Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-25

are made by Us by authority, and can be re-
lied on implicitly.
By the involuntary absence Of the ku kluz
refugees and the hunting.down of the distil
lers in the mountains, infinite loss and trou'
bic have been caused to South Carolina, with
out advantage to the United States Govern
ment. 1t is the aim of Governor Hampton
to change all this. The most difficult part Of
tho undertaking is accomplished, and its com
pletion will not long be delayed. Surely
such practical relief as this is more valuable
to the people than the qualification Of spleen
and spite. The desire of Governor Hamp'
ton is, to blot out the stain of the times that
are far behind us, the period of agitation,
prohigacy and contempt of law, and to give
the whole State fresh start, relieved from
the moral depression and physical burden
of mis.government and it's environments.
This be can do if the people cooperate with
him in rebuilding the social and industrial
fabric on the foundation of obedience to law,
respect for authority and equal rights and op'
portunities.
nhDD WcnsDHAss
The decision of Judge Kershaw refusing
the motion to transfer to the United States
Court the case against the revenue officers
charged with the murder of young Ladd, has,
as was to be supposed, attracted the attention
of the Cabinet. The result of the Cabinet
conference is announced to be that the Attor.
ney- General would direct the United States
Marshal to take out a writ of habeas corpus
for the transfer of the prisoners. .a. ..
As will be remembered, the charge is
made that Ladd, while standing in his own
door, was shot down by one of party Of
revenue officers, who were searching for Red
mond. 1t is alleged that Ladd was making
nc demonstrations whatever, but, to The con-
trary, was standing quietly in the door, hav-
ing no arms of any description in his hands.
The revenue officers, however, contend that
they acted in self:defence, as will be seen from
the following Washington dispatch to the
northern newspapers: ~.r.....
"The State and United States Courts in
South Carolina will soon be in open conflict
unless the State Court yields On the 18th
instant, Judge Kershaw finally refused to al
low transfer of the case of four revenue
officers, indicted by the State authorities for
murder in the United States Court. These
officers while in search Of the noted outlaw,
Redmond, who had aided in the release of
illicit distilers from the Jail of Pickens coun-
ty, and was himself largely engaged in the
purchase and sale of illicit spirits, arrived at
the house of one Amos Ladd, driver for
Redmond, when Ladd attemp pied to shoot one
of the officers, and only failed because the
cap on his rifle failed to explode. Before he
could renew the cap, one of the officers shot
him to save his own life. All offcial experts
and the evidence taken show it to have been
a clear case of self:defence. The revenue of:
6rers at once surrendered to the local author
tiles, and were promptly indicted for murder,
thrown into Jail and refused bail. A pro-
longed attempt has been made by the COM
nissioners of internal revenue to take their
case to the Federal Court and release the off.
GERS from arrest. This has been stouty re-
sisted by the State authorities, and Judge
Kershaw has finally refused to transfer, after
a full hearing Of the United States attorney
in the matter. His decision is long, but ils
main point shows its character. He accepts
the theory that the act of killing was done in
self defence, and then holds that this makes it
a personal act, and so not done in the capaci:
ty of revenue officer attempting to execute
the revenue law, but the act of citizen Of a
State assuming to protect himself. After full
consultation with Attorney. General Devens,
it was decided to direct the United States Of
fcers in South Carolina to proceed, under
section CAB of the Revised Statutes, to trans
fer the case to the Circuit Court of the United
States and under writ of habsas corpus to
take the prisoners into the custody of the
United States marshal This act is very
specific as to the method of transferring such
81 case as the present. Upon affidavit and
petition from the United States attorney, the
Circuit Court takes cognizance and directs
the State Court to send up the record, and
from that moment the proceedings in the
State Court must cease. If the defendants
are imprisoned, the United States marshal,
armed with habeas corpus from the Federal
Court, is directed to take the prisoners into
his own keeping, and hold them subject to the
order of the United States Court. There is
a very bitter feeling throughout the whole
section where this case is pending, and the
general sympathy of the citizens and local
State officers is strong ly against the revenue
officers. The commissioner of internal reve-
nue. is determined to protect his officers to the
full extent of his ability"