The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-03

to revive and live for years after is
something seldom heard Of.
Yet this was the experience of
Judge Thomas Jefferson Smith, of
Jasper County, Georgia, who was an
honorcd citizen Of that county for
many years before and after the tragic
incident here related.
Shortly before Shcrman's raid in
Georgia every hamlet as we'll as the
larger cities we're daily expecting the
pilIage and rapinc which indeed fol-
lowed. F'orsecing that all visible
property would be destroyed or in.
jurcd, an effort was made by numcr-
GUS planters to save their stock and
what ready cash they happened to
have.
Judge Smith, who was at the time
in his sixties, and, therefore exempt
from service by reason Of age, was en-
gagged at home, as was always his
wont, in allcviating the wants Of these
around him and in experimenting his
farming operations and protecting as
we'll as he could his business from the
decentralization incident to the war.
Expecting at any time visit from
the federal soldiers, he sccrctcd his
money, amounting to some twenty
thousand dollars in gold and silver, in
the walls Of his house. The only per-
son sharing the knowledge of the hid
ing place being his aged mother, and
q sister in an adjoining county. One
day in the fall Of 1864 company of
40 federal soldiers rode up to the
house and demanded dinner. They
were shown every courtesy, not that
Judge Smith was in any way truck
ler, but because he was at all times
thorough gentleman, treating all men
as gentlemen. Some half dozen SER
wants were set at the task of preparing
dinner and sumptuous meal it WAS.
While the dinner was in preparation
the soldiers busted themselves by
going over the place stealing what
they saw fit to and damaging or de-
stroying the rest. When dinner was
over they ran the mules away and
took with them thirteen fine horses.
During this vandalism and robbery
Judge Smith remained at the house as
q protection and comfort to the terri
fed female members of his family.
But when tho crowd was we'll off ho
started to his negro quarters, some
distance from the house, to ascertain
just what damage had been done.
His gin house stood near tho road,
which he had reached when he was
surprised to see detachment Of five
of the men, who had dincd at his
home, returning. He was not long in
doubt as to their purpose.
They rode up to him and hastily
dismounting, addressed him roughly,
saying: "Oh you old gray headed
rebel; thought you had escaped did,
you? Well, not much. We have
come back to get that money you We
got hidden away. Give us your keys
and tell us where to find it.
These sentences were laden with
insulting epithets.
The old gentleman regarded the
ruffians fearlessly, and replied: "Gen-
tlemen, I have treated you as my
guests and men of honor, doing my
duty as my sense of politeness requir-
ed. You have repaid this treatment
by robbing me and damaging my
property to grevious extent. You
are right in the surmisc that have
money put away, .ut you arc greatly
mistaken if you think that can be
intimidated into giving it up"
"You refuse then2 Well. say your
prayers, old man. We will have your
life and the money, too," said one of
tho troopers, at the same time un-
buckling his bride rein.
II have been praying for forty
years. am powerless in your hands.
Do what you will"
At this reply Judge Smith was
seized, the bride rein was slipped
around his neck. He was carried to
the gin house only few feet away
and the rein was thrown across
beam. Two men laid hold of the i'm
provised halter and as Judge Smith
body was drawn slowly upward he lost
consciousness.
When the Judge regained consci-
business he was lying face downward
in the finely ground dust under the
: old gin house. It took him some time
to realize what had happened and 10
raise himself feebly to his feet. The