Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-11-03
THE SUTPTEFE COUNTY
PRISONERS.
Their Arrival in the City and EE-
cIrceratiOn IN the Ounty Jail
Detail Of their Arrest and
HardshIpS Insults and Out
RACES upon Them by Ne
STocS.

Tuesday morning early we paid q
visit 10 The jail for the purpose of hav-
ing al interview With Messrs. Renfro,
Bullock, Hiliman, and Childs, the
Sumpter county prisoners, who were
arrested at LivingtOn and brought
here for trial, upon the charge of kill
lng w. p. Billings and Tom Ivy. The
last Inentioned, Mr.. Childs, as is we'll
known, is Charged with the killing of
Ivy After introducing oEfsefves and
S1&Iing the object of our visit, We Were
given the following facts: On the
2Sth of September, Mes RS. Rpnfro and
Bullock were ia attendance at the
Democratic COnveRtion of StlinpteT
county then in session the former as
spectator and the latter as a delegate
to that assembly. Some one entered
the room of the court house in which
the Convention was being held. and
called the sheriff Cf the cnunty. a
Lieutenant Amcs, of the United Stale.
Army, and United States Marshai~
Wiliford and Randolph came in just
as the first hallaE had bpen taken, ami
said something about having warrants
for the arrest of parties then in the
Convention. Fhe President announc-
ed that the business of thai body would
be suspended until the United States
officers had performed their duly
Randolph went up to Renfro. told him
that lie had a warrant fOr his arrest,
and that he must he searched He
was then searcned, and nothing found
upon him with the exception of a
small penknife found in his pocket
Williford put. his arms around Rem
fro's neck, aud said to him, You
shsn't be hurt. " He was then march
ed oaf of the Courthouse. and at the
bottom of the steps he met four United
States soldiers armed. WiilifOrd said
to the soldiers, Take Lhis tiger (reter-
ing to Re; fro, and If he attempts to
get away shoot him They then
marched him 10 a tent by the guard
and seated him upon q bunk. Tie
Orderly SergeaRb levelled his gun at
the prisoner and said God d-n you il
YOU move, hand, foot ar finger. HI
blow the tOl, of your head off. Bull
lock was then marched down to the
tent. the same threats made upon him,
and was handcufied with R~I.fro and
marched TO the county Jail. There
they were handcufftd Il, chained tCgeth-
CT. anu SudIhS put liiclNC Htlu 'uNoi''C
OF the Jail. and We're kepe IN. that cOn J.
dition FROM MohHay Aight until Fri
day morning at O'clock. AT that
hour they were told that they had 10
90 10 Coatopa Station, on the Alabama
Central railroad, ten miles from from
Livingston, but after they had gone
five miles in "A fOur-hOrse covered wag-
on, under a strong guard, they were
met by two seldiers. 4 United States
detective named Hester, and two ne
groes who are witnesses against them,
all armed, under this guard. Hester
asked Randolph where they were go
ing and the latter replied, Il guess we
will see you as soon SIS we sell our cot
ton" 1t will be here observed that
they were not taken to'Coatepa Sta
ton as they were told, or even in that
direction. When they reached Bel
mont. six miles from DeInopolis. they
stopped to rest, and 2. A. Hillman
drove up and asked Renfro where he
was going. The latter replied that lie
Didn't know. Hillman then asked If