Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-04-25
The Ku. KIu. Trials in Charleston.

noon, the 10th inst. On Wednesday the
18th, G, S. Buist, Esq, counsel of Mr..
;IrJno. Rodgers, of Union County, made
/ an efortlto continue the case Of his cli-
ent unti1the next term of thesConrt, up
1 on tt 9 ground that his most important
witness was unavoidably. absent Mr..
Rodgers Is charged.with conspiracy and
murder. Judge Bond refused to post
pone the case, and ordered it Tor trial on
Monday the 22nd.
The cases of Cotton Moss and Adol-
hphus Smith, indicted for murder, were
then called up. District Attorney Cor
bin stated that subsequent investigation
had satisfied the Government that there
was great probability that the charges
were not true, and he moved that the
defendants be released on their own re-
cognizance in one thousand dollars each,
which was accordingly done.
George Sylvester Wright and John C.
Robinson pleaded guilty to an Indictment
for conspiracy against Hardy Cook, i'll
York county; March 7, 1871.
The case of Elijah Ross Sepaugh, of
York county, indicted at the last term of
the court for conspiracy against Thomas
Roundtree, and murder, was called, and
John T. Ficken, Esq, assigned to the
defense of the prisoner. Upon the appli-
cation of Mr.. Ficken, the case was set
down for trial Friday.
On Thursday, the 18th, the case of the
United States VS.. w. J. Jeter, Mac. En-
glish and Henry Grady, Of Union, indie
ted for conspiracy, was, on motion of
Mr.. T. B. Steadman, counsel for the'de-
fence, continued to the November. term,
and the Us Commissioner at Union,
was ordered to bail the defendants in the
sum of So, 900 each to appear.
The case of the United States vs.. Ira
Williams, Belton Free and Edmund
Voiselle, indicted for conspiracy, was
also continued, and like order as the
above issued for release of the prisoners
on bail.
The jury, In the case of the United
States VS., VIM. Smith and Leander Spen-
Ger, who had been out since Tuesday
night, returned into Court about two
o'clock, and reported to tho Judge that
they had agreed upon the count on the
Indictment charging the prisoners with
conspiracy, but could not agree upon the
murder count. -
Judge Bond asked if they disagreed
upon question of law, or one of the
facts, and they replied that they disa-
greed upon question Of facts, where
upon the jury were discharged, and the
prisoners remandcd for another trial.
Friday, the 18th, was devoted to the
trial of Elijah Ross Sepaugh, for the
murder Of Thomas Roundtree, killed,
in so-called Ku Klux raid, on the 3rd
December 1S70.- In this case, much
wrangling and delay took place in the
organization of tho jury, Corbin,' the
District Attorney, as usual, ordering all
white men of respectable appearance to
stand aside. He carried. this so far that
the whole panel was exhausted before
sufficient number of jurynen had been
sworn. After this the rejected mer were
recalled and each one, chosen, subjected
to fire of questions from Corbin and
Merrill. The latter is the famous militia
ry commandant at York. In all this
matter the Government attorney and
Judge Bond exhibited the strongest par
tisan feeling and prejudice. The trial
lasted until IL o'clock in the night, and
the verdict of the jury was: owe find
the defendant. Elijah Ross sepaugh,
guilty; and recommend hinrto the mer-
cy of the Court.
Mr.. Eickon then gave notice that lie
would, at the proper time, make a mo
tiop in arrest Of judgment.
In a recess of this trial the following
business was done. John D. Hood, of
York, was admitted to bail in the sum of
SIC, 900, Messrs. J. R. Boylston, = Dun
ham and H. Bischof being the sccuri
ties.
The Grand Jury returned the follow
ing bills into Court:
The United States vs.. Elias Burnett,
Barnwell Russell, Jas. Kimball, John
Chapman, Creighton Pope, Benjamin
Strickland, Jas. Calcrn Moore, Pinckney
George-Coispiracy. Truc Bill.
The United States VS.. Simpson Kirby
Purchasing soldiers clothing. True
Bill.
On motion of the District Attorney, it
was ordered in the case of the United
States vs.. Walker Dauscn, W. p. Antho-
nv and Joseph Lcckey, that so much of
the indictment as charges murder be
discontinued.
w. J. Truit was ordered to be trans
ferretl to the Jail at Yorkville, to serve
out his sentence.
On Saturday the 10Th, elias Bennett.
Jas Kimball, Jno. Chapman, Benjamin
| Strickland, Jas. kmball, Jr., and Calvin
Moore, of Sparta burg, were arraigned
for general conspiracy, and plead guilty
They were remanded to jail for sentece.
There was no further business and the
Court adjourned.
On Monday, the 22nd, the latest date of
which we can avail ourselves this week,
the case of John Rodgers of Union coun-
ty, indicted for conspiracy and murder,
was taken up. The Government aban-
doning the murder charge, the trial for
conspiracy began -Four witnesses were
called by the Government, who testified
to their participation in several murders.
And now we give q few particulars
concerning the Ku Klux prisoners and
witnesses at present in Charleston. Of
prisoners there are about sixty !. of wit
nesscs, about eighty. They are confined
in the House ,r Correction, corner of
Magazine and Mazyck streets. The
prisoners are closely confined, and are
guarded day and night by detachment
of u S. soldiers consisting of ten pri-
Yates, two on-commissioned and one
commissioned officer. They are said to
be well clothed atpressnt, and all Of them
have been lately vacinated Mt the expense
of the Government. ThS witnesses are
kept separate from the prisoners, but
otherwise there is no distinction between
them. Thoy are MI supplied with blank
! .ts ond cool,nd rntions by r, A, Hover