The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-31
THE VAIL OF SWAILS.
4 First-Cla Contribution to Radical Out
rage Literature.
SwaiPs Story in Washington.

4 First-CIass Contribution to Radical Out
rage Literature.
! SwaiPs Story in Washington.
"Having been invited to address the
Republican Club at White Oak, about
seven miles from Kingstree, on Saturday
the 5th instant, accordingly on the MORN
ing of the 5th, with Mr.. A. j. NJ. Mont
gomery, proceeded to the place, arriv-
ing there about II o'clock. Shortly after
our arrival several persons of the Demo
cratic party also arrived from Kingstree,
coming with the intention, as was after
ward shown, to disturb and break up the
meeting. The club was called to order,
and L was called upon to address them,
which I did. About that time G. P.
Nelson, of Kingstree, came into the
church. The president of the club in
formed him that he could not remain, as
none were allowed to be present but Re-
publicans. Nelson then went out, and,
after being absent about half an hour,
came back into the church. Mr.. Mont
gomery was then speaking. Nelson was
again told that he could not remain. He
seemed to be somewhat in liquor, and
commenced speaking about having fair
play and dividing time.
Finding that Nelson intended to make
disturbance 1 advised the president Of
the club to adjourn, which he did, the
members leaving for their homes. There
were some six or seven Republicans from
Kingstree and vicinity on horseback and
one in buggy, all of whom, upon ad-
journment, started for home. When
abous six miles from Kingstree my party
was overtaken by fifty or one hundred
men, mounted and armed with State
guns, the men seemingly TO be in detach-
ments from Capt. Gilland's company,
Capt. Cooper's company, and Capt.
Fitch's company, of State militia. Capt.
Fitch was in command of one detach-
ment.
"The whole seemed to be under COM
mand and direction Of DR.. S. D. NJ. Byrd,
one of the commissioners of election for
the county. After following for some
time, their command wes broken into
two detachments, one of which passed US
and Immediately filed in front of my
party. No words were spoken by any
person until within two miles of King
stree, when the detachments in front
formedin line across the road and halted.
DR.. Byrd came back to me and said that
they proposed that l should ride in front
of their ranks.
''This declined, stating to him that I
was then on my way home peaceably
that had gone peaceably and attended
to my business, and was now returning.
He then made the remark that l was the
cause of all the trouble in the county.
/ answered that I was not aware that
there was any trouble. He then said
that it made no difference; they wanted
me to ride in their front rank, and if all
present were of his thinking 1 should be
made to do so. l Ireplied, saying: Gen
tlemen, 1 am not for making trouble, but
am going peacefully to my home.' He
then, after some consultation, said that I
should 20 to the village / asked him if
1 must consider myself and party ar
restedF
"He answered yes. then said, 60
on; 1 will go to the village with you
The whole party then started for the
village. While holding the conversation
with DR.. Byrd the Kingstree men got out
of their wagon and came up to where l,
with my six men, was standing, and
seemed to be about to draw their pistols.
G. P. Nelson walked between myself and
Bosom Hanna, on my left, with his hand
on his pistol. About that time the col
umn started. Nothing occurred then I'M
til we reached Academy street, when the
head of the column turned up that street,
with the intentionss suppose, of march
ing around the village.
"When / reached the corner, instead
of following 1 went straight down the
street to the court house. These parties
then surrounded me, using all sorts of
threats. The Rev. E. NJ. Pinckney told
me to get off my horse and come into the
court house. l tried to do so, but was
seized by DR.. Byrd and another of his
men, who tried to take me by force. l
was also seized by my friends, Rev. Mr..
Pinckney and Bosom Hanna, who sue
ceeded in dragging me from DR.. Byrd.
At this moment two shots were fired, one
said to have been fired by DR.. Byrd and
the other by man named Davis. My
friends having succeeded in getting me
into the court house passage, in a few
moments, Bosom Hanna came to me, and
said that they had hit him twice. Upon
examination, l found this to be so, one
shot having hit him in the right breast,
and the other in the left thigh. Shortly
after this Sheriff Jacobs came into the
passage. l then claimed the protection
of the law, and he dispersed the crowd.
At the time the row commenced Trial
Justice Steele was present, but refused
to command the peace"
Mr.. swAILs BANIsHED FROM HOME.
The above is the story of the first out
rage committed, which, going unpunish
ed and unnoticed by the State authori-
ties, seems to have inspired the second,
which resulted in Mr.. Swails' virtual
Punishment from his native State. The
facts as related above were written down
by Mr.. Swails, together with an appeal
for protection and an investigation of
the facts, and enclosed to Governor
Hampton, through the president Of the
Republican State executive committee.
The communication was delivered
promptly on the Sth inst, and ample
time has since elapsed for reply to have
been made or some action taken in the
premises, but so far no notice has been
taken of the matter. The facts were also
laid before President Hayes yesterday,
and he was furnished with copy of the
communication addressed to Governor
Hampton. Mr.. Swails' story grows more
interesting as it proceeds.
"On the morning of Tuesday, the Sth
instant" he says, II went to Kingstree
to attend court. Soon after my arrival 1
was told that the Red Shirts were as
sembling, and upon going out of the
court house found them there. Moth
ing was said at that time, and all things
were apparently pleasant. After getting
my mail went to my home and imme-
diately addressed letter to Judge Wal