Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-10-07

of these af6davits, every one made by colored
men and women. These charges, which are
universally believed to be trumped.up and
extorted from the negroes under threats, have
not been published or allowed to be seen.
According to the correspondents letter,
both the accused are able to establish, beyond
doubt, an alibi on the afidavits of numerous
persons of the highest respectability, showing
that both the Messrs. Shell were at least seven
miles and half away from where the shoot
ing was done. The alleged dying declaration
of Joe Crews, to which much currency has
been given, is thus contradicted by the cor
respondent: .H s.a.' .."i'.'
"It has been stated that Joseph Crews, du-
ring the interval between his wounding and
death, declared that the Shells were his MUIR
derers Parties who were with Mr.. Crews,
during nearly every hour Of his illness, state
that be made no such declaration; that he
said distinctly that he had no idea Of the
party or parties who did the deed And
Furthermore, in reference to the remark
claimed to have been made by Mr.. Crews on
his death bed, that Gov Chamberlain and
Judge Mackey knep that he was innocent Of
the murder of DR.. Shell in 1868, parties who
we're present at the time and heard the re-
mark, state that he said he was innocent Of
the murder of DR.. Shell, but that he did not
mention the name Of either Gov Chamber
lain or Judge Mackey." '''''5
In the cases of Adam Crews and John
Bolt, charged With ha-murdnr- Of DE- Shall
in 1868, nothing has been done, or probably
ever will be DONE The Messrs. Shell don't
seem inclined to urge the prosecution, and SO
the matter will probably drop forever. As
to the guilt or innocence of the parties, little
can be said, as little is known.
A Major Generals Poverty. .".
-- The Cincinnati Enquirer of recent date
contains lengthy account of tramp who
was committed to the station house in that
city, having all the marks Of dissipation
about him-blood.shot eyes, inAamed skin
and bruised face-and was also suffering with
a violent attack of delirium tremens. The
man claimed to be homeless, friendless and
moneyless, and to have walked all the way
from Indianapolis. He said he was Major
General William H. Wheeler of the late
Confederate Army, on his way to his old
home and birthplace in Culpepper county,
Virginia, where he wanted to die. Regard.
ing the man and his story the Enquirer says {:
General Wheeler will be remembered as a
dashing officer who figured so brilliantly du-
ring the war in the cavalry service. The
story of this poor tramp, claiming to be this
famous General, is sad one if true, and an
interesting one, any way. He says he is sixty
two years old, that he graduated at West
Point in the class of 80; that while COM
manding at the battle Of Shiloh his son was
shot and killed that in less than two weeks
after intelligence came of the death Of his
wife; then the escape of all his slaves-num-
bering nearly twenty-and lastly, his Vir-
ginia farms that he had signed over to bis
brother to escape con6scation, had been seized
or sold by that brothers creditors, leaving
him pauper. A. the close of the war he
alleges he drifted from one place to another,
finally bringing up in Mississippi, where, un-
til few weeks since, he has lived. He jour-
neyed up the river to Evansville two weeks
ago, landed there and went to Terre Haute,
where he expected to find couple of neph'
ews; Was disappointed; went to lndianapo-
lis, and from there he tramped to this city.
He claims that his mother was sister OF
Governor Trimble's wife that his onl ly sister
is Mrs. Colonel Martin, Of Hamilton, Ohio,
and that his only surviving child is a married
lady living in Baltimore. His whole story IS
very Straightforward, and in his conversation
he betrays an intelligence and familiarity
with public men and things which one would
scarcely look for in an ordinary tramp: Whis.
ky seems at last to have wrecked him, and
it will probably be his fate to spend his last
days in the Cincinnati Hospital, where he has
been taken"