New-York tribune., 1874-10-26

County, and then to prevent them from making any
defense included in the complaint the only two men
who could testify to their innocence, although he
had not the first scinta of evidence that either OF
the witnesses took any part whatever in the CONVEX
sation out of which the accusation grew. The whole
proceeding has been characterized as frivolous Inc
facts as shown by the testimony taken yesterday
are as follows:
Young man named KOrnigay has been accused
of being concerned in the murder OF lyey ana mas
left Sumter County. Another young man named
Stephen Smith has temporary charge OF hornigS
place, for the purpose of gathering the crop anu
protecting the women. jerry Rix, bad negro, con-
yicted year ago of stealing, and now held Dy
the United States detectives as witness
against Kornigay, went down to the place
armed with gun and accompanied py
four other negroes and frightened the ladies' sni'h
ordered him of, and being in Livingston day OF
two after inquired of Detective Hester If Jerry had
gone to the Kornigay place by his authority. Inc
latter replied that he had not. As Smith was about
to 60 home he accidentally met Col. Wetmore, his
legal adviser, and related to him what had hap
pened. COL Wetmore told him that no one had
a right to trespass the place without
writ or a warrant, and that if jerry came there
again. or even detective Hester himself, without
such legal authority, he might put him of, using
force and shoot him or blow his brains out. This
conversation took place in the street i'll broad day,
and in the presence of a white man and three ne
groes. Two of the negroes were Republicans ana
were easily induced to make afidavits against Wet
more and Smith but when the third, VINO
was a Democrat. called for the same
purpose, detective Hester discovered that his
testimony would tell for the defense rather than for
the prosecution and to prevent the defense from
using him caused him to be included IN the charge
as one of the co-cOnspirators. After be had been
induced to sign an affidavit the white witness was
brought TO Mobile by the defendants to testify in
their behalf, and when his name was called the at
torney for the United States produced warrant for
his arrest the same charge, which was consprlng
to injure Detective Hester.
If there ever was a case of malicious prosecution
for political purposes this one, and it is paricu-
larly aggravated by the fact that the Commissioner
who issued the warrants, instead of conducting the
examination himself, at Livingston, where all the
defendants and the witnesses live, sent the case to
Mobile thus entaillng an immense and unnecessary
expense both upon the defendants and the United
States, The arguments of counsel will be heard TO-
morrow.
DETECTIVE HESTER RECOGNIZED BY RAPHAEL
sEMMEs As ONE OF HIS CREW ON THE STEAMER
svMTER-HEsTER SAID TO HAVE MURDERED A
MEsSMATE.
MOBILE Oct. 25.-DuriDg the trial of Col. Wet
more, on Friday, the United States detective
chief prosecutor and witness for the Govern
ment, was instantly recognized by Capt
Raphael Semmes, who was present at the trial as
one of his of the steamer Sumter Hester
came forward and at once confirmed the Captains
recognition by offering his hand. Hester
was appointed masters mate by the Captain, and at
charge of the steamer. Capt. Semmes states that
Hester shot and killed messmate who was lying in
his bunk, it supposed asleep, and subsequently,
escaped.