Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-20
THE CASH AFFAIR.

| bia for commitment by order of Gov. Thompson,
as accessory after the fact Of the murder of w.
H. H. Richards by w. Boggan Cash, appeared
| before Chief Justice Simpson last Thursday on a
writ Of habeas corpus. AttorneyGeneral Miles
and Solicitor Newton, Of the Fourth Circuit, rep
| resented the State Col. Cash was represented
by Messrs Pope, Watts and Ball. Solicitor
Newton read the papers under which Cash was
held. In addition to the documents of commit
ment, &C., and evidence before the coroner s
Jury, number Of atfidavits were re.>d. The fol-
lowing, from Governor Thompson, gives his
tory of his successive steps in the matter of
securing the arrest of Cash:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
| RICHLAND COUNTY.
| Personally appeared beforeme Hugh S. ThOmp-
son. Governor Of South Carolina, who, being
| duly sworn, deposes that the following are the
facts and circumstances in relation to the arrest
| and detention of E. b. c. Cash by the Chief Con-
stable of the State under instructions and direc-
tons given to him by him as Governor:
| On the 23d of February received telegram
! from the intendant Of Cheraw that w. b. Cash
| had shot down two men in Cheraw that after
noon and made his escape. No reply was made
to this telegram. On the 9th of February re-
ceved letter from Chesterfield county dated
| the 26th of February. The writer stated that as
one of the grand jurors of Chesterfield he thought
| it his duty TO inform me that w. B. Cash had
| come to Cheraw on Saturday and shot down two
| of the best citizens without provOcatlon; that
the officer went to arrest him; that T. B. G.. Cash
told the officer he glad that his son had shot
the marshal, and said if the marshal did not die
| he would kill him on sight; that E. B. c. Cash
| had made threats against some OF the best men
in town; that the officers were afraid to do any
thing, for they would be killed that e. b. G..
| Cash and w. B. Cash had four Winchester rifles,
| and they said if the people of Cheraw came to
make arrests they would make itlively for them.
The writer expressed the hope that would take
| hat ~ nf
it be known that he had written me, because if
either of the Cashes found it out they would
shoot him on sight that w. B. Cash had crowd
of armed men and defed arrest. Tho writer
stated further that he had told some of the best
citizens of the county that he intended to write
to me, and they asked him to requst me to act at
once. He also stated that some of the citizens
against whom the Cashes had made threats were
very much worried, and desired me to take ac-
ton without delay. l replied to this letter that
I could not act officially upon private informa-
ton and could not assume that the Sheriff and
other officers would fail to do their duty, but
that upon sufficient information that the proper
officers would not could not execute legal
warrants, would take such steps as should
be advised would be necessary to enable the
officers to enforce the law.
On the 10Th of February the following tele-
gram was received by me at II a. NJ:
olina: Richards, one of Cash's victims is dead.
He is still at large; defies arrest Unless imme-
diate action other lives may be sacrificed;
JOHN T. MCNAIR, Intendant."
The following reply was sent Immediately:
John T. McNair, Intendant, Cheraw, S. c. ::
Your telegram received. The Sheriff is the
proper officer to serve process. He has full
power to execute warrants and it is his duty to do
so. HUGH S. THOMPSON, Governor
The Intendant of Cheraw having notified me
of the shooting, and OF the failure of the Sheriff
to execute the warrant Of arrest, and having also
appealed to me to take action to prevent further
sacrifice of life, and fearing that the Sheriff was
not discharging his duty, about, P. NJ. of the
same day teegraphed the Sheriff of Chester
field the telegram received from the Intendant,
and that he must execute forthwith any warrant
for the arrest of Cash that might be put in his
hands. I at the same time telegraphed the In
tendant of Cheraw what l had telegraphed the
Sheriff. and asked to see that my telegram reach
ed the Sheriff. This telegram was delivered to
the Sheriff, I was informed about 7.30 P. NJ. on
the 10Th of February. / received no answer to
these kilograms.
