Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-29
THE RIOT IN ROCK HILL.

We publish in another column an account
of the riot in Rock Hill on Monday of last
week. From all that we can learn, it is the
generally accepted opinion in Rock Hill,
with the best men of both parties and colors,
that Joe Massey was the prime instigator of
the disturbance. 1t seems that on the Satur-
day previous, he had personal quarrel with
Mr.. Moore, the telegraph operator at Rock
Hill, and as a sequel to this quarrel, and with
the view to avenge himself, on the following:
Monday, he took advantage ofthe opportunity
presented by the presence of large crowd Of
colored people in Rock Hill to have q, mock
quarrel with some of the Charlotte excursion
lists, and the attempt of the police to enforce
order was to be the signal for general at
tack on the whites.
Trial Justice Pride issued a warrant for the
arrest of Massey on account of the disturb
ance of Saturday, and after an investigation
of the case by Trial Justice Wagner, Of this
place, he was bound over to the next term Of
the Circuit Court, to answer the charge Of as
sault and battery.
On Tuesday last, Massey caused the arrest
of Mr.. Moore, and several other gentlemen of
Rock Hill, charging them with assault and
battery, the warrant having been issued by
Trial Justice Wagner, before whom it was'
also returnable The parties promptly ap-.
peared for trial; but before the hour arrived
for the investigation to commence, a compro-
mise was effected, each side paying their own
cost incurred, and the case was dropped.
IN JAIL FOR HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
Ned Hambright, of color, was committed to
jail last Tuesday, by Trial Justice Wagner,
on a charge of highway robbery. On the
evening of the 18th of May, Ned met little
negro boy aged 10 or IL years, on the public
road, and brandshing club over his head,
with threats to kill him if he attempted to
pass, demanded his money. The boy replied
that he had no money, whereupon Ned took
the boys hat, and detained him until after
dark, when another negro named Van Byers
came upon the scene. Learning the situation,
Van attempted to release the boy and recover
his hat. But Ned produced paper which
he said was his authority for levying contri-
buttons upon all whom he met, and at Ned's
urgent solicitation, Van forked over all his
loose change, amounting to ten cents. Ned
then announced that he intended to call upon
all the people of that neighborhood-white
and colored-though he would be more leni.
ent toward the colored than the whites. Van
not placing faith in Neds claims as a commits
stoned robber, followed him up, and came
upon him at the house of colored man in
the vicinity of the robbery, and demanded
restitution of the stolen hat and money. Ned
commenced to tumble in his pockets, as if to
draw pistol, when Van seized all axe, and:
striking him with the broad side of it, felled
him to the ground. The blow was repeated
and while Ned was reclining after his second
knock down, Van recovered the stolen arti-
cles. Ned fled the county Immediately, but
subsequently, returning, was arrested and
committed to Jail, and on Tuesday, after
preliminary examination, was recommitted in
default of bail. Ned is an old offender, and
has served term in the State penitentiary.