The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-30
A Negro Hanged in South Carolina for
the Killing of His Father in-Law.
Drunk with Whiskey He Slabs the
Old Man to Death.
FLIGHT, ARREST, TRIAL AND SENTENCE.
The Old Story of the Last Scene
Under the Gallows.

nnd announcer victim OF that race has justly met his
doom on the gallows during this season-the carni-
val OF murder. In the South the manumitted
black is sure TO receive full anu complete justice,
Ms far as punishment is concerned, for any crime
he may commit. Let IL be aggravated case of
Rrson rape or murder, and death by the halter Is
his inevitable doom by the law, and there is rarely
m escape, either by Executive clemency, synpa-
thizing jurors or by the abiRty OF their legal de-
tenders, ana certainly net by the influence OF
money.
rs THE CASE THE SAME WITH REGARD TO WHITE
MENT
think not. and the criminal records of most OF
the Southern States will bear me out. liz this the
decentralization at the South is about @ par with
that OF the legal tribunals OF the North 1t seems
10 be hard matter to hang a white man any
where, let the crime be ever so brutal barbarous
and atrocious; and it is now high time that this
growing evil should he checked. As In the cnjoy
ment OF their respective civil and political rights
there should he no distinctions on account OF race
or color, when the Caucasian comes to be ar.
raigned for capital onence, no more than in the
Of the negro. Both should stand equal at the
bar OF the law, as they will eventually before that
final bar or eternal justice.
TIE CRIME.
On the banks OF the great PeSee River which
runs through this section OF South Carolina, ana
III,
near Eningburn depot, on the Wilmington and
Manchester Railroad terrible tragedy occurred
In the month Of August last. The principals in the
fatal drama were both OF newly -emancipated
newly -cnfranc hised and newlyinad lawmakers OF
this State: and, TO make murder still more foul
they bore the relation to each other OF father-in-
law aud sonn-law. Sam Brown, the euph0neous
name OF the murderer, hau married the daughter
OF Ebb West, his victim, most unoGrendlng and
respected coiored man, OF this county, who bore
the good will and esteem OF both white and black
wherever he was known. Oh the tragic day in
question SAM with party OF sable brethren, had
been
TAKING HOLIDAY AT OR ABOUT THE STORE
above named, and, unfortunately Tor him. he be-
came greatly intoxicated and as a consequence
noisy, disgusting and offensive in his manners and
his remarks. While in this fiery and bellgercnt mood
sam became Involved IN controversy with
another coored man present, and threats and
Matters now Indicated difficulty OF serious
nature. and at this time the Old man.
EBB WEST, SANS FATHER-IN-LAw, INTERPOSED AS A
PEACEMAKER,
Assuming the most gentle and fathcry manner
possible. he endeavored by every means to quiet
his enraged son-lnlaw, but, instead Of succeeding
this seemed to infuriate him still more. and he
latter then, in the right OF his relationship, in
sisted on Sam leaving the place, and. taking hold
Df him, he endeavored TO draw him away. This so
INCENsED THE DRUNKEN MONSTER
that forthwith ne drew mnrderous looking knife,
more like an assassins dagger, and, without
PLUNGED DEEp INTO SIDE THE OLD MAN,
his blood gushing from the terrible wound and
covering the hand and sleeve Of the murderer as
he withdrew it, The poor victim staggered, gasped
and fell heavily to the ground while the murderer
stood by gloating over his bloody work. Recover
Ing himself from the momentary shock occasioned
by the assassination Of his iatier-lnaw, the vii
lain, then more enraged than ever, turned savagey
upon the colored man with whom he mad been
quarrelhng and made several lunees of
HIS RED KNIFE
at him; but he skiifuy evaded them, and, falling
10 accomplish second tragedy, the murderer, re-
.2lizing the enormity OF his crime fed. Screening
himself from the eyes OF his fellow FEATURES, he
went to his own home that.night, and his wife be-
ing absent. he soon fell fast asleep from the COM
following morning he was discovered by his wife
whose father he had so foully murdered-and upon
being charged by her with the crime he
PROGRESSED THE PRoFOUNDEsT IGNORANCE OF TIE
WHOLE MATTER
and assured her by the NEST solemn protestatons
that he never heard OF II before. His carnestness
somewhat staggered the belief the woman had
from the reports she had heard among the neigh
bOrs at a distance and, though bitterly lamentinr
the untmely fate Of her father, all suspicious oil her
husband being his murderer had well nigh van
"A most piteous and agonizng way Sam
MADE GOOD HIS ESCAPE
and was soon speeding fast IN the direction OF the
Old North state, the border OF which he reached in
about days travel, and for time he wandered
about in fancied security. hue and cry was
account OF the crime, together with description of
the murderer, having been published in the local
press, sam was by tsis means recognized and his
idenuncatlon having been established beyond
doubt, ne
WAS PROMPTLY ARRESTED
brought back, and after preliminary examination
before Trial Justice Lee he was cnmmit,ed to ,.ii
to await Indictment and trial by due nrocess of
law. This too NOTWITHSTANDING the Iact tbat mo
greatest Indignation existed among the white and
coOred people against him and IL was at one time
feared he would be rescued and summary dis
posed OF by the Western process OF Judge Lynch.
An indictment for the murder OF Ebb West was
p found against Sam Brown and at the DC
tober term or the Court ne was nm
for trial The evidence which was
clear and conclusive as to his guilt was much the
same AS is above narraied Rotn rarae ,yars
represented the lury which after due de line ra.
fion rendered verdict OF murder in the first
degree" and the Judge then, in q most solemn and
Impressive manner Sentenced him IN he nananJ
this the cath day OF January 1873 by the meek until
he was
DEAD DEAD prAn
ana aaairc M, II, 80, ,,x,s..'' - -,