Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-30

sideration $106. .l 49,. a"i2 SO Lna".
J. Henry Toole to J. B. johnson. Lot iI
Rock Hill. Consideration $400.
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.
The New Pension Bill.
- The new pension bill is in the nature o.
provision for "back pay" The estimates
for the next fiscal year for pensions on account
of death or wounds received or disease con
tracted during the late war Of the rebellion
are as follows: Invalids $13, 400, 900, widow
and dependent relatives 100000; tota
$25 100000 The total number Of pensioner,
on the rolls on June 80, 1877, was 232,104
The average annual value Of a pension, there
fore, is about $1O9 In 1865, at the close o
the war, the number of pensioners was s5,986
The number of pensioners, therefore, to whom
one years arrearages will have to be paid un
der the new law, will exceed 100000, and th'
arreages will amount to not less than SIS,
100000. The number who will draw two
years arrearage will reach 100000, and theil
back pay will exceed s20,000,000. These
figures will illustrate the enormous sums tt
he taken from the Treasury b. the bill, which
was passed without debate and without CON
sideration. No one can examine the last re
port Of the Commissioner of Pensions, and
particularly the tables showing the number
of pensioners ON the rolls at the termination
of each fiscal year since 1861, and resist the
conclusion that the arrearages under this bill
will amount to at least $50, ,OOO, 900, and may
exceed s150,O0O.0O0. .'' y .'' - : D..
1t. George D. Wallace. -
"a court of inquiry has recently been
in session at Chicago, to investigate the con.
duct of Maj. Reno, of the 7th Cavalry, in
connection with the fight with Sioux Indians,
in the valley of the Big Horn, on the 25th Of
June, 1876, which resulted in the massacre Of
It.. Colonel Custer and Eve companies Of the
Seventh Cavalry. Previous to the commence
ment Of the fight, the regiment was divided
and battalion placed under the command
of Mai. Reno, which was sent in a different
direction from that taken by 1t. Colonel Gus
ter. The charge against Reno, in effect, is
that he did not properly support Custer, and
was, in measure, responsible for the result.
The evidence given before the court is pub
lished in the Chicago Tribune, and is quite
voluminous. Among the witnesses examined
was Lieut. George D. Wallace, native OF
this county, who was connected with the COM
mand of Maj Reno, and participated in the
fight. Lieut.. Wallace was subjected to a
rigid examination, which embraced three con.
secutive sessions Of the court, in as many days.
In his testimony, Lieut.. Wallace endorses
Maj. Reno's conduct in every respect, and
thinks that he did the best that could have
been done under the circumstances. The
Tribune, in closing the report Of the evidence
of Lieut.. Wallace, says:
'sNobody had anything further to ask the
witness, who, after three days ordeal, was
apparently glad enough to be relieved from
further duty as all occupant of the witness
chair. During. that ordeal he had very favor
ably impressed everybody, including, appa-
rently, the Court itself, by his easy, frank
manners, and his evident desire to give al the
information in his possession.
The Keitt Libel Case.
-- The suit Of Ellison s. Keitt, generally
known as Col. Keitt, Of Newberry, South
Carolina, against George S. Jones, for alleged
libel published in the New. York Times Of
September 6, 1877, came on for trial last
week, in New York, before Judge Sbipman
and jury in the United States District
Court. The plaintiff claimed $4,000 dam
ages He iss "a brother of the late Lawrence
NJ. Keitt,, former member Of Congress from
South Carolina. The article on which the
suit is based was headed: ARREST of South
ern Bigaimist COL Keitt, Of Newberry, s. c.,
Held to await the action Of the Grand Jury ;
A Stir Among Best People," and states that
the Colonel was arrested on the charge Of big.
amy, and in default of bail, was held to await
the action of the grand jury. Mr.. Jones, in
his answer, denied that the article was pub
lished maliciously, and avered that it did not
apply to the plaintiff, but to another person
of the same name Of Col. Keitt. Col. Keitt
testified that he had lived on his plantation
at Newberry Court House since 1865, and he
got his title from commanding company Of
Confederate troops, but never got commits
sion. He was generally known as Col. Keitt,
in that region. He denied the charge Of
bigamy. There was negro, he said, on his
plantation, named Tom Keitt, who was a
slave on his fathers plantation. This man
was appointed county commissioner, and was
also member of the Legislature. He was
arrested in September, 1877, for bigamy, and
was sentenced to the State prison, where he
now is.
After full hearing Of the case, and argu-
ment, the jury rendered verdict for the
plaintiff of six cents.
Governor Hampton Visits the State House.
= The Columbis Register states that on
the 22nd instant, Governor Hampton, paid
short visit to the executive office in the State
House. He entered so quietly, and so much
after the manner of matter of course, that
many persons who were in the house did not
know Of his arrival for some time. He was
met at the door by Governor Simpson, secre.
tary Of State Sims, Private Secretary Man.
ming, and some other gentlemen who we're