The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-07
Federal DHirIcrs.

Chic: Justice Warner, Of the Georgia
! Supreme Court, is nov nearly eighty years
of age and in good health. Ecwas Con-
! c.te:sn,aa and judge before the war. How
! he fell into the lands Of Yankee hum-
mcrs is thus told by the Augusta Ch'oni-
clc and Sentinel:
In the spring Of 1865 land after the
surrender of General Johnson, though
that disaster was not officially known in
Georgia) Judge Warner was at bis plan
tation in Merriwether county, awaiting
the approach Of one of Wilson's columns
of Federal raiders, which was then pass
ing through the country. All the whites
on the place fled except Judge Warner
and his married daughter. The latter
had child only week old; and as she
could not be moved, the father remained.
with her. During the morning several
detachments of cavalry had halted at the
house and made themselves free with
anything they desired in the way of
portable property" but no violence was
done to the inmates. About noon anoth-
er party arrived and stopped to feed their
horses and to plundcr. After satisfying
their appetites they began to pillage, aud
the Judges silver and other valuables
were soon stowered away in tie capacious
saddle bags. While they were robbing
the smoke.house of hams and pickles and
preserves the Judge stood by in silence
watching their proceedings. After the
building had been thoroughly pillaged, a
revolver was suddenly presented at his
head and he was ordered to accompany
the party. Midway between the house
and the "negro quarter" was body of
woodland, and into this grove Judge
Warner was conducted by his captors.
Reaching place secluded from observa'
tion, the leader of the band, who wore the
uniform of federal captain, took out his
watch and said he would give him three
minutes to tell where his gold was hid
den. Judge Warren protested that he
had no gold, but to no avail. They had
been informed along their line OF march
that he had secret board, and the "d-d
old secessionalist" must give it up. Tho
prisoner urged that he had been a strong
Union man and that the only money he
had was in Confederate currency and in
Central Railroad bills. They robbed
MIN of S5 400 of the former and $4,000
of the latter, which they found upon his
person, but continued to insist that he
had gold and must produce it. At the
expiration of the three minutes the cap
tain made q signal, one of the men took
from horse long leathern strap with n
running moose + one end, while the 9th
ers extemporiztl gallows by bending
down the end of q stout sapling. With
al cath, the officer made them select q
larger and stronger tree, Judge Warner
remaicing silent, for the sufficient reason
that he had nothing to tell. One end OF
the strap was adjusted around his neck
and the other fastened securely to atrec.
The sapling was gradually released until
the line became taut, when it was turned
loose and the Judges body dangled in
the air. When he recovered conscious
ness the brutes still surrounded him, and
he was again ordered to give up his gold
under penalty Of death. He could only
reply as before, and again the sapling
was released. This occurred about two
clock. When be revived the sun was
nearly down. He lay ct the foot of tie
impromptu gallows, the halter had been
removed from his neck, and the leaves,
which covered the ground several inches
deep, were burning within few feet of
him. He thinks the heat of the flames
restored him TO consciousness ard to life.
The wretches had left him for dead and
SET fire to the woods to conceal the evil
dence of their crime. The Judge was
able to find his way to the house, where
he lay ill for many days. He finally re-
covered and now shows no signs of the
violence to which he was subjected. He is
confident that the captain and soldiers
who figured rs amateur haugmen be-
longed to a regiment of Wisconsin caval.
ry, though he does not remember any of
their names. Judge Warner is wont TO
say that he has suffered all the pangs OF
dissolution and has been "as near dead
as he ever expects to be-"