The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-26
SpcciM D:*patch 10 tic Ne,r, aud Courier.

but are Ovcrruled--Nung to Tree Near
the Scene of the Murder.
Spccim Dispatch 10 Tic Netrs aud Courier.
SpARTANBURG, June II.
Sunday last, week ago, the body Of a
young woman was found in the woods
near Vernonsvillc, in this county, shock.
ingiy mutilated. The remains were iden-
tilted as those of Miss Francis Heaton, or
Woodward, her mother having married
twice. The appearances indicated that she
had been outraged under circumstances
of horrible cruelty, robbed, shot and her
throat cut. Suspicion fell from the first
on John j. Moore, white man, living
within few hundred yards of tho scene
of the tragedy. Moore is farmer and n
storckeeper, n licensed whiskey manufac-
turer, in comfortable circumstances, and
a lifelong resident Of the neighborhood.
His reputation was very bad, however, he
having escaped, through legal loopholes,
from the consequences of half dozen
ugly charges, and being widely known rs
q thief, sharper and desperate.
The evidence against Moore gradually
accumulated. The deceased had last been
seen alive going with him from the house
in the direction of the place where the
body was found, he ostensibly desiring TO
show her the way, although she declined
his company. 1t is alleged that he as
saultcd her twice in eight of his own house,
and lie was seen soon afterwards alone in
the woods near the scene Of the tragedy,
hatlcss and shoeless, walking near 1'yger
River. The tracks found leading from
the body corrcsponded with the size of
his, and showed that they had been made
by shoes run down at the heels and on the
side. His foot gear was all in that con-
dition. 1t is also stated that he had blood
on his pantaloons when he returned to
the house, and his account Of the time of
his absence is fatty contradicted by wit
nesses before the coroner's jury. He vas
arrested and lodged in jail.
The people throughout the entire Sec
tion of the county were much excited and
incensed, and plan Of speedy and terri
BILE vengeance has been maturing, the
fury of the citizeus being aggravated by
the report that lie would obtain a change
of venue frcin this county and be defend
ed by able counsel.
Last night $50 mounted men, armed
with side sTiiis aid shot gins, Todu into
this town and surrounded the Jail, leaving
heavy pickets along all the roads leading
here. The Jail WAS searched on being
opened, but the object of the quest was
not found, Moore having been spirited
away by the sheriff. The organization of
the crowd brokeinto squads, each of which
was under the command Of leader, to
whom all yielded implicit obedience, or
dcrs being issued in military style and
promptly executed. No disguises were
used, and all classes and nges seemed to
participate.
One squad of twenty men, from infor-
nation received, found Moore concealed
under the wall at the side of bridge on
the Air Line Railroad, about mile and
half from town, and guarded by four
men. The guard were overpowered and
the prisoner was taken out and marched
back to the city, amid silence and order.
He was not abused, and ali his wants
were promptly attended to. The raiders
soon reformed, and Moore was marched
about two miles from town, where he was
put in buggy and driven TO the woods
where the body Of Miss Woodward was
found, seventeen miles from here, the
party arriving there about daylight
People flocked to the scene from ali di-
rcctions, until crowd Of six hundred
had collected.
1t had been announced that Moore
would be hung at 10 o'clock, although
some were in favor os burning him.
interviewed the prisoner, but ne refused to
confess anything, although he had prom.
iscd to do 30 on condition of being allow.
ed tC choose the manner of his death
The crowd became impatient, and FAR.
rangements were systematically made for
the execution. His wife end family we're
brought up and allowed TO see him. A
minister was also brought to him. The
people showed a terrible quietness and
cool relentlessness, but there was an en-.
tire absence Of all excitement or bolster.
business. a person one hundred yards
what WAS transpiring.
Moore said little, but was cool and self
possessed. l do not thiak that even al
the last moment he thought he would
really be hung, although he said so. Hi
manner rather indicated that he thought
it an attempt to frighten a confession
from him. The sisters of the murdered
woman were brought face TO face with
and implored him to confess, which ht
again refused. o
The idea of burning seemed to gair
strength and some few advocated tortur
ing him before death. The committee o
arrangements, however, refused to allow
either, and proceeded quietly and delib
erately with the preparations. The lower
branches were cut from stout post oal
and n buggy was drawn under a project
ing limb. The prisoner was bound and
hangman's knot put about his neck ant
the other end of the rope securely tied t
the limb, and he was put standing on tn,
seat of the buggy. He said few words
here denying his guilt, and expressing
the hope that the right man might bt
| caught sometime. He said that ii h,
thought as the people did his actor
would be the same as theirs under simi
lar circumstances.
The question was put to the crowt
whether his request that his body b,
turned over to the family should b,
granted, and general consent was OBJ
tained.
Maj. J. w. Woodward, of Winnsboro'
appeared on the scene and made an earn
est speech advising all to await til actor
of the law. He was listened to quietly
but as soon AZ he concluded the cry agai,
arose: Hang him! Hang him! Strint
him upI
At7 n. N. two men went deliberatel,
| and quietly, took hold of the shafts of tn,
buggy and drew it from under the doom
ed man, vino swung off amid perfect de
corum and silence. The knot slipped K
| the back Of his neck and the rope stretch
ed SO as to leave his swaying feet brush
ing the leaves on the ground. He was un
doubtedly choked TO death, although hs