The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-17
The Mystery of an Ex.Governor's Ar
rest.
NeU York Sun.

II may we'll be doubted whether the charge
upon which Ex-Governor Moses, Of South Car
olina, has been arrested, is the true reason Of
his apprehension. For many weeks he has
been living In this city. and obtaininga liveli-
hood by selling to the Sun and World hisknow-
ledge Of the South Carolina ring finds. 1t
cannot be denied that his facility for throw
Ing light upon those nefarious transactions
were tirst-class. During his gubernatorial ca
reer the era OF robbery and rapine was well ad.
vanced towar Its meridian, which was fully
reached under the administration of Cham
b t;,s r. Noses NOSES was Z pSe s,;ersd y a &c En shaTl
ed in their divisions OF the plumber. The Of
flee which he held required that he should be
taken into the confidence Of the ring, and his
approval was essential to the accomplishment
OF some OF their most barefnced robberies.
Thus situated he could not help possessing
himself Of valuable information rs to the
methods by which the thieving took place,
and the parties who were chiefly instrument
nj in perpetrating 1t. The officer whO arrested
him on the streets Of this city, day before yes
terday, presented q requisition from Governor
Jr., and also II copy OF an indictment charging
him with the forgery Of the payee's name on
n promissory note drawn by Moses in favor OF
J. Woodruff, for 1915; dated Charleston, Janu-
airy II, 1877, and payable ninety days thereaf-
ter.
1t is necessary to bear in mind that during
the time when Chamberlain was Governor,
the grand jury indicted Moses for the fraudr-
lent issue, as Speaker Of the House, of pay
certificates, and also for counseling q breach
OF trust. He escaped the legal consequences
of this Indictment by turning States evidence,
but he never forgave Chamberlain, who Mt
that time covered his intrigucs by assuming
the relorlncr's mask, for the part he took In
bringing him to grief. AS soon, therefore rs
Moses came to New York, ne opened ms que.
and exposed, as far as his knowledge or infor-
nation Went, the completely of Chamberlain
in the schemes concocted to plumber the State
sP.,-- LII M
had long been suspected, that Daniel II. Cham.
bcrlain furnishcn the brains Of the ring, and
Us deeply involved rs any Of his confedcrates.
Such being the fact, 1t has ALWAYS been IL mys-
terry to outsiders why this man, who now prac-
tices law before our courts, and affects the airs
Of an innocent person, Is permitted to 20 ut
liberty, while those who are his subordinatcs
and agents in corruption are gathered into the
drag-net OF Justice.
The same influences that so effectually pro-
tectcd Chamberlain. It is now alleged, have
caused the arrest Of Moses In retaliation for
the exposure which he made. We regret for
Governor HamptOu'S sake to say that there
Is altogether too much ground for ere dlting
the allegation. In view of the fact that 1t has
been expressly charged against him that I'M
munity to Chamberlain was eNactcd by Hayes
us one OF the conditions of the recognition OF
Hampton as Governor, the latter should have
carefully guarded his official action, IL the
be Interpreted as a classification of 1t. That
Chamberlain, the head and the front OF the
South Carolina ring, has not been prosecuted
Is an ugly obstacle to the vlndication of Gov
ernor Hampton's innocence. For ourselves.
however, we are prepared to- await the issue
of the ring trials before giving credence to the
stories of his accuscrs. Their FEASIBILITY Is
not proof of their truth: Governor :Halnp-
toms high sense of honor has hitherto been as
udhesitatingly admitted rs his shining tai.
cnts. We have iaith that he will emerge
without a blot upon his escutchcon, and we
regret that there are SO many who do not
share that faith.