Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-06-09
II. A. II. Gibson VS.. d. w. Waters.

EDITORS COURIER: In your issue of the Cd
instant you make alusion TO The arrest of one
D. W. Waters who was arrested under warrant
issued by me against him for s'adultery with q
negro woman," aud owing to the framing Of the
article it might seem to those not acquainted
with tho facts That was somewhat to blanc for
Waters escape; therefore would ask place in
your paper to set myself right.
I issued tho warrant and placed it in the
hands of officer with instructions 10 arrest
Waters at once, who was at tho time (thc 28lh
of May) at Biemann's hotel, it being then after
dark. The officer proceeded to his room and
made the arrest. lie afterwards reported to mo
that Waters was sick, too sick to be carried to
Jail that night, Saturday ngnt.) believing that
he was playing ''possum," I cautioned the
officer to keep sharp surveillance over him and
not let him get away, and that he must take
him to the Jail the next morning and lock him
up, unless he was really too sick to be removed,
stating at the Same Time that should also
commit him Monday morning for oarrying con-
ccaled weapons then went to my home In
West Union and heard nothing moro of the
matter until went TO my Office on Monday
morning following Then for tho first time did
very truly say he could not have been legally
released without the consent of the Trial Justice
and 1t is very certain he did not have that. No
one ever consulted me about dscharging him,
for had even The prosecutor been willing to his
release I would not have discharged him, as
regarded his case one that should have been in
ycstigatcd. His conduct was immoral and
disreputablc in tho extreme, and from tho in
formation in my possession the proof against
him was conclusive; also tho evidence against
him for carrying concealed weapons was incon-
trovcrtiblo. I wish the responsibility Of his
escape TO rest where it properly belongs, but
where that is I do not pretend to say. regret
that should feel myself compelled to have said
anything about tho matter, but in justice to
myself and as o matter of self-defensc I am
constrained to do SO, with no desire, however, of
rejecting upon any one.
p. S.-Since writing Tho above have seen in
tho Anderson Journal IN article aludng TO tho
same case IN which appears the following: "a
warrant was taken out, however, and he was
arrested and taken before Trial Justice Gibson
on n charge of adultery. For some reason or
other, unexplained, he was let off on payment
of COSTS" sc. I desire to say to the Journal
that Waters was never "let off" by me. lie
had not yet been brought ''bcforo" mo for an
examination. AS before stated had issued o
warrant for him and ho had been arrested on
Saturday night and was in the custody Of the
officer making the arrest and intended 10 hold
The preliminary examination on the following
Monday. When inquired after the gentleman
G) Monday morning, on going to my office, l
learned then that hc had taken his flight about
twenty -four hours previous. 1rcgard Waters rs
an infamous bold violator Of tho law. I would
not under any circumstances have listened to o
proposition for his release before preliminary
examination, for l think II ever there was
case in which the strong arm of the law should
| havo been brought to bear it was his. If, how
ever, on examination, the evidence had failed to
make out prima facie caso then, and only thon,
| would lie have been discharged.
II. A. II. GIBSON.