The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-12-07
IN A MIDDLE.
Nine Men Of Mccormick Arrested
on Serious Charges.
TRUE BILLS AGAINST THEM.
The Case Will Not be Tried Be-
fore the Next Term OF
the United States

turned true bill against the nine cltl-
zens of Mccormick charged with con-
spiracy against James ". Toibert.
The grand jury made its report to
Judge Brawley when the United States
district court resumed its session
Wednesday morning Of last week
in Columbia The parties named
in the Indictment are: II. l.. 3. Stur-
kie, John Dunlap. Wade Cothraue.
Henry Martin. J. p. Jennings, }. q.
Stillwell, j. L. Reynolds, l.. Tucker
and Thomas Bentley, all Of NcCor-
mick, and some Of them well known
citizens.
Judge Brawley issued bench war
rants for the arrest of these parties and
placed them in the hands Of United
States Marshal Clayton, who has goue
te Mccormick to serve the papers.
The parties charged with this oReuSe
will be arraigned before the court, aud,
if they desire it, Their case will be con-
tinued until the next term Of court.
The crime of which these men at Me-
Cormick are charged is a serious one,
and the penalty is very heavy. The
indictment is composed O. six counts,
conspiracy to intimidate James v. To!-
bert as citizen, and as al a5tache Of a
government Office from performing the
duties of that Office. Also from excr-
cising his right to vote, and his right to
advise others how to vote. The mini
mum penalty for the violation Of section
5,50S, revised United States statutes,
is $500, and the minimum penalty for
violation of section 5,51S $500 and
six months in jail.
The following is the text of section
5,50S:
If two or more persons consplre to
injure, Cypress, threaten, or intimidate
any citizen in the free enjoyment of
any right or privilege secured to him
by the constitution or laws Of the
United States or because Of his having
so exercised the same. or if two or
more persons 60 in disguise on the high
way or on the premises of another, with
intent to prevent or hinder his free ex-
ercise or enjoyment of any right or
privilege so secured, they shall be fined
not more than $4,000 and imprisoned
not more than ten years: and shall,
moreover, be thereafter in eligible to
any Office, or place Of honor: profit or
trust created by the constitution Of the
United States.
Section 5,51S reads as follows:
If two or more persons in any State
or Territory conspire to prevent, by
force, intimidation or threat, any per-
son from accepting or holding any Of
fee, trust or place of confidence under
the United States, or from discharging
any duties thereof, or to- induce by
like means, any officer of the Uni.ed
States to leave any State, district or
place where his duties as an officer are
required to be performed, or to iniure
him il his personal property on ac-
count Of his lawful discharge Of the
duties of his Office, or while engaged in
the lawful discharge thereof, or to in
jure his property so as to molest, inter-
rupt, hinder or impede him in the dis
charge of his official duties; each Of
such persons shall be punished by a
6ne of not less than $500 nor more
than S., 900, or by Imprisonment with
or without hard labor for not less than
six months or more than six years, or
by both such fine and imprisonment. >
The following is the full text Of the
Indictment:
At stated term of the circuit court
of the United States for the district Of
South Carolina, begun and holden at
Columbia, within and for the district
aforesaid on the fourth NJ nday il No
vember il the year of our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and ninety
eight, the jurors Of the United States
Of America, within and for the district
aforesaid, that is to say upon their
oaths, respectfully do present that NJ.
L. B. Sturkie, John Dunlap, Wade
Cothrane, Thomas Bentley. Henry
Martin, L. Tucker. J. Q. Stillwell,
J. ?. Jennings and j. l.. Reynolds,
late of Abbeville county, South Caro-
lima, and divers other persons, to the
grand Jurors aforesaid unknown, on the
9Th day Of November il the year OF
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and ninely-eight, at Abbeville couL.y,
in the State Of South Carolina, in said
district and within the Jurisdiction Of
| this court, unlawfully conspire, com
bine. confederate al d agree together to
injure. Cypress. threaten or lntlmldate
James ". Tolber', being then and
there a citizen of the United States in
the free exercise and enjoyment Of a
certain right and privilege secured to
him, the said James ". Tolbert, by the
constitution and laws Of the United
States. and privilege to be in the ser
vice Of the government CT the United
States, that is to say, the right and
privilege to act as clerk and employe
in the postofficc OF the United States:
at Mccormick. in the State of South
Carolina, contrary to the form of the
act of congress in such case made and
provided. and against the peace and
dignity Of the United States Of Amerl.
ca, by the constitution Of the United
| States.
Second. And the grand jurors afore-
said, upon their oaths aforesaid. do
further present that NJ. l.. B. Sturkie,
John Dunlap, Wade Cothrane, Thomas
Bentley, Henry Martin, L. Tucker, }.
O. Stillwell, J. P. Jennings, and j. j..
Reynolds, late of Abbeville county, in
the State of South Carolina, and divers
other persons to the grand jurors afore-
said unknown, on the 9th day Of No
vember, in the year of our Lord. one
thousand, eight hundred and ninety
eight, at Abbeville county, in the State
of South Carolina, in the said district
and within the jurisdiction of this
court, unlawfully did conspire, com
bine confederate and agree together to
injure, Cypress, threaten and intimldate
m co,I Ion as