The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-05-10
From the Clarendon Press.
The Clarendon Trouble.

From the Clarendon Press.
The Clarendon Trouble.
Peter J. Lemon, (colored,) } coun-
ty commissioner, was found dead
in his buggy, at q branch near
Fellowship church, on Thurs
day morning, the 10th inst. lie
had boon tv Manning the day be-
fore. 10Th inst, and had started
home before sunset. When found
he was lying in the foot of the
buggy perfectly dead, the horse
having remained attached to the
buggy the entire night, at or very
near the spot where the murder
occurred. 1t was supposed that
he was shot about or probably q
little before sunset, by parties con-
ccalcd in the edge Of the branch,
as tracks were found in that To-
cality. Coroner James NJ. Gam
bic, with a jury Of inquest, re-
paired promptly to the spot, but
nothing could he elected save that
the deceased came to his death by
reasons of gun-shot wounds in
fficted by parties unknown. Upon
his person were found twenty-one
buckshot wounds, ranging from
the forehead to the knecs-:he
large majority Of which wounds
would have to proved mortal. 1t
was a terrible deed and deeply to
be regretted, as political capital is
ever manufactured out Of these oc-
currcnces BY Our enemies to the
disfavor Of the whites. There Is
no evidence as tc who the perpe-
traitors Of the deed are. 1t is true
that the only approach to evidence
which we have up to this moment
been able to gather was from a
colorod witness (apd q Republican,
on the second inquest which oc
Cured last Monday-tbat he had
heard g colorcd man, now a rcfu-
gee from justice, supposed to be
skulking about here in the woods,
threaten Peter J. Lemons life.
Whether this individual carried
out his threat or not, wo arc un-
able to form an opinion ; but of one
thing VIC are certain, that the
whole affair has engcrdercd some
bad blood in our district, which.
but for the fortitude and prompt
ness of the white people in meet
ing it, would have been productive
of much evil. The body of Lemon
was buried on Friday on Santee
where the deceased lived. At his
funeral it was proposed by some OF
the infuriated negroes, upon mis-
chief bent, that they would Or
ganizc large forco and march to
Manning next day, take the town:
terrify the women and children
and insult and i'll use the white
men on account Of Lemons death.
In accordance with the pro-
yramme the "army of occupation
led by he vaIorous Colonc! Oil
yer Gailliard (negro,) commenced
the forward movement against the
doomed city on Saturday morning
The citizens were appriscd very
soon of their coming, and in a
short time persons in the country
were notified ofhostile demonstra.
tions taking place. Before many
hours hal elapsed, q number OF
white citizens, variously estimated
at from three to four hundred,
rallied to the defence Of the town,
fully prepared to give them q
warm reception, but to act on the
defensive until the negroes should
commit the first overt act. The
forco of negroes: hearing of the
preparation made to receive them.
wisely concluded to cali a halt
when on the suburbs Of the town,
and after some parlcying Colonel
Gailliard and squad came in only
partially armed and commenced
an alteration With one Egbcrt
Nelson (colorcd Republican, for
the great and mighty reason that
said Egbert was supposed to be
"rejoicing over Lemons DEATH"
and had moreover. written Lemon
a letter to come to town on the
day in which he was killed. Up
on this slight and unsatisfactory
evidence it was demanded that
Eybert should be given up to an
infuria' Ell mob. which the whites
refused % suffer done. Finding
that, Republican as Nelson is, that
the whites were determined that
he should have o fair chance, and
that everything should be done in
a legal way they took their de-
pature, uttcring curses both loud
and deep against the town, and
swearing that they would come
back in greater force on the fol
lowing Monday and have it out, in
sacking and laying everything
in ashes, from Manning to Santee.
Forewarned was to be forearmed,
aid long before the sun had reach
cd it's meridian splendor on Mon
dau q larne fnrca nf sereral hnn-