Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-18
A TRAVESTY ON JUSTICE,
THE VERDICT IN THE RICHLAND
CASES.
Outrageous SubservIencY Of the
JuTY-PublIc IndignatIon-MOtfO
for Arrest of Judgment and a New
Trial Brewster Again TO His
Henchmen.

CHARLESTON, April 1.-THE announce
ment of the verdict in the Richland cases
this morning produced great excitement
in the community. The negroes
ard their white Republican allies
are jubilant, and regard 1t as the
entering wedge for a new lease of power,
while the respectable whites in the com
munity are surprised and indignant. The
jury was composed of six white and six
colored men, three of the white men being
Republicans and three Democrats. Those
who have watched the progress of the trial
and heard It throughout were confident
that the evidence was totally insufficient to
convict, even leaving out the very question
able character Of the governments wit
nesses and the well known respectability of
the defendants. Under the circumstances,
the worst that was apprehended was a
mistrial.
The verdict was partially explained by
the statement of two of the jurymen IN
court this morning, both of whom stated
that they had signed the verdict under a
misapprehension of the facts, and under
duress. 1t Is now thought that the two
juTymen, who seem TO be plainsAad~imple
eountrymen, were imposed upon and caio-
led into what they thought was a compro-
mise verdict.
Judge Bond would not admit their expla-
naCiOns in open court but ruled that It was
too late, but the counsel for the defendants
have excepted to the ruling and will In all
probability get new trial. The count upon
which the defendants were found guilty
charges them with preventing the super
visor from inspecting the ballot hax before
opening the polls, and the penalty Is inst
the Same as if they had been found guilty
on all the counts in the indictment
The verdict is denounced as unwarranted
in the light of the evidence and as outrage
Gus, as the preponderance of the testimony
was directly TO the reverse, the defenda nts
having proven by credible and competent
witnesses that the box was opened
and shown to the supervisor before the
polls were opened on the morning,
of the election. The verdict is also re
garded as cOnspicuously inconsistent for the
reason that while the defendants are found
gully OF preventing the supervisor from
irsp citing the ballot box they ara found
nos guilty Of the other counts, viz: No
publicly opening the ballot box for fnspec-
Ji7n and rot allowing him to see that the
box was open and empty, and that thev
were found not guilty On the counts charg-
ing them with stufflng the ballot box.
After the announcement of the verdict
sud notice OF exceptions and the motion for
new trial, the court proceeded to the other
cases, the District Attorney having an
nounced that the Sumter county cases
would be called to morrow. Judge Bond
having ovenuled the motion to oussh
the panel of the grand jury.
District Judge Bryan discerning,
the grand jury was organized and sent 70
their rooms, when three cases were given 10
hem The grand jury is composed OF thir-
teen Republicans and nine Democrats. A
Dresentment req1ires the approval OF twelve
Up TO this hour they have made no present
ments, but have adjourned until tomorrow
morning.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-Two more letters
from Attorney General Brewster TO Dallas
Sanders have been made public, one dated
April and the other April 10, both very
long. In the second one the Attorney
General says: 81 cannot see how Judge
Bond or Judge Bryan could have decided
other than they have decided, but It appears
10 me that the information or indictment
containing such charges for conspiracy
should have been prepared before this and
fled as new and distinct c0mplaints against
these new parties, who were irregularly in
troduced upon the former information.
l. is rather late in the day
for these things. They might have been
present, and fear that the delay will either
be the cause of the escape of some OF these
persons or involve the government in
heavy expenses hereafter in pursuing them.
! assure you that they ought TO have been or
ought to be indicted, or there would not be
al attempt now to put them in these infor-
mations. I do not want to be harsh and ex.
acting In this business, but these matters IN
volve questions of great magnitude, and the
public at large-the whole country-is alive
to it, ana any neglect or omission on the
part of those in charge of these cases,
viii be the subject Of very stern criticism,
as theV ought to be-