The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-05-30
The P1IiGicEI PrO>e.uGiSn~ i'm
south CaroIina-The III.
1emGOm Cases

An important trial of what is known
as the ''EllentOn Cases" is progressing
before Chief-J Justice Waite and Judge
Bond, in South Carolina AS these
trials have assumed a national impor-
lance, and the cause Of one of the perse-
cuted Southern communities is the cause
of all, we will reproduce from the
Charleston Journal of Commerce the
following recital of the facts:
Mr.. Alonzo Harley, a farmer, lived. near
Jackson Station. on the Port Royal Rail-
road. with wife and two young children.
On Friday morning, September Is, at S
O'Clock. during his absence in the field two
negro men entered the house aud com
menced an assault on VI r.. Harley knocking
her down. Upon this her sou, nine years
old. enleavoTed to help his mother by
charging the rulIians. This diverted their
attention for moment, and Mrs. Harley
seized the opportunity to possess herself of
a gun, which She pointed at the assailants.
/ Whereupon becoming frightened they fed
( These occurrences soon became known in
the neighborhood, and Mr.. Harley and his
/ friends began a search for the offenders.
/ One was found and identified by the child
/ The exasperated husband struck the fellow
with III, fist, when he attem pied ~ escape,
1 was fired upon, wouLded and captured.
) H. confessed and we tn. name of his ac-
/ compile, Frederick Fort. An affidavit was
made against Fort before coloreG magis-
trate, warrant was issued and constable,
accompanied by posse, was sent to arrest
| him Bat Fort had assembled one hun
bred and fifty colored men around tn,
| cabin, seven miles from Jackson Station
where he was lodged on the border Of a
| swamp; and they were armed and uude,
John IInkinson. Word was sent by these
men that Fort could not be arrested. The
constable sent two of the posse forward Il
| persuade them to allow the arrest. This
| they refused with threats and uproar. III,
constable then proposed a parley, which
was agreed TO, on condition of the posse
falling back. But while falling back the
negroes fired upon the constable and 10 st
and advancing. The constable and possee
| retreated, returning the fire and sending
| tor assistance. After 4 pIr,ey. however
the negroes agreed to disperse and To de
liver Fort, ii he should come TO them, and
the constable and posse retired. Fort was
not delivered. The retiring posse was
again fred upon. a humble: of white men
were ambu~hed aud killed Barns and
houses were burned, telegraph wires were
cut, the track of the railroad was torn W
and trains run off anl fired into. The dep
uty sheriff was waylayed and shot, and all
! sorts of high-handed Outrages were perpe-
trateJ throughout Barnwel county The
negro leader, Cocker, who was killed, had in
his pocket a letter from Governor Cham
berlain. and Il list of white men to be dis
patched by the rioters under his control
The negroes were encouraged to lawless-
ness, supplied with arms, and told they
would be protected by the Governor with
United States troops.
This was the origin of the troubles and
shows where rests the responsibility for the
blood shed in the riots.
These facts have been distorted bv
Radical partizans into a violation OF
United States statutes guaranteeing civil
rights, and a conspiracy to deprive the
lately enfranchised class of their right to
vote; and in empanuelIlng the jury, to
make assurance Of conviction doubIy
sure, jurors were challenged on the
ground of having been Confederates, and
a United States statute passed during
the war Gin 1862 was revived and en-
forced requiring the jurors TO make oath
that they chad not taken up arms or
joined in any instruction or rebellion
against the United States authority
nor given aid and comfort to any person
engaged in the rebellion" etc. Show
ing an evident purpose to pack the jury
III the interest Of the prosecution.