Having received no further communication
from Chesterfield county, on the 3rd of March,
about P. NJ, telegraphed to the Sheriff Of
Chesterfield, HAS Cash been arrested If not,
why not ? Give me reasons and full particulars
at once" I at the same time sent similar tele-
gram to the Intendant Of Cheraw. About 1920
p. NJ, on the 3rd Of March, received a telegram
from the Intendant Of Cheraw that Cash "Had
not been arrested. Was at home this afternoon
armed. Sheriff done nothing to my knowledge.
Father and son defy warrant / was informed
that my telegram Of the 3rd of March was deliv-
cred to the Sheriff at 11.45 p. NJ, of that day.
About II NJ, on the 4th Of March, l gave the
Chief Constable of the State instructions to pro-
ceed to Cheraw and enforce the arrest Of Cash.
These instructions were as follows
estate OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, S. c. March 4, 1884
Captain r. n. Richbourg, Chief Constable
Sir: Authentic information has reached me that
Cach of fol Vrh N
one Richards, has not been arrested and dehes
arrest. Immediately upon receipt of this intor-
nation I telegraphed the Sheriff of Chesterfield
county to execute the warrant Of arrest and have
again telegraphed to know whether the arrest
has been made, but am without reply. 1 con-
slider that the circumstances of this case require
the exercise Of the powers given to you as Chief
Constable of the State for the due execution of
legal process, and the laws of the State. Gou
will therefore Immediately upon receipt Of this
proceed to Cheraw and ascertain the facts Of the
case and learn from the Sheriff whether the war
rant OF arrest had been executed, and if defen-
dant has not been arrested you will forthwith
proceed to enforce the execution of the laws of
the State by causing the immediate arrest and
committal of the defendant, requiring the Sheriff
to give you such assistance as you need. will
furnish you with all the information communi-
Gated to me and will give you such further in
structions as to your powers and duties as you
may desire. HUGH S. THOMPSON, Governor
At the same time telegraphed to II. II. New
ton, Esq, Solicitor Of the Fourth Circuit the
facts and circumstances hereinbefore stated and
requested him to 60 to Cheraw. About P. NJ
of the same day l received from p. f. Spofford
Sheriff of Chesterfield, a telegram: "Cash has
not been arrested have made an effort, but he
avoids me. Cannot find him. Have been there
l think he was ut home yesterday evening. am
confined to my room by Sickness My telegram
to the Solicitor was forwarded to him at Darling
ton where he was in attendance on the Court.
He went Immediately to Cheraw.
tl>aE "a 8 s,-nI,
telegram from the Chief Constable of the
State from Cheraw 1.-The town is demoral-
lied. I can do nothing. I will return Oh the
first train.' I Itelegraphed this to the Solicitor
ly of the condition of affairs. About . p. NJ.
on the 5th of March, the Solicitor telegraphed
me from Cheraw: "People here much demoral-
lied, but l think Cash can be arrested if the
Sheriff will do his duty" and that he would
advise me when better informed; that the Sheriff
was at the Court House, twelve miles away.
On the 5th Of March I received a letter from a
gentleman in Chesterfield county holding an i'm
letter was that Immediately after the shooting of
the two citizens by W. b. Cash warrant for
his arrest placed in the hands of the Sheriff,
who was asked to proceed at once, and assured
that any aid he desired could be had from the
town. That on the day after the shooting the
Sheriff went to COL Cashs residence; that
Col. Cash told him that his son did not pro-
pose to be arrested and that he would defend his
son to the last; that he remarked that his son
did the deed that he himself was on his way to
perform before the day passed; that with this
information tho Sheriff came to Cheraw and said
he gave the warrant to Il citizen in town, and
said if it was needed it could be had that since
that time Cash had been seen from day to day
threateningto take the life Of the first party who
would step forward in this matter; that the
Sheriff had been asked to como to Cheraw and
replied that he could not; that Cash had been
seen every day since the shooting, and that upon
the day upon which tho letter was written a