The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-17
WHO ARE THE 1NTIMIDAToRs 7


On last Thursday night party was
had by the colored people of the Fork at
the residence of Norris Edwards, who,
among his other guests, invited John
Williams, woll-known colored Demo-
crat of that section. When Williams ar
rived number of the men told him he
should not enter the house, as they did
not intend to allow any ID Democrat
to come in, to which he replied that he
had been invited, and unless the pio-
prietor OF the house forbade him he in
tended to go in; whereupon heated
words followed, and pistol was snapped
at the breast of Williams and several pis-
tol shots fired. He returned the fire and
ran to Mr.. ]. A. Gaines residence, with
the crowd running after him yelling and
shooting. When he got into Mr.. Gaines
piazza the crowd started in after him,
swearing vengeance, but Mr.. Gaines,
with a coolness and determination de-
serving the highest commendation, ap-
peared upon his piazza armed, and for
bade any of thcm entering, saying that
he would shoo5 the first man who came
in. For some time the mob threatened
to charge the house, but finally somo of
the neighbors came to the rescue and the
would-be murderers dispersed. On the
following morning warrants wero pro-
cured for the ring-loaders, and after
preliminary trial before W. F. M. Fant,
Esq, Trial Justice, six of them were
to the County Jail at this
place in default of bail to await trial be-
fore the Court Of General Sessions on
charge of riot and assault with intent to
kill. The affair was most outrageous
one, and has no. mitigating circum-
stances that we have been able to dis
cover. 1t was simply an effort to kill or
seriously injure a colored man because
he saw fit to belong to the Democratic
party. The perpetrators of this outrage
have been endeavoring to give bail and
thereby secure once more their liberty.
They have so far failed, and we sincerely
trust that no Democrat will consent to
become a bondsmen for such offenders.
We are pledged to give every protection
to Democratic colored men, and must
do so by all means that arc lawful and
right. If such desperadoes as those now
locked up for this crime are to be set at
large Immediately, then there will be
little or no protection to colored Demo-
Gratis, and the law-abiding people of the
County will be continually subjected to
the dangers incident to riots of the class
described. They should be allowed to
remain in Jail until next January and
then be sent to the penitentiary for such
q term as will give an example to others.
Many Democrats have. been sent to the
Albany Penitentiary by the United
States Courts for much smaller offences
than this, and, inasmuch as the general
government only protects Republicans,
we must look to the State Courts alone
for protection for colored Democrats,
therefore we again urge every Democrat
in the County to refrain entirely from as
sisting these prisoners to get out of Jail.
Let them apply to their Radical friends
for help and see how they stand on the
question of helping their strikers when
trouble overtakes them.
One of these prisoners is Andy -,
who, it will be remembered, went to the
Joint meeting at Townville with pistol
in his pocket, and declared that he in
tended to have row if the white people
came about their meeting. He is one of
Parker's right hand men, and he pro-
posed him for chairman of the joint meet
ing, but could not secure his services, as
the Democrats refused to allow him or
any other man who said he intended to
have row to preside over the meeting.
Since the prisoners have been down
here they have held frequent interviews
with Parker or hia henchmen. It is no
stretch to imagine that this party was
gotten up for the express purpose of this
row, and that it was in accordance with
the programme of the Radicals in this
County. If Parker himself knew moth
ing of it, the affair certainly grew out Of
his mischievous teaching, and, as is
usually the case with Radical leaders, he
goes free, while his dupes are caught in
the meshes of the law for carrying out
the ideas he instills into them. tits time
that the colored people of this County
were realizing the trouble which they,
will bring upon themselves by following
a selfish and ambitious leader like Par
ker. He is still at liberty to go around
poisoning the minds Of the colored peo-
pie while these six followers are in Jail.
If he was real friend Of the colored peo-
pie, and they had become involved in
this trouble in the effort to serve him he
would so their security and take them
out of Jail, even if ho had to mortgage
his property to do so. Now let the col
ored people watch him and see if he cares
about them except to make
them fools enough to servo his purposes.
If he is really so anxious to render SER
vice to his race, let him step forward and
take these men out Of Jail. They have
gotten into their trouble by trying to
serve him, and he is the only one who
ought to assist them. Let us sec if he
will risk his property, much less his life,
to serve them.
ANDERsON's BUSINESS HOUSES.
The increased trade Of Anderson during
the past few weeks has induced us to call