Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-12-20
The Aurkrille Guq11irer.
YORKVILLE. $. &. /:
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 20, 1888.
END OF THE POLITICAL TRIALS.

In the United States District Court at COL
umbia, the Marion conspiracy case was dis
posed of on Wednesday by ending in mis-
trial. The next case to be taken up was
that of McGill and Heron, of Fairfield,
who were charged with preventing and in
timidating voters of the Monticello precinct
in the election of 1882. This case, however,
collapsed before going through the form OF
a trial, the particulars Of which are thus
furnished by the Columbia correspondent OF
the Nears and Courier, under date ofthe 18th :
When the United States Circuit Court con-
vened this morning the general public were
under the impression that the Court, as pre-
viously announced, would proceed with the
county, charged with conspiracy to prevent
qualified voters from voting. Since last
Saturday, when the Marion case began, Dis
trict Attorney Melton has absented himself
from the courtroom, and has announced
once or twice that he was engaged in work
ING up the Fairfield case. When Mr.. Mel
ton, ffanked by Mr.. Speer, walked into the
courtroom this morning with their arms full
of books and papers, it was fairly presumed
that the Fairfield case had been worked up.
Judge Bond had hardly taken his seat, how
ever, when Col. John G. Haskell, one Of the
counsel for the defendants, asked for con-
tinuance of the case on the ground that sew
eral material witnesses for the defence, some
of whom had been subppnaed and Others
notified, had failed to appear. WeWill con
fess frankly, furthermore, said Col. Haskell,
that there are reasons Of a personal nature
which enter into this request. There are
matters of public business Of great moment
IL fo.f fho lafannn q
ent engaged. Owing to our duties in this
regard and the very short time which has
ELAPSED since the information has been hand.
ed to us, we do not think that counsel could
prepare themselves for trial on such short
notice in the manner which its importance
demands.
Mr.. Melton in reply said 81 cannot Off
cially take into consideration matters OF
mere personal convenience. If counsel on
the other side say that they can come with
in the rule am compelled to insist that they
do so. If the gentlemen are taken by sur
prise, or if they are to be delayed here sim
Div in the preparation of the necessary and
proper affidavits to bring themselves within
the rule, | will take the oral statement OF
counsel that they shall be hereafter made.
] don't care even about that; but DO want
to know on what grounds the continuance Is
desired. Standing here as do in the dis,
charge Of my duty, insist that they shall
be made KNOWN
Judge Bond ~ don't think it is worth
while to proceed with this case or any OF
these cases. The juries have been locked up
for several days with no result. 1t seems to
me that we are making no progress what
ever, and | think that the cases should be
continued to the next term"
Mr.. Melton: "But, may it please your
Honor, this is the first intimation that we
have had that this case would not be tried,
or that the other side would not be ready to
proceed. l have assumed that it would be
ready to proceed, and knowing that your
Honor was compelled to be in Charlotte on
the 18th, and knowing that this case would
consume at least three or four days, / have
dismissed all my witnesses in the other
cases."
Judge Bond: "Then let all the election
cases be continued until the next term"
And so the curtain falls upon the last act OF
the great Greenback benefit performance, a
performance, which, as was predicted by the
Ne,cs and Courier week ago, would terml-
nate in a roaring farce. Mr.. Speer will re-
turn to Georgia with not aSingle Democrat
ic scalp dangling from his official belt. His
pockets may, fOrsooth, be heavier, but he
may with profit in his calmer mood recall
the wise words of the poet Johnson, that
"He that is respectlesS in his courses oftsells
his reputation at cheap market" Of the
timorous McLane and his perjured witnesses
little more need be said, and as they stink
away from the scene, the people of South
Carolina may appropriately say, in the Ian
guage Of Mr.. Moody at the Greenback meet
ing in Marion: "The cowardly villains have
gone. Let them CO."
After the continuance of the political cases
had been recorded, the Court proceeded with
the transaction of civil business.