miles
from Union, and belonged to Hughes's Klan.
Was on the first and second Union raids. Was
on another raid when Mullins and COzzens, white
men, were whipped. Bonner lived at Jonesville.
niue miles from Unionviile. Witness had come
forward voluntarily two weeks ago aud told about
tha x3aFopdont Md on hpnaueQ hia n0ncnIopno
dictated to him to do it. Was then released on
his own bond. Did not know for what amount.
Signed a blank bond. Witness lived about nine.
teen miles from Unlonvlle. Owens was his step.
father. Was arrested March 20, 1872, and re.
leased on the 18th instant.
To Mr.. Corbiu. Mullins was whipped because
he had got up q little khan Of his own, and was
going around committing outrages on his own
authority and disorganlziug labor. Cezzens was
whipped for the same offence. Witness was q
Democrat. Could not name any colored people
that had beea whipped 10 his part Of the country.
Had heard that there were two whipped.
Thom1s Hughes, white, was next sworn. He
testified that he was the jailor at Union at the
time OF the second raid. Heard Of the proposed
raid and went to Sheriff Dunn for advice. The
sheriff advised him to give up the keys to the
party II they came on him. Witness said he
would not do thai. and went back and nailed up
the door Of the jail, and his wife put the keys In q
bureau. The party came that night, Sunday.
February IL, 1871, between twelve and one O'Clock.
Deputy Sheriff Hill opened one OF the doors. and
they came In. Witness told them not to touch
the prisoners, as he was responsible for them.
They then presented their pistols at his breast
and demanded the keys. His wife, becoming
excited and alarmed, told them where The keys
were, and they went and got them. They then
tied the witness to q post In front OF the jail, got
the prisoners out, mounted the wounded ones on
horseback, and started up the Spartanburg road
with the prisoners, and With Hill aud the witness
tied together in front OF the prisoners. About
three. quarters OF Q mile from town they released
the witness and Hill, and tod them to go back
and burn up the rope they were tied with, and
they did 80. The prisoners were then taken to
the old muster field and two OF them hanged and
six were shot. Some had ten or twelve bullets In
them. Witness never wa, a Ku .Klux.
On cross.examInation the wine: IS testified that
he had known the defendant for eighteen or
twenty years. He was a Very quiet, peaceable
man, and always was an advocate for peace. BE
had been in the town council for q long time.
There were ten prisoners killed altogether on the
two raids.
Damon P. MoseleY, white, was next called by