Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-11-03

ways resided. He began the practice law in
1910, and was appointed a Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas in 1914, under the old
State constitution. In 1851 he was elected
Judge of the Ontario county court under the
new constitution, and held the Office for four
years. He was Democrat until 1856, when
he left the party on the slavery issue, and
took an active part in organizing the Repub-
lican party. He was elected to the New
York Senate in 1861, and served four success
sive terms, during two Of which he was presi.
dent pro tenn, and presided in the absence of
the lieutenant governor. Being an able law
yer and an effective speaker, he easily took
the leadership on the Republican side, and
took conspicuous part in the principal mat
tiers of legislation, as we'll as in the contests
between the warning Republican factions dur.
ing the administration of Governor Fenton.
President Grant appointed him assistant
treasurer of the United States, at New York,
in 1869. In 1870 he was elected an associate
justice of the Court of Appeals, and held
that position until the death of Chief Justice
Church, in 1880, when Governor Cornell ap.
pointed him to the vacant place. At the en-.
suing election he was chosen chief justice by
a large majority. This position he vacates to
become Secretary of the Treasury.
Noted Murder Case.
The most important case before the
Abbeville Circuit Court, last week, was that
of jeff: David, colored, on trial for murder
The facts of the case are as follows:
On the night of the goth of December
1877, George Franklin and his sister Drucilla
Franklin, living near Simms' Crossroads in
this county, were brutally murdered whilst al
supper and their house robbed. Suspicion
attached to Jeff David and his family, living
on the place, and they were arrested. They
we're brought to trial in April, 1878, Judge
Mackey presiding, and jeff was convicted Of
murder and sentenced to be hanged on the
18th of May following.
When brought 10 trial the prisoner had nc
counsel, and the Court assigned Messrs. w
G. Benet and S. G. Cason to defend them
Owing to the indefatigability of these gentle
men in their efforts to save JEFF, he was re
prieved while on the gallows with the fata
moose around his neck The prisoner was
sent to the penitentiary for safe keeping, anc
another day fixed for his execution. Cover
nor Hampton again reprieved him. 1t is al
most impossible to follow the intricacies o.
the case further than to say that he was nine
times reprieved by Governors Hampton
Simpson, Jeter and Hagood.
In October, 1880, his counsel made mo
tion before Judge Mackey for new trial
based upon strong afidavits. His honor re
fused the motion because he did not think he
had the power to grant it, but iutimated tha
if he had he would do 80. The case wen
again to the Supreme Court on appeal from
this decision. The Court decided that the
Circuit Judge did have authority to gran
the motion. 1t was renewed before Judge
Hudson in June and granted. The prisoner
was put on new trial last Thursday, under
this decision of the Supreme Court, and or
Saturday the case was given to the jury, anc
in half all hour they returned with a verdict
of not guilty. On this happy termination o.
the case, after SO many vicissitudes, the ole
man was completely overcome with joy.
A Union County Murderer Captured.
- The Atlanta Consultation, of Wednes
day, gives the following account of Unior
county murderer who passed through thai
city on the previous night in custody Of the
Sheriff of that county:
At the Western and Atlantic passenger
train, which reached the city last night al
S45 o'clock, there arrived the Sheriff of Un
ion county, South Carolina, and a prisoner
who is wanted in that county for murder.
The mans name is Edwards, and his al
legged victim was a man named Sanders, who
lived in Union county, S. G. The crime was
committed last May two years ago, and Ed
wards has since been fugitive. He is g
young man about thirty years of age, about
five feet eight inches high and weighs about
l45. He is we'll educated and speaks quite
fuently.
Soon after being lodged in the calaboose
last night, where he remained until the Air
Line went out this mornings a reporter visited
him and was rewarded by hearing the follow
ing recital:
"WelI, you see I was born and raised in
South Carolina. My home was in Union
county, and there I married. Near me San.
ders resided. One Wednesday in May, two
years ago, l armed myself with rifle and
started out for hunt. passed field in which
Edwards was working and stopped to talk
We conversed quite while pleasantly, but
finally fell out and got to fighting. Sanders
was too much for me, and in order to prevent
him from killing me shot him. l then went
home, where 1 staid until Sunday, when San.
ders died. l then skipped out, and after a
course Of meanderiDg brought up at Conway,
Polk, county, Arkansas, where I went to work
and where have since been. Several months
ago my wife came out to join, me and in a
short while I learned that had been located
by the South Carolina officials, and that |
would probably be arrested. 1 made no ef-
fort to escape, and when the Sheriff came for
me quietly submitted. feel assured that
l can establish a justification, and l am will
ling to answer the charge. l think | will
come out O. X"
Edwards was heavily ironed, and seemed
to have great faith in his acquittal.
The Palmetto and the Nutmeg.
- The visit of the First Regiment Con-
necticut State Troops to Charleston last week,
was a brilliant ovation, the "cradle of seces-
sion" sparing not single effort to render the
visit of the New England soldiers pleasant
occasion. marked only with sentiments of the
kindliest feeling. We are pleased to believe