Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-03-21

---s
Thc Sheriff OF Esicxcsss Re-
ports the Rescue on al,c Dis
tillers--Govcrnop Aaarnp-
toms Response.
COLUMBIA, March I3.-Tho following
Information has been received by the Go.
vernon to-day conccrpiny tho rescue OF
three Illicit distillcrs confined iu tho Pickcns
County jail. Tho report comes from tho
Sheriff Of that comfy:
PIcKENsC. H., s. O., March ii. 1878.
10 HIS Erceliency Gavcrnor Ua0c Hamp-
ton, Columbia, s.. c.:
DEAR SIn-On last Saturday, tho 9th
OF March, the special force of tho United
States rev9guc, under command of Capt.
E G. Hoffman, brought into this place
men charged with violating tho United
States revenue law, viz: Thomas Deczcly,
Milton Stansill aud James Stansil. They
were regularly committed to tho Pickcps
County Jail to my safe keeping, aud not
anticipating that an effort would be made
for their release by any one, | was taken
by surprise bJ party of armed men, Wild
came to the Jail (whcro l livc) and forcco
mo through threats for my lifsto roloase the
above named prisoners.
was perfectly helpless to resist thom,
they having guns presented at me. They
demanded and took tho keys of the Jail from
me, and !, 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 thrco mcu
and took them off on horseback.
Capt. Holman and special force, on
hearing Of what happened, camc to the Jail,
and promptly offered his services to assist
me in rccapturing the prisoners, but know
ing they were too much in the advance, aud
it at night, and not knowing their route, &C.,
thought it advisable not to pursue. l
shall make the best effort l can for the re.
capture of the prisoners, aud l feel it my
duty to submit this matter as it happened
to you. am, very respectfully, your obc
dicnt servant.
JOAB MAULDIN, S. PC.
In reply the Governor at once ad dressed
the following letter to the sheriff:
STATE OF SoUTn CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
!, COLUMBIA, March l3, 1878.
My Dear ,Sir: Your letter Of the 1lth
instant has just reached me and | regret
greatly to lcaru cf the daring violation tf
the law which you report. Such actions
will not only briug disreputc on our people
but will ultimately react on thom. l Shall
expect you to uso all the means in your
power to bring tho offenders to justice, and
reward shall at oncc be offered for their
apprehension.
II 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 deprccates all such outrages as the one
which has been recently committed. Our
people must learn that the laws arc to be
enforced and that all violations of them
will bc punished.
Very respectfully; yours.
WADE HAMPTON,
Joab Mauldcn, Governor.
Sheriff Pickcns County.
Collector f. NJ Brayton, after dispntchng
the facts of tho rescue to the authorities
in Washington, left at ouco for the scene OF
the disturbance.
Further information received this eve
ming states that the party which rescued
tho Illicit distillers from Pickcns jill was
composed of about thirty five men under
the leadership of tho notorious Redmond,
who shot officer Barton few months ago,
and who, it will be remembered, is fug-
tive from North Carolina, where there is
now reward of s 1000 offered for his ap-
prchcnslon as q murderer.
1t is stated that aftor the rescue Red
mond and party went to the house of Wm.
Gary, who has incurred the cnmity of the
distillers by acting as guido to several rcvc-
nuc m raiding parties, for the purpose Of Kill
ling him, but asccrtaining that he was
absent on raid with Deputy Collector
Hoffman, the rescucrs started in pursuit,
and yesterday chased Hoffman, Gary and
posse oi seven men with them across the
country to Easlcy Station on tho Air Line
Railroad, where they now arc.
Collector Brayton received tclcgraphic
orders from Washington this morning TO
organize us large forcc as necessary, and
to pursue and capture Redmond aud his
gang at all hazards. n large force is
accordingly being organized in Grecuyillc,
Spartanburg and Pickcns Counties to-day
to start in pursuit Tomorrow. AS Red.
mond is reported to havc well organized
band, well armed and equipped, and as he
dcfcs arrest, collision i, not improbable,
COLUMBIA, March 13.-The following
telegram has just been received from Col,
cctor Brayton at Spartanburs, S. c.:
Nothing important to communicate.
Am on my way to Pickcns County.
deputy Jillson reports that Redmond,
with thirty-iive mon, pursued tho revenue