Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-07-28
CRIME.

of tho deceased. It will create strong
feeling In Tho North and is calculated to
keep up old animosities. 1t has been said
by Northern correspondent that tho insc.
curity Of life 10 the South is tho greatest
obstacle to immigration to the South, and
somo have estimated that there arc fifteen
murders in tho South to ono in the North,
In proportion to population. We do not
believe this, but our criminal courts show
tco plainly that homicide, both here aud in
the North, arc far too frequent. The great
oitics Of tho North are theatres Of tho
most horrible crimes and they appear of
frequent occurrence, but in the country
murder is uncommon. In our sparse and
we'll governed population they ought to bo
still less frequent.
Brayton is represented by the Press of
Greehtille, where he has lived over threo
years, as worthy citizen, disposed to peace
and as mcrciful in the enforcement of the
law as his duty would permit. His re-
mains received proper honor at tho hands
Of the church and Of the Masonic frater-
nifty, Of which lie was member. His
being an officer of the Government, in the
proper discharge Of his duties, tends to ug-
gravate the crime, and render lis killing
moro obnoxious to law abiding citizens here
and elsewhere, especially if tho facts Of the
killing were such as reported. Wo have
heard but one 81 d" the story and if it
bo true the killing is called wilfu murder.
lie, it seems, went to arrest McDow, while
others wero left to watch the stllhouse.
He talked with Mellow, the warrant was
shown to him and when he said he would or
could not 60 to Greenville that day, Bray
ten reasoned with him on oboyibg the
mandate Of the law and that the offensc
With which he was charged was light com
pared with that of resisting an officer.
While Brayton was walking about the yard,
expecting submission by Mellow, it seems
some one from the house fred on Braytop,
the ball passing through tho heart and
producing instant death. It is said NcDow
then followed the other parties to Central,
told what he had done aud was permitted
to escape without any attempt at arrest
Fhis is substantially tho story of the par
ties who accompanied Brayton and as
gathered from citizens, by those who went
after the body. 1t is said also that NloDow
had been running still in mile of
Central for nearly three years, and Mr..
Brayton and posse went with warrant to
enforce the law. We hope to hear many
of these statements modified by future rcs
ports, moro full and reliable than those
gathered in the heat Of excitement.
Why arc these murders of such frequent
OCCURRENCE in our sister county? We
can recall Mitchell, waylaid and assaasi.
mated In tho public road; then Of Looper,
who killed and was killed by liquor pcd4
dler; then Of Lndd; who was shot and killed
BY revenue officers; then of Kelley, who
Was wounded recently; and now of Braytop,
Killed by McDow. 1t seems there is
special feeling of hostility in Pickcns be-
tween the revenue officers and some Of the
people, aud VIC can only account for it on the
injus!icc, might say, of tho United States
Statutes, cxempting revenue officers from
trial in the State courts for offences COM
hnitted by them while on duty. In oil
cases this encourages oppression, leads to
killing and makes the citizen fcol justified
in killing by way of defense. In no case
has any official Of the revenue been tried in
the State courts, but generally getting their
Gases transferred they go Scot free.
Whether the statutes bo just or not they arc
certainly neither wise nor promotive Of
peace, and we think should bo repealed.
We believe our jurics would flud just
verdict ahder the law in all such ooses, and
in knowing the law would protect their
rights, tho citizen would have no cause for
taking the law into his own hands Wo
do not think such'a feeling jastifablc, but
still we think it has much to do With the
lawlessncss of tho past.
Wo arc glad to saythat for ten ycarr,
yea not since the war, has oitiscn been
killed by, or killed revenue officer in this
county. Wo have heard reports occasions
ally Of improper acts by officers, but We
Know of mono being verified. Some Of our
people have engaged in Illicit dstilling, but
have always yielded to tho law, when found
out, and We hardly think an officer in this
county would feel it necessary to go armed
to arrest any reported moonshiner. At
this time there is little if any illegal maxi
ing or traffic Of liquors in this county.
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