New-York tribune., 1878-11-26
THE HARDsAIPs OF WITNESSES.

THE HARDSHIPS OF WITNESSES.
FEDERAL WITNESSES ARRESTED ON TRIVIAL
CHARGES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND IMPRISONED
A LACK OF WITNESSES IN THE ELECTION CASES
POSSIBLE.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2i.-The following letter was
received to-day from of the most prominent
Government officers in South Carolina:
Unless some method devised to prevent further ar
rests the State authorities OF the witnesses In the
election cases am afraid when the United States Court
in Columbia next Monday there will be no wit
nesses there TO testify against those charged with viola
tions of the election laws 1t is becoming more aud more
apparent every day that the Democrats OF this State
inteod to use the whole power of the State
GOvernmenJ in shielding and protecting the ballot
box suffers. Notwithstanding three of the present
Democratic Circuit judges Of this State have former
occasions decided In involving no political ques-
tion that for perjury committed before Uuled States
Commissioner Court Of the United States. person
cannot be held to answer the State Courts,
vet In violation Of this decision OF their own
Judges the Democratic Trial Justices throughout
the State are arresting and committing to jail t1s
Witnesses Bound the United States Court, on the
charge having committed perjury before the United
States Commissioners. In Williamsburg County every
witness bound to the United States Court has been
arrested on that charge. In Darlington, the witness
making the affidavit upon which the warrant was Issued
was arrested for PERJURY before the preliminary exam
nation could held. In Oiner counties the same thing
IS being done.
To prevent the issuing of any warrants the
Democrats are trumping up charges against the COM
missiOners themselves There are only five commits
sioners the State who taking any action against
the men who stuffed the ballot-boxes and defed the
supervisors and marshas election day. OF these
hye Messrs. Lee and Virgins have already been
arrested and committed TO Jail by the
State authorities. Against Mr. Virgins, who was
formerly of the Circuit Judges, the Democrats have
invented frivolous charge viz, that he accepted
brbe of $50 from somebody three years ago. Mr. Lee
has been arrested and ncarceraed in JAIL charged with
the offence Of falling keep his Office Of Judge of
Probate which position he holds in addition to that Of
Commissioner. The circumstances of this are as
follows: About week ago, while in his office taking
testimony in regard 10 tue frauds committed In SUN
ter at the late election, he was attacked by a
crowd Of Democrats and narrowly escaped WITH his ie
The crowd demanded that he should leave Sumter,
else resign as commissioner. He Charleston to
procure the arrest OF his assaants. Upon his return,
after having been driven away, Democratic lawyer
made an affidavit before Democratic Trial Justice,
charging Lee with failing to keep his Office open. The
absurdiiy Of the whole matter is that there is DO law
requiring hin to keep his Office open at all times, and
even If there was, his failure to open his office for two
days would render him liable 10 criminal prosecu-
tion.
But law or TO law It is the determination Of the Dem
ocrats 10 punish every person who takes part what
ever In the crimes with which they
charged whether that person BET witness Commissioner
or Prosecuting Attorney Judge LudelngSs remark. In
regard TO Louisiana that the witnesses and the inno-
cent are the punished and nOtthe cuprts
Is being carried out TO the letter in this State All those
who were arrested the charge of committing election
frauds were admitted bail within few hours after
their arrest while all the witnesses In these cases are
lying IN jail, aud the Government OF the United
States to be at the mercy OF the state OF 5Outh
fori to mention that in regard to the managers Of
ipciiu "A KiUgstrec,
charges one Of the witnesses was the Rev. a. NJ.
Pincknpy After me managers gave bail they went to
Tlial Justice aud took warrants fOr all the witnesses
against them, including Pnckney. The latter, hearing
mat me WAS 10 be arrested came TO Charleston and the
Trial Justice of the very managers who was
charged with fraud as special constable 70 charleston
A letter from the Rev. A. N. Pinckney, whose ar
rest is mentioned in the above letter, was received
here to-day 1t is dated at Charleston. November
10, winch was before he was arrested. 1t contains
the following paragraph:
am not a fugitive from Justice. but from mob law.
Those i'll Jail being guarded against lynch
ing. was advised by Democrats to keep out OF the
way. hunted and threatened before the warrant
for perjury was issued againt me- and Concluded to be
cautious do not think safely return to my con-
gregaton. leave myself though, IN the hands OF Him
who willing to guide me by HIS counsel aud aftorward
re i've me into glory.
Mir. Pinckney is the man whowas attacked in the
Kingstree Post Office a few weeks ago, and bru-
tally beaten with a club for having borne testimony
to the outrages against Mr. Swails, every word of
which testimony has been since confirmed by the
Democratic press of the State. His Presiding Elder
a white man and gentleman of high attainments.
says that Mr. Pnckney is member in good stand
ing of the South Carolina Conference in the NJ f.
Church.
FLORIDA ELECTION FRAUDS.
SENATOR cONovER EXPLAINS THE METHOD OF Dis