The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-24
The Meeting at Sumter.

There cannot by any possibility be sny>
better evidence of the determination Of
the people of South Carolina to avoid the
appearance as we'll as the reality Of po-
litical evil than is given in their conduct
at the Mass Meeting which was held in
Sumter on Saturday. We do not care to
tell again the story so we'll told in these
columns yesterday morning. 1t must be
said, however, that nothing was wanting
in notice, in preparation, in talk and
jeer aud insult, and in actual injury, to
make the white citizens of Sumter take
the law into their own hands and punish
those who had so insoiently and horribly
offended them. Instead Of this-con-
scious of their peculiar obligations to
themselves and to the Democratic party
at this juncture-they acted strictly in
self-defence, and almost forswore their
manhood in their determination that
nothing should be done at Sumter that
could by any possibility be a blot upon
the name of South Carolina, or effect an
injury to the Democratic party of the
United States.
Enough of this, however. Besides
what was said in these columns yesterday,
there were other reasons why the for.
bearence and fortitude OF these white
people at Sumter, on Saturday, was 81
most miraculous.
1t will be remembered that the motto.
rious black Radical leader, Sam Lee, was
rendered particularly conspicuous on
that occasion by reason of his persistent
and suspicious absence from the scene of
the lawless proceedings he had planned
and inaugurated. We are informed that
his absence was owing to the fact that he
was in hiding to avoid arrest upon the
very serious charge of having instigated
the poisoning of the entire family of Mr..
G. II. Noise, of Sumter, on the occasion
of the Democratic meetingat that place
on the 2lst of September
The circumstances of re poisoning, rs
told to US, were, in briefghat on the day
indicated Mr.. Noise hadsinvited Gen. NJ.
G. Butler and other gentlemen to dine
with him, at his home, after the speak
ing. For some reason Gen. Butler was
unable to do so, and was not present.
though expected up to the last moment.
After the dinner every member of Mr..
Noises family, the guests present, the
servants and.all who had partaken Of any
portion Of the bountiful feast provided
were attacked with violent pains and
other indubitable and distressing symp-
toms of active poisoning. Medical aid
was quickly summoned, and in more than
one instance fatal consequences were
barely averted by the timely use of anti
dotes,
An examination of several different
articles of the food remaining untouched
revealed the presence of arsenic in all,
and confirmed the suspicious of Mr..
Noise that the poison had been admins
tered by design. The matter was kept
as quiet as possible, however, and diff
gent investigation instituted, which soon
discovered circumstances pointing strong.
ly to Sam Lee as the would-he assassin,
who had thus endangered the lives of a
dozen or more innocent people in des-
perate attempt to procure the death of
one of the Democratic leaders. That he
failed to accomplish his purpose, and
more than his purpose, is considered to
be wholly due to the fact of the unusual
ly large amount of food that had been
prepared for the entertainment and, the
consequent weakening of the ESon,
which had been distributed throus sut
the whole. al
1t may be depended upon that the
matter will not be suffered to rest here,
as judicial Investigation has been de-:
termined upon. 1t was the knowledge
of this fact and of his intended arrest, it
is believed, that occasioned Lees alb.
sence from the streets of Sumter on Sat.
urday.-Ne,cs and Courier.