, 1879-02-20
y1LLA1N0US PERSECUTION.
Case nj Sam Ler, uf South Caroltnu.
DtfF1tt {hs. ant Tribune

Ca'a ot Sam Lcr, "f South Caroltnn.
Dttrot {1s. amt Tribune
Not long ago. President Hayes appointed
sant,tcl Lee, tnulattot cx-ProDatp Judge and
United States Commissioner Of Sumter County,
South Carolinn, Postmaster Mt Sumter. This
rartly BECAUSE Lee, who Is lcadtng roorcd Ro-
publican ot Its county, n,,d Is certified to bs
well qualified b. Intelligence a1nl otherwise fur
tho office, IL alleged 10 have been prosecuted III
cowartlly aIHl mem WY By the Dcmucru.s for
doing Ills duty as Il citizen, an oiciaI, and TO-
publican during und sinte tlte lntc election.
hefosc the election tic Democratic b,sildozcrs
n'au ssveral @ ,,i iat'tsts to ivolyo lni In
activity and tntlrcnce rs a Kcpuh!tcau leader.
After the election I4eu was summoned Urfuro
the United States Grainl Jury Ut Charles
lon, uni alao oe!ore ,le Teller Congressional
COMMITTEES, as witness against tic lll-
dozers.. ln order TO prevent his going, tic via
arrested nnh 1htctl+ Under n carcc oi lnl int;
left his of)Icc Of Judge of lrohate closed Bn,ne
ui jail. a. he went to Charleston .. testified.
Tn his return, the lulil0zers Hired ha1i-wlttcd
1leEru to 20 Tito llfs Office As1d rntse disturb
nnce, hopltg tf.at Leu would nttcmpa to put thu
fellow 0ltt, when he Was to be Allot Ia the nc
lee. hut Lee escaped; aud the ncgro told Ut
al!c pluti nlMt Lce had the cot1tpfrntors arFcstcd
ni,d taiscu to Charleston to nl,swer for interfcr-
inE With him H. bis duties Is United States
N1lHlllSSAuHEIs ~ blAGs W aI1Ak9 HE EOmpInlnL
It was necessary ior him to oe agatn nbsent from
Ills ntrc several days. lie hal also been
absent teyeral days when summoned as
witness to the election ontrnges. The State Ut
probate: or other state otllc;als, frum leaving
tlts offices c1oscd except for tilncss, md also
lar prosltllpE tlt"t thu, may bc tried, found
guilty, AMI sentenced when llo Is absent. Under
erntcncc3 to tmprsonncnt during Ills abtcncc,
1ur tc "gritru - Of ieurlng ills oll1ce Of Judge
ol Probate occas!o'ially to attend to his duties
lis citizen, and to answer a summons Us Wit
1tss btinrI Congressional Committee, n,lu III
dtschargIin. his duty ns United Suites Commits
eEoner! S!t,ee The trial l.Mi sentence Lee hos
disappeared, nlld Ia supposed to have ettlicr
gone to Washington Or 10 be in hiding until tte
Cnltca States Courts or the authorities at WASH
in;<t0n can ret him :cllef and protection. just
heiore Ills tr!al hc sent tho following letter to
Washington:
/ rcncLtd home Friday morning, finding a most
r'sna srs asan.t Ill tic % witac.ses 1 who sess
nns Dn.oFe seHt cnn!t'es for tue fpub|!s
nf PRINCIPAL ut the colorcu .chuols Of our town,
iuts to hin o! SUD per nl,nt,. >, 1,wna
md anostrr DemocfSt q l,ralalusnce CO. -hels Tho
AllhsiAncr OK which was ihla Several charges Will
ny "s, ~ - e I ret TsSk s1ns
anna III Sumter County fur rI0iA.on .os. election
nw., and rsta4e to rlyc aaY further .e.tItuouT Tor
The Limited statcs fsuveEnnent belorc. tic cOusta.
tlial rl-k tnu contequencea OF tho rrfntal. all,
crime n or OUT " oalce. aud am >determlncd 10
maintain my ael'-reapeet ana honor and Will not
;e' oe " o1 na for t'
T'l,e question now Is, what will tho Unltc.l
Statcs authorities tlol The Postuluster-G General
ta', II he clnoscs, shut up the PUst-Onl ut
Sumter. I'M! keeU It shut until tile sunlcncs
aganst l.ce by the statc Court is cxpunget. Or
If hn HIttnSrS. 1t1X nil Fh4t