The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-29
SIX MURDERERs LYNCHED.
A Sheriff Overpswered and his Prisoners
Taken from him bv the Lynchers.

nom the Charleston Netos and Courier. Mav 20.
John ID. Harmon, aged 49, and his wife,
Catherine A. Harmon, aged NJ, wholived at Win
ter Seat. in Edeeneld county, twenty miles from
Greenwood, were murdered on Wednesday
night. The tragedy was nrst announced on
Thursday morning by a negro man, stephen
Lake. and when the neighbors entered the house
the aged couples front room was oiled with
smoke. ON the left OF centre table were four
lamps, Bible, and n vase of rO ses. and near the
bludgeo that had been used n the murder lay
the body OF Mr.; Harmon. between his knees
About four feet from Mr. Harmon, near the Ere
place, lay the BODY OF his wife, with two gashes
on her head. She had fallen with her face
slightly turned toward her husband, and had
apparently died without struggle. The hoor
was dyed with blood. the nre had been kindled
crime. The dwelling aud storehouse had been
robbed OF everything OF value In clothing,
money, iewelry, and provisions.
Al the inquest the testimony OF stephen Lake,
Betty Perrin, and Larkin Holloway, all colored,
was taken. That OF stephen Lake was so con-
nicting that he was committed To jail at Edge
field. Among the facts developed were these
That MIR. Harmon, on Wednesday, was In the
field dropping cotton, and Larkin Holloway was
ploughing: that the latter at ii o'clock dropped
his plough, saying that he was sick and would
20 home that the next day after the murder
his tracks were discovered leading 70 the spot,
where other foUt-marks were found, and where
a doRwood club had been cut aud stripped and
tho bark buried. This club was found near the
murdered couple blow from which had crush
ed MIR. Harmons skull. The cooks story was
that she awoke late ON Thursday morning. went
to the house and knocked, but failed to get any
answer, and then went to Stephen's house and
found him asleep. hey then went TO the dwell
ing, and stephen went In through the front door,
which was open, and In the parlor found tho
dead bodies I'm pool OF blood, their clothing
and the door saturated with Kerosene, the lat
ter on fire.
The bodies were buried in one grave at Rcho-
both Church. The Inquest was adjourned from
day to day. the excitement IN the community
running very high, and fresh develO lmcnts con-
stantly being IN ade, and at length culminati ug
on last Tuesday morning In q confession.
Davis Perry. IN
caught ON Tuesday night below Edge1Cld Court
House. At frat he denied all knowledge OF the
murder. but finding the proofs accumul lting
against him, he finally made clean breast,
saying
After working for ane month for Mr.. Harmon, left
turued on the wednesday following, aud met Larx
We parted, he going to his house and rctifing to
.hsae @ rss, ne returned 70 me sfler about hour
hoted 70 jury ssSsd MN what ne would do WIN IT,
mon fc.iience, arriving about supper time cat on
the stone steps few mCnenis and went into the house
j. the Owe Ilae 10 ,aS han. Sf siep6en Lake,
Mrs. Harmon was alone ~ the room when entered
Mr.. Harmon came "a ,horty and saysi Wen, sam,
mon then a.ked me Il we're gong g WORE for him
oE os Would spP , him 5 s s sa ssssd ne
months, stating he voud gve me wages at the rate VI
lead pencil figured What It Would be per dav and
Per month and sais ae was nss,rins, stephen
Holloway and lids his wife, and sIephea Lakes
VIE Su an. Bette Perrin itue COOK came into the
at the rear door at the same time stephen Lake
took his petition between Mr.. and Mrs Harmon, aud
when Mr.. harmOn's attention was engrOssed with has
ca cuauon ST. phen Laxe struck min Violently the
head with the doswood stick, and Immediately
the blows upon the heads OF each, both fall
ing PROSTATE. Marshall Perrn and Jeft. Bet.
tles nj TINS time came into the ROOM Marshall hav.
ing small pine stick ia hi. hand with when he strack
hrs Harmon twice or three times alter she vas down
rtmrmu' seeing Others at the door, unknown
After MTllarmon tell. Lar<.liOlOway turned hun over,
and step hen Lake pulled out bis KNIFE aud cut .
turned her over and stephen lake her throat
Aftcr This struck Mr.. Harmon with tins dOgwOOd
clue (s4me as used By Lake. IN the forehead he not
peing dead when strutk hun. After thls, stepnel
LaSe got Keys out OF HArn0us pocket and went to
the store Beiie Perrin got tue bureau and all "
us went TO searching drawers, &C.
Tho jury declared that the Harmons were de-
liberately murdered by stephen Lake, Larkin
Holloway, Marshall Perrin, Austin Davis. .Ietf
settles, Jessie Like, Bette Perrin, and Iidl
HI ollOway, all DegrOes, and these persons were
then delivered into the custody OF sheriff Rich
ardson for commitment to ian. But the sherif r
was seized by the crowd, which numbered about
90 persons, his head was hastily covered with a
bng. and he was carried OF by force and confined.
Iucn the prisoners were taken 10y the crowd an q
marched to u point about a half mile from the
scene Of the murder. There the six men who
had committed the crime were tied firmly to-
gether In row, and after they had been given
Ave minutes for prayer, volley OF one hundred
shots was 1red, and the six wretches fell dead.
The prisoners testified that the three women
were at the murder, but were not directly con-
on condition that they should quit tho country
forthwith They compiled AZ once. All the
lynchers were from the counties OF AOptVille aud
FL geheld.