The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-30
JUDICIAL SANCTION OF xuRDER.

> JUDICIAL SANCTION OF MURDER.
We print elsewhere the decision of Judye
Woods, presiding as court of inquiry aud
investigation in the Red Oak murder c.se.
We invite careful attention to this decision
for two reasons; first, taking all the cir.
cumstances into consideration, it is ono of
the most remarkable judgments that ever
emanated from the bench; aud second, it
develops line Of policy on tho part Of
Federal judiciary of very great interest to
our people.
The facts as developed by the prosecu.
ton, are briefly these: On the 24th of
June, jesse Ross and w. A. Jones, living
in or near Red Oak, went to neighbor's 9
for the purpose of procuring threshing
machine. On their way, they met IN nc.
quaintance named Ratterec, whom they
asked to join them. The three then wcrt
ON the ,crrnud, ,-uccomplishsl. their purpose,
aud set out to return, when they met up
with thirteen armed revenue officers. Ross
was in advance of his companions hurrying
forward to get out of shower of rain. He
passed by the officers, accostiug them DO.
litely, and was going on !: but he had gun,
"a single barrelled AFFAIR." and was seized by
the officers. Protesting against such a
proceeding, he resisted the arrest
and was beaten over tho head. 1t is to be
remembered that the arrest was without
warrant or color of law. Jones aud Rat
teree, who had approached near enough to
witness the violence offered their companion.
left the road and from the woods fired at
the posse. The officers returned the fire
with volley from their brecch loading guns
and the TWO men fled. With Ross, the rev.
enue men went in the direction of the fee.
ing men. After having gone hundred or
more yards, Jones and Ratteree crossed the
road ahead of the posse, which Immediately
opened fire aud followed them up, firing in.
cessantly. Ratteree was shot down in the
woods, but Jones jumped over fence into
an open field aud ran for his life. While
crossing this field he was shot in the back
and instantly killed, the ball passing through
his heart. These facts are testified to by
Ross, who was held as prisoner, and who
was in a position to see everything, aud by
Frank Suttles, who witnessed the shooting
of Jones from his house. We have taken
the pains to present the main facts brought
out by the witnesses for the prosecution for
tho reason that Judge Woods decision is
summary testimony of the revenue witnesses.
There are some other facts in connection
with the case worth adverting to. In the
first place, Judge Woods was sitting as a
court Of inquiry merely, the investigation
having been transferred from the Justice
court OF Red Oak to the Federal court in
Atlanta. The question for him to decide
was whether there were probable grounds
for believing that tho circumstances atteu d.
ing the killing should be reviewed by o
jury Of twelve honest and impartial men.
Certainly Jones is dead There was no
testimony introduced to show that he is still
alive. 1t is admitted on all hands that he
was killed by the revenue men that he vas
shot in the back and through tn, heart
that he fell and died some distance from
the road and it needs no testimony to show
that man shot through the heart cannot
run hundred yards or more. With the
guilt or innocence Of the accused Judge
Woods had nothing to do. He was to de-
eide merely whether the testimony and the
facts should 60 to jury.
In the second place, even if the testi.
mony of the revenue men had not been, as
we are informed, confused aud contradictory,
the fact that they were witnesses in their
own behalf should have had decisive effect.
Judge Woods not only allowed this testi-
mony to Offset his decision, but really based
bis judgment upon it, thus, in effect, max.
ing his position shield for crimes com.
mitted upon the lives of citizens by Federal
officers.
Such, probably, is not the intention of
the decision, but such is its effect. It is
an advertisement to government officials
that they are safe in pursuing citizens to
death, and that they will be spared even
the modification of a trial by jury that
whatever crime they may commit, they are
safer, not only from the laws of the State,
but from the laws Of the United States !;
and that the testimony of accused persons
in their own behalf shall have moro weight,
provided they be armed with Federal Com.
missions and brecch. leaders, than the testi-
mony of disiDterested citizens. We need
not point out to Judge Woods the condi-
tion Of affairs his decision invites. He is
perfectly we'll aware of it. But we present
tho matter to the attention Of the people
Of the North in order that they may appre-
ciate the scope given to those who pursue
and oppress our people under color Of the
Federal authority Atldnta Constitution.
---0.--
IRON FILINGS FOR PEAR TREEs.-Mr.
G.. A. Hubbard, Now Haven, Conn, writes
the Scientific American, that it is conjeo-
turod that New Haven county has larger
supply Of choice pear trees than any other
county in the United States. Some fne va
rieties. notably the Flemish Beauty and