The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-02-27
From the Fayetteville, q. c. News.
Shocking Crime ard Swift Retribu,

Shocking Crime ard Swift Rotribu-
ton.
We regret to be caj,cl upon to record
! one of those distressing eases of sCyr,ya
ted and revolving crime, followed by spec
dy and Terrible ro,ribu'iou, occurring in
ouT midst, which have been repca,ed,y
chro"icIed, since the war, in diGeren,
journals throughout the country. bnt
from which our own peaceful and orderly
community has, u? to this time, been
comparatively free
Las; SUNDAY afternoon, at about four
O'Clock, young lady, (Elvina MASSEY.
daughter Of the late w. II. Massev,) well
and 'avornh'y known by many in this
place, whi.e r.turning to her home a
short distance from town, was assaulted
/ hy n negro man, Archie Beebe, a draw.
man of Fayetteville, and an a,,cmn,
made hy Inn to commit an &C, Of ,ha,
hcrionS character from the CONTEMPLATION
OF which all right minded people mus,
:urn with a shudder.
1t is 20, then surprising tha. the non
uiar Indignation and the sympathy of
| '"o lucnus Of the unfortunate Girl. (vho
IN The struggle was badly bruised aud in
hnmane'y choked) were intensely aroused
against the criminal; and we Judge tha,
we merely anticipate the expectation Of
/ TIE reader when we state that after the
magistrates hearing Of the case on YES.
terdar, and whih the prisoner was being
romanded to Jail, crowd gathered
around him and his guard, and he was
killed almost instantly by a pistol sho,
from the hand Of soue one, to US un.
. En0wn.
We conceive it to be our duty to give
the facts of the offence committed and
tn" manner Of the prisoners Death. BY
/ permission, We were shown the testimony
or the comp'ainants and another witness
a negro girl, at the magistrate's trial for
+ las commitment. The evidence is plain
and unmistakabIe OF the attempt to vio.
/ late, and Of brutal assault in which the
/ girls dress was torn Of, her person NAL.
treated 10y bruises and choking, and she
dragged by force to the woods and
thrown down. The approach OF DiIy
Stewart, the coloreG witness, who was Al.
uacled by the cries Of the lady, alone
prevented the accomplishment Of the hor
Tl'.e design Of the deceased, who took
fright aod ran OF.
We were admitted 10 the inoues, trial
this morning, and give below the evidence
OF SheriG liarde and Constable Bond.
m substance, regarding the killing Of
! &eehe:
Sheriff Hardie, although he did no.
have '.e warrant Tor the prisoner, arprs
hcLdod some difficulty during .he trial on
yesterday, at tho Market House. and de.
termined, as was his duty to protec, him,
Almost the entire police force was at his
commaud, having custody Of the accused
aud the belief OF the Sheriff is that tbe
prisoners desperate efforts to escape dur
log the confusion caused his death. bv
impeding the efforts of the guard. and
allowing the crowd time to make two
successive attacks. The frat rush 10 ,ske
tho criminal was bea. back by the police
who were ordered to use their clubs which
they did ehec,uaIll for the time being
but the prisoner in bis struggle wen,
down, carrying Two oi his guards with
him; he was pulled up by Sheriff Harsia
aud while that officer had his hand IN
his collar, pistol shot was fred from ba
hind passing near the SherG's ear and
lodging in the head Of Beebe, who fell
and died, as was testified by DIR. McDufie
at this mornings examination, in th,sa
minotes. No fact was elected to dav a.
to who commtted the deed. Tho be.,
iLg OF the case will DO continual a, q
O'Clock this afternoon.
Further comment upon this affair IA
unnecessary. 1t is one Of those instanees
where awful justice speaks from the month
OF the people, and the bloody mask Of
vengeance is stamped by mans hand.
- -zD .
Mr.. George Peabody has written Ieliers
TO several prominept 0an,lan,o. - ~