The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-07-26
From the News and Courier
REDMOND'S STRANGE STORY.
A TALK WITH THE OUTLAW IN THE HEART OF TIL,
RIDGE.
VISITING HENDRICKS g

VISITING HENDRICKS,
They found an overcoat. which several
said was mine, but did not think so, and
would not take it. They tried to pursuade
me to do so, but 1 told them would not
wear another mans coat as long as l could
buy Que for myself. The shawl was net
there, aud one of the party was about to
seize saddle blanket in place of it, but I
stopped him, and made him leave it where
he found it. told them that the officers
had not stolen anything of the kind from
mo, aud [ would have nothing but what [
knew was niue. l kept them from taking
away yseycral other things, and took no.hiny
at oil myself The court met few days
altar this, and'a bench warrant was issued
for me for stealing the two overcoats:"
JUDGE MACKEY's PART.
" have been informed by an officer Of
the Court of Pickens Coun.y that when
the charge was preferred in court against
Redmond, of having led this raid and Of
having taken the ovcrcoats, the grand jury
examined the witnesses aud, finding no
proof against him in either matter, returned
to the court room aud handed in a verdict
of "No bill! !" Judge Mackoy at once sent
them back with other witnesses, and again
they returned with the same verdict. He
sent them back the third time with the rel
mark, 81 suppose, gentlemen, you have not
had enough Witnesses" and seeing that he
was determined to have it, they returned at
last with an indictment. The proceedings
in grand7ju room are, of course .-secret,
m 10 in, 81, p
the evidence upon which this one based its
final verdict was two.fold, to wit: First, that
two overcoats were taken by party of men
from Hendricks house; second, that Red
mond was seen at Pichens Courthouse ne:rt
day with the Same party. On this alleged
evidence "the Court issued it's bench war
rant, ordering RcdmoSd to be brought into
its preincts dead or alive. A posse was
accordingly sent after hin, they found him
at work in his field, and ordered him to
halt and surrender. Not knowing who they
were or what they wanted, Redmond re.
fused to obey, and they fred upon him and
continued firing until he obtained shelter
in the woods. Possibly being lust men
they did not try to hit him-we may hope
~ : cry MI Mn 4 ass.svs.-.
had 'takon place on the Saturday, the 10Th,
preceding the Intellectual raid after Gary.
which took place Monday, the 11th, and of
course Redmond, who did not lead the Gary
raid, led the jaikbreakers also. OF course
he did no such thing. In point of fact, he
was across the line in North Carolina when
the Jail was broken, and knew nothing of
it until no was informed of the occurrence.
There are plenty of witnesses to prove that
he was in North Carolina at the time, and.
it this is not enough, Sheriff Mauldin is
ready to testify that he was not in the party
who rescued the prisoners from his keeping.
But the timorous revenue officers declared
that Redmond and Ills gang of forty or
fifty msa2 had chased them across the
canBeS tof tWo days and until they found
elthin the walls of Easley Station
.s61bs ono had evidently stolen their sacred
overcoats from the (sometimes) iusiolsbl6:
sanctuary Of private dwelling JTdrS
Mackey and all the mighty revenue depart
ment were excited for the fato of the
country, and an example must be made of
somebody q NV ho 80 suitable for ths,liIIsl q
flee as Redmond-the official revenue scape.
goat-the raging ram presently to be caught
in the thickct
THE BATCH OF WARRANTS.
/ understand that at the same time the
aforesaid bench warrant was issued for Red
mond four others were issued for certain
revenue officers who were also charged with
sundry crimes and misdemeanors. That
one against Redmond, as we have seen, was
very nearly put into fatal execution, and
still hangs over his head the others, 1 am
informed, were recalled before the court
adjourned. Why wero they Issued, and
why and when recalled do not know.
ANOTHER BIT OF HISTORY.
And while am off my subject, let me
inform the public Of another bit of revenue
history. do not propose to defend those
who broke into PickeSsSjail, but it may be
as well to know, for the first time, whom it
was they turned loose on that occasion.-
The rescued prisoners were three in nun.
Dor; one q man named Beasely, who was
caught in an Illicit still house; the other
two were father and son named Stansill.
The father was 60 years of age, and the
son l6. Both were arrested at their homes.
handcu6ed, carried to Pickens and there
lodged in Jail to await trial. Their neigh.
bors released them, and they returned to
their homes and resumed their daily labor
on the little farm from which they had been
torn and marched off in disgrace. Rear
rested little later by the county officer
han mas ,sol IxR IL