The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-21


din to the Governor will prove interest
ing in this connection:
PIcKENs, S. c., March II, 1878.
To His Ercellcncy Governor Wade Hump
ton, Columbia, S. c.:
DEAR SIR-On last Saturday, the 9th
of March, the special force of the United
States revenue, under command of Capt.
E. g. Hoffman, brought into this place
three men charged with violating the
United States revenue law, viz: Thomas
Beasley, Milton Stansel and James STAN
sci. They were regularly committed to
the Pickens County Jail to my safekeep-
ing, and not anticipating that an effort
would be made for their release by any
one, I was taken by surprise by a party
of armed men, who came to the Jail,
(where I live and forced me through
threats for my life to release the above
named prisoners.
l was perfectly helpless to resist them,
they having guns presented at me. They
demanded and took the keys of the Jail
from me, and I, in order to save as many
of the prisoners from being released or
escaping as possible, went with them to
the prisoners room when they released
the three men and took them off on
horseback.
Caps. Hoffman and special force, on
hearing of what happened, came to the
Jail and promptly offered his services to
assist me in recapturing the prisoners,
but knowing they were two much in ad-
vance, and it at night, and not knowing
their route, &C., 1 thought it advisable
not to pursue. I shall make the best
effort can for the recapture of the pris-
oners, and 1 feel it my duty to submit
this matter as it happened to you. lam,
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JoAB MAULDIN, s. P. G.
In reply the Governor at once ad-
dressed the following letter to Sheriff
Mauldin:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, March IS, 1878.
MY DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 11th
instant has Just reached me, and ! regret
greatly to learn of the daring violation
of the law which you report. Such &C.
tions will not only bring disrepute on
our people, but will ultimately react on
them. I shall expect you to use all the
means in your power to bring the Of
tenders to justice, and reward shall at
once be, offered for their apprehension.
If You know any of the parties engaged
in this act Of violence, you will let me
know who they 'are. Senator Bowen,
whom have just seen, concurs in my
views, and he deprecates all such out.
RACES al the one which has been recently
committed. Our people must learn that
all violations of them must be punished
Very respectfully yours,
WADE HAMPTON, Governor.
JoAB MAULDIN, Sheriff of Pickeni
County.
COLUMBIA March 13-11 p. m.
The following telegram has just been
received from Collector Brayton at Spar
t,nburg. s. G.:
Nothing important to communicate
Am on my way to Pickens County.
deputy Jillson reports that Redmond,
with thirty-fve men, pursued the revenue
force all day yesterday. Two additional
illicit di.tilleries were destroyed.
"The revenue force is being reinforced
and Redmond and his gang of jail-break-
crs will be captured or driven to the
mountains"
COLUMBIA, March IA.
No additional particulars have been
received here to-day from the scene oil
the revenue troubles. 1t is now believed
that Redmond and his gang, becoming
alarmed mt the active measures set on
foot for their arrest, have dispersed in the
morntain,. About one hundred men
hav,s been collected, organized and arm
ed, and the pursuit will be begun in ear.
nest tonight or tomorrow. Redmond is
q native o.: Pennsylvania County, North
Carolina. He is said to have slight
infusion Of Indian blood, although appa.
rently he is full blooded white. Physi.
cally he in a superb specimen of man
hood, being six feet tall, stoutly built
very strong and active as cat. He has
long been engaged in the business oi
illicit distilling in his native county
About two years ago he wac arrested by
Mr.. Ducluorth, deputy United States
marshal and deputy sheriff of Transyl.
vania County. While on his way to Jail
Redmond drew pistol which he had
concealed in his boot, and shot the officer
dead. After this he fled to this State
and resumed his old occupation. About
g year ago he was arrested by deputy
marshals Barton, Gary and Hendricks
He escaped from them on the following
evening of his capture, took a position
in ambush by the roadside and fred into
the party, wounding Gary and Hendricks,
the latter desperately. Subsequently be
went to Mr.. BaIton's house for the avow.
ed purpose of killing him. He was away
from home, and the outlaw, in searching
the house, found a check for 500. He
placed Mn. Barton on barebacked horse
and forced her to 60 to Easley Station
with him, cash the check and give him
the money. He then coolly selected Mr..
Barton's best horse, and rode away to the
mountains with him. Redmond is also
strongly suspected of being the murderer
of Mr. Alfred McCreery, who was shot
dead while at work in his own field, in
Pickens County, some time ago.
10 p. m.-The latest information from
the revenue troubles is contained in the
following dispatch, just received from
Collector Brlyton: "Easley, s. c., March
14.-Nothing of Importance has trans
pired, except the escape from Pickens
Jail to-day of two more United States
prisoners"
The Governor has offered q reward Of
5000 for the capture of Redmond.
COLUMBIA, March II.
The force which started in pursuit of
Redmond Friday night has succeeded in
capturing six men several of whom were
concerned in the recent rescue from
Pickens jail Three stills have also been
destroyed. The sheriff of Pickens, who
also went in pursuit with militia COM
pany, returned to Pickens last night,
bringing with him the Stansills, two of
the men rescued by Redmond and his
gang. They were recommitted to Jail,
and are now securely guarded.
WASHINGTON, March Is.
IT. ~ lT Rro,,fon E,Iscfor.