Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-10-24
THE SUMTER TROUBLES.

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work, are cash in advance.
THE SUMTER TROUBLES.
On Thursday last, T. j. Coghlan, the Re
publican Chairman of the Board Of Count,
Commissioners of Sumter county, sued out be
fore Sam Lee, as United States Commissioner
four warrants for the arrest of four citizen
of Sumter, for the violation of chapter 7, it'll
70, Revised Statutes of the United States
The gentlemen named in the warrants ar
Messrs E. F. McCutchen, j. E. Schwerin
L. w. Phillips, and John W. Mccoy. Th'
offence alleged was assault with intent to xii
the said Coghlan. The defendants were ia
ken to Charleston, and on Saturday last ap
peared before United States Commissions
Warren R. Marshall for preliminary exami
nation. Gen. E. w. Noise, Col. John. j
Dargan, COL Edward McCrady, Jr., and Col
Samuel Lord, Jr., we're announced as coun
sci for the defendants. The United States
district attorney appeared for the Govern
ment.
By agreement between the counsel, the case
of the United States vs.. John w. Mccoy wa'
first called, and the commissioner, after hear
ing argument, ruled that the examination wa'
merely preliminary, and he would hear only
an ex parte statement of the case from the
witnesses of the prosecution and would mol
hear any testimony for the defence. Gen
Noise stated in this connection that they
would not press this point with reference tt
Mr.. Mccoy, ss he was satisfied the witness
for the prosecution would clearly fail to con
meet the young man with the offence charged
the fact being that on the day of the alleged
outrage, he was eleven miles away at the
death. bed of his sister.
After reading the affidavit against Mccoy
number of witnesses were examined, wher
Coghlan, having obtained the consent Of the
commissioner to make statement, came for
ward and said While have every conf
dence ia the district attorney and yoursel
as officers of the United States, am at the
same time not disposed to pursue anybody
with vindictive feelings. am perfectly
willing to let the matter drop, but l mus
have one proviso, and that is that the Repub
lican party be allowed to hold their meetings
in Sumter county in peace, and that they be
not intruded upon, or as it is called, division
of time be demanded, unless by the consent
of the Republican party. If the gentlemen
who represent the defence will grant me this
assurance, Twill agree to drop the matter and
will be satisfied.
The commissioner stated that the condi
tions offered by Mr.. Coghlan were such as
we're not admissible for his consideration. Il
there was to be compromise in the matter
he would prefer it to be arranged out of his
presence. After considerable argument on
both sides as to whether the cases should be
continued, the defence insisting upon going
on at once, and urging the hardship that a
continuance would work to the defendants
the commissioner decided to continue the 9th.
er cases until Tuesday, the 29th instant.
The question of bail then came up, and the
district attorney very unnecessarily pressed
the imposition of bail that, under the cir.
cumstances, would be very hard for the de.
PENDANTS to secure. After hearing argument
the commissioner fixed the bail at 5000 each
and to cap the climax of the farce, Coghlan,
the prosecutor, went on the bonds of the de,
PENDANTS as security for their appearance al
the time specified.
Coghlan, the prosecutor, was once sheriff Of
Sumter county, when he FIRST joined the Radi.
Gals. He is an Irishman by birth, and must
be near 80 years of age. He has been living
in Sumter for long time, and in 1870 lef,
the Radical party, for which he was roundly
abused by them, and joined the Carpenter
and Butler movement. Afterwards he was
appointed trial justice, and held this position
until Hampton came into office, when he was
removed. There are warrants now out charg
ing Coghlan with twenty-three separate
crimes and misdemeanors, and his anxiety tc
compromise, under the circumstances, is moi
peculiar.