The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-03
South Carolina Habeas Corpus Case


COLUMBIA, March 2.-The Supreme
Court of South Carolina has had before
it for two weeks the case of Tida Norris,
brought upon writ of habeds corpus to
test the validity Of pardon from
Hampton. 1t would have been decided
week ago, but for the sudden illness OF
Chief Justice Moses. This left the dec-
sion to Justices Willard and Wright,
the latter colored man. Willard an-
nounced his willingness to de-
eide for Hampton, and Wright
was expected to decide against
Hampton. Tuesday morning last
was set by the court for the decision, but
Justice Willard appeared and announced
that the court was still consulting on the
case. Yesterday it was learned that on
that morning Judge Wright was induced
to sign an order dlschsrging Tilda Nor
ris, thus recognizing the validity of
Hsmpton's pardon. He asserts that he
did it while in fear of his life. He says
that Judge Willard told him that the
Democrats could no longer be restrained,
aud that when 1t should be announced to
the waiting crowd in the court room
that nothing but his Wrlghts
obduracy stood IN the way of Hampton's
recognition, their full fury would be
visited upon him. He says, also, that
Willard brought General Conner, the
leading Hampton counsel, into the con-
sultstion room, and Conner told him that
if they did not get a favorable decision
MANY lives would be sacrificed. While
laboring under great mental distress
and fear, Judge Wright signed
the order but refused to sign the opinion
of Willard which sustained it, and he
also exacted promise that it should not
be filed until Friday. Yesterday he
filed an opinion denying the validity of
Hampton's pardon, with the following
endorsement:
"Having attached my name on the
9th ultimo to an order dscharging Pc
titioner in this case without due consulta-
ton, do now, upon more mature delibe-
ration, hereby revoke and cancel my sig
nature to said order, and substitute the
foregoing opinion in its place"
The court meets to-day and it is ex-
pected that Willard will announce the
order of the 9th, signed by himself and
Wright as the decision of the court.
COLUMBIA, March AT IL A. NJ, the
Supreme Court room was crowded to
hear the decision in the Tilda Norris
habeas corpus case, involving the vail.
dity of Hsmp,on's pardon. Associate
Justice Willard appeared on the bench,
but the colored Justice, Wright, was
absent. The Sheriff was sent to
look for Wright and returned
with information that he had not been
seen since Yesterday morning. Owing
to the lack of full bench, Justice Will
lard adjourned the court until Monday.
The absence of Wright at this juncture
creates much excitement,
NEW YORK, March "A Herald
special from Columbia says: The heaviest
race pressure was brought to bear on the
colorod Judge to get decision in favor Of
Chamberlain. Judge Willard, although
Republican, wasknown to be inaexible
IN the conviction that Hampton was
Governor, but if Wright could be
influenced it was a tie, and
no decision could be had.
Judge Wright resisted the pressure
msnfully, and. as ascertsined from re.
liable authority, on the 9th ult. he
signed an opinion, concurrently with
Judge Willard, recognizing Hampton.
But the pressure was too heavy. He
was actually in tear of his life, and said
that his convictions of law were with
Hampton but that if he went against his
race he would be killed, therefore he
signed the opinion recantlng and revok-
ing his order of the 9th, and declaring
that Chamberlain was Governor. 1t is
believed that he has left town to avoid
the humiliation of hearing his two con-
ficting opinions read in Court,