The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-05
THE NEW ORDER OF THINGS.
DECREASE OF CRIME IN THE STATE
UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE.

DECREASE OF CRIME IN THE STATE
UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE.
The Circuit Judges now on the Bench,
excepting Judge Shaw who is ill and un-
able to attend to any business, have kind
ly sent prompt replies to the question
whether, 80 far as their knowledge ex-
tends, "there has been, since the INSTALL
alton of Governor Hampton, a diminu-
ton in the number and degree of crimes
committed in South Carolina, especially
of crimes committed by whites against
colored persons"
JUDGE PRESLEY, OF THE FIRST CIR
CUT.
The Hon. B. c. PRESLEY, Judge of the
Fifth Circuit, writing from Caesars
Head on August 8, says:
Since the installation Of Governor
Hampton, have held the Courts of the
Third and Fourth Circuits, where I found
the criminal dockets very much lighter
than they had formerly been.
Only one of the cases was for an Of
fence against colored by white per-
son, and large proportion of the crimi-
mails had been formerly convicted and
sent to the penitentiary. for term of
years; but had been very soon pardoned
by former Governors of this State.
JUDGE ALDRiCH, OF THE SECOND CIR
CUT.
The Hon. A. P. Aldrich, Judge of the
Second Circuit, writing from Columbia
on August Is, says:
My experience in the Courts satisfies
me that not only has there been Dip
mutton of serious offences against >ene
law, but greater security is felt mong
all classes of the people, white ga oIack.
am we'll convinced that theYneVer mas
been disposition on tb/Part OF tne
white people to encroacb6u the rights OF
the colored citizen. D1s true there nave
been cases Of Outrage against Tue G0ioltu
people here and there, which all rlgGt
minded men ,Aeplore but in all such
cases l can >.afely say the white people,
as class have condemned them with
stern Indignation. The truth of history
however, compels me to add that where
one outrage has been committed byYa
white man against q negro, ten can be
enumerated of colored persons against
white. The riots that have occurred IN
different parts of the State, in every in
stance have. been brought about by the
aggressive conduct of the negroes, stim-
ulated by the bad men who used them
for their political advancement.
have held the Courts Of the Fourth
Circuit, which includes the Districts of
Chesterfield, Marion, Darlington, Marl.
6oIU.ri : = Horny. where Whittemore's
baleful influence preyanrI. and although
several cases of arson were tried Dos.-a
me, yet not one occurred since the elec.
tion of Hampton, and all the accused
were colored. On the Fifth Circuit,
composed of Kershaw, Lexington, Edge.
| field and Richland, there was one case of
arson charged against white man. BE
was convicted, and I have such good
| reason to believe he was not guilty, from
Developments since the trial, that have
recommended him for pardon to the
Governor. There were two convictions
of murder, both colored, and of the most
brutal and deliberate character. One of
them was the most cool, unprovoked as
sassination, at a prayer meeting, while
the victim was raising bis voice in praise
to Godl I cannot say that the number
OF petty crimes hes greatly diminished !;
burglary and larceny are common among
the negroes. 1t is rare thing for a
white man to be indicted for either; not
a single white man has been tried before
me for these offences. The fact is, the
white man is ashamed to burn, break or
steal, because it degrades him to the level
of the negro. He will fight and too
often shoot, owing TO the pernicious
habit of carrying concealed weapons.
Ample protection has been given to
the colored people. Indeed, so far as l
have had the opportunity to observe,
they have been treated more leniently,
both by the juries and the judges, than
the offenders of the white race. Several
cases have been tried before me where
negroes were the defendants, and they
have rejected every colored nan from
the jury. The law extends its protecting
shield over all the people, without dis
tinction of race or color, and the pledge
of lust administration has been faithfully
redeemed. I think there has been a
steady and rapid improvement in the re-
spect forlaw and authority, and that our
colored people, if let alone, are satisfied ;
they certainly work better, are less rest
less, wandering and aggressive than when
called to public meetings to listen to i'm
flammatory speeches, as was the practice
before the campaign of rs; and, on
the whole, I see marked improvement.
JUDGE HUDSON, OF THE FOURTH CIR
The Hon. j. II. Hudson. Judge of the
Fourth Circuit, writing from Bcnnetts-
Vile on August 10, says:
Since my elevation to the bench have
held Court in the sixth and Seventh Cir
cults. Of the number and degree of
crimes committed in those Circuits prior
to Governor Hampton's installation, and
during the first year Of his administra-
ton, I cannot speak of my own knowl-
edge, but was informed by the members
of the bar that there had been q marked
diminution of crime since the installa-
ton of Gov. Hampton. At Lancaster,
Chester and Fairfield the trial of tho
Sessions causes consumed not more than
q week lat each place. and gave US week
for civil business, an unusual occurrence.
At York the Sessions docket was heavier,
owing to the fact that the Court was de-
layed from February to April. The of
fences were mostly committed by blacks
against whites-consisting of burglary,
larceny and arson. At Lancaster negro
was convicted of the murder Of a negro,
perpetrated in 1871.
In June went upon the Seventh Cir
cult and found the Sessions docket at
each Courthouse astonishingly small, from
two to four Gays being amply sufficient
to dispose of all the cases. 1 was really
surprised at the diminution of crime in
the Seventh Circuit, embracing the Coun-
ties of Newberry, Laurens, Union and
Spartanburg. At the latter place, as at
Lancaster, negro was tried for murder
ing a negro seven or eight years ago.
Manslauohter was the verdict.