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D.16 (Hd. Qurs 2" Sub. Dist. S.C.) 1868
Office Bu. R.F.&AL.
Abbeville S.C. Sept 8 1868

De Knight WF.
Clerk
States that not long since Lee Russel, Town Marshal without justification shot at a colored man in the public square with intent to kill him. The case was compromised before Mr J.A. McCord J.P.
Yesterday the same man assaulted and beat another colored man on his own place. Requests that he be removed by the Governor.
D.336 ACSC 1868

Rec'd (Aiken S.C.) Sept 12 1868
Rec'd back Abbeville Sept 14 1868


Head Quarters 2nd Dub Dist
Bu R.F.&A.L.
Aiken S.C. Sep't 12. 1868
Respectfully returned to Mr M F. De Knight, Clerk. It is doubtful if the Governor of the State has power to remove town officers not commissioned or appointed by him. If upon an examination of the Town Charter of Abbeville it should appear that he has this right, this communication will be forwarded. The conduct of Mr Russell should be reported to the Town Council and if it should refuse to remove him after a proper investigation, it would be a subject for legislation whether the charter ought not to be revoked. Whenever a solicitor is appointed or chosen, the complaints against the County or Town officers should be laid before him with a view to the action of a Grand Jury.
William Stone
1 Lieut 45th Inf
S.A.Commir


Office B.R.F.&A.L.
Abbeville, S.C.
Septbr 21st 1868
Respectfully returned to 1st Lt Wm Stone, Sub A.Comr, with the following explanations &c.
1st The Town Charter is silent as to the authority of the Governor in this case. - 2nd The conduct of the Marshal being patent to every one here, it cannot but be known to the Council which has the right, & certainly ought to, but has failed to remove him. - 3rd As I understand the late instructions from Hd. Qrs A. Comr, I would not be justified in taking an active part in this or any other similar case, by myself calling on the authorities to perform their duty. - 4th It being the common practice for even the civil officers to force a compromise in all such cases, it affectually, & per force, quashes all action whereby an offender may be brought to justice. Thus, in the case under consideration for instance, Mr Russell is allowed to unrestrictedly continue in his course of official malpractice. - Under these circumstances it seems to me it would in no wise be inconsistent with the position of his Excellency the Governor, were he to require of the Town Council to remove its delinquent Marshal. - In conclusion, I beg to remark, that, according to the law, there should have
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