New-York tribune., 1877-05-28
sor1H clAoLIyFS FoLITIc4L TRIAL.

OPENING ARGUMENTS FOR 1HE DEFENDANTS IN TiiE
FIENr5N CAsEs-wuAT THEY IXPLCI TO PROVE
-IuE BURDEN OF TIE TESTIMONY For THE DE-
FlSsE
CHARLESTON, May 25.-The Government
c'p a is Testimony iu the EcnOH riot cases yesterday
aad c op, hg argument Tor tue defense was made 10y
Sir Jam., NJrch Tnc latcr said that al the time of
tne riots Oh, officers Of Aiken County were SO Ignorant
tl; th, coud not comprehend charge or enforce the
law: that soue Of them used the machinery Of the aw
,o,clr. purposes AM 90 Grind in the dust those whom
they considered their enemies. There was almost no
law iu the county.
C,utnuius his address Mr AidIich said tLat The po
Ica teachers Of the coi0red men had mculcatcd the
most d1 gcrous doctrines and that they bore frnt at
Eouscs Bridge. he quoted from campaign speeches in
May aud June to show that these dangerous doctrines
were publicly taught and said tie defense would bring
ont the proof The defense Mr. Aldrch said, VIII fur
Their prove that the coored militia companies to tho
Fcn:on section the appearance of armed camp. aud
that during the period they were engaged In drilling
large quantities OF guns and ammunition were sent 10
lio a; Holse's Bridge. The Democrats knew 0l tlcse
preparatous but their doctrine throughout o campaign
was tat Of qu!et and peace. The riots occurred in
don renowned Tor quiet and peace. On Scit j. two
necroc, Peter Williams and Frederick Pope-conmitted
an sanir upon sf- ffarlcy. and fscd her and her ilo
sua tle ground H. Harley TOOK down her hGsaid
gan a.d the n' sf'lS iir' 9he 'e "a 90 '' M M ns
band was for. " VILLAINS, "ien brought "e"Io NJ.
stopped protect him. when he ran being shot ~ he
wa, esc ping e aft.rwari diei IRON unnecessary cA
,-lrc Nacu Constable Brown started with ms posse
In mir,uit OF P0pc the-e were number u respectable
co!oled with hIn bdt ihey dropped III o" Jy one;
,I icu the constable rcac4td Hou,e', Bridge Do Wae
mt y a crowd = coOicf crying for ycuS anco for
The blood ~ Williams. tie addressed tho crowd quietly,
and upon dGd.aE tndt Pope WAS not Erle wac agreed
tiut both side, should di,F't-e. The Nhl" men dii
start hoc bat yatosA places on thsr way seven or
eight were killed The cJ.Jred men wcGo :S,cii5cI ~
clans aud woods rcs0hGcd with thcr "a outs Iiu'
otst. aad his pusSo Wcte sent Tor w thu whites ia
IN vicinity. Hc gathered us mauy mrn a3 he cpud ana
wcbt 10 the BccnO Mah!as. Livery whore tT.
Aldr.ch -a.d Lc could lear Of the asS'I1lplng 0i
nngrOes By beat or dram Of tbs JhuS OF ts aud tit
aud mo other c!tiIru" Sc. Ihc armed bands % Uhe
and colmed men fortunately took Gnercut roads ANA
dI not meet Al the not q, Union Bridge the men said
IN by, been murdered wero sDOt when acting as sAir-
shers and thor attempts 80 oonreainfn were far INC
uuroso OF ming without beng hurt thoy were Killed
with guns in tIclr hands
The above is au outline of the opening argument for
Tho defrnsc ard the Testimony O The witnesses exam
ined Yesterday and to-day was intended 10 sustain tho
position assumed by tie 6efcndaDs he cvidonc1 aeos
with that position ia many particulars, but also shows
Lat some VI the witnesses fr tho defense we're several