The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-26
9Th Of this month, and that suspicion
pointed to John J. Moore as the perpe-

NY Luc peOplc Va 1uoo oCSViot ~ ~.
out, beyond the possibility of a doubt,
the wretch who could be guilty of so
shocking crime. John ]. Moore, dis
tiller, living about two miles from Dun
cans Cross Roads, was the last person
seen in the girls company, and circnm-
stances pointed so plainly to him as the
culprit as to Justify his arrest and i'm
prisonment in the Spartanburg Jail.
1t was established that Moore had
offered to accompany the girl on her way
when she left his house, and that after
she had declined his company, he fol-
lowed and overlook her, disappearing
with her around bend in the road. On
his return home it was noticed that he
was unusually excited and nervous, and
on being asked the cause of it he gave as
a reason that he had been drinking the
day before and had not become altogether
sober yet.
Parties who found the body of the poor
girl so horribly mutilated on the 9Th in
tant, also found an indistinct trail lead
ing fromit to Moore's wheat field, to
which point he had gone on his return
from his walk with her. It was also
offered in evidence before the jury of in
quest that Moore had slept with his wife
on the night of the 6th--a very unusual
occurrence-and that Mrs. Crawford,
who occupied an adjoining room, heard
him say in very excited and pleading
tones, "For Gods sake, Sallie, never tell
it
All this and much more of similar
nature was elected, and on Saturday, 14th
inst, call was issued for men
to meet at Dantzler's Bridge, on the
South Tiger River, for the purpose of
dragging the bed of the stream in search
of the murdered girls wallet and some
articles of jewelry which were missing
when her corpse was found. About one
hundred men answered the call and met
for that purpose. Squads were formed
and the search began. What was found
is not known, but enough was learned to
fully satisfy them that Moore was the
guilty man, and an organization was
formed then and for the purpose of aveng-
ing Miss Woodward's revolving murder.
Some of the party counseled moderation,
but they were not listened to, and finally
told that if they did not wish to join IN
the lynching they should withdraw
They did so, and then the vigilants orga-
nized for systematic action. \ jury was
drawn, and "Judge Lynch" presiding, a
trial was held; Moore was returned
guilty" The party then dispersed and
returned to their homes.
On Monday night party of two hum
dred armed men rode into Spartanburg,
surrounded the Jail, effected an entrance
and made thorough search for Moore,
but did not find him. Sheriff Thomp-
son had received an intimation OF their
proposed visit. and had secreted his pris-
oner away from the Jail. But the men
had come determined to find their man,
and would not be bafled. Dividing into
squads, and taking different routes, the
adjacent country was carefully policed.
One of the squads, commanded by de-
tective of some repute in our State, star
ted up the line of the Air Line Railroad,
and after passing over the first trestle
their attention was attracted by frequent
flashes of light, similar to such as would
be made by striking matches. One of
the party pulled off his boots, and run
ming ahead of his companions, came upon
three men sitting on the railroad. Level
ing his gun at them he ordered an imme-
diate surrender, which was quickly gran
ted. He then asked them who they were
and were told they were Moore's guards.
When asked where Moore was they re-
piled. "Oyer in the woods" The rest
of the squad coming up at this juncture,
the party proceeded to the spot indicated,
and there, under al log bridge, which spans
the little stream, Moore was found, stow
ed away in the mud. He was taken out
and conducted to the railroad, when an
engine was seen coming from Spartan
burg. The appearance ola single engine
running very slowly, and having no train
attached, naturally caused remark to be
made, and then the guards admitted that
it was the intention of Sheriff Thompson
to take Moore to Columbia, via Charlotte,
and that they were to signal the engine
when they hove in sight by striking
matches.
Moore was taken in charge by the Wig
ilants and conveyed to DGncan's Cross
Roads, small town two miles from his
home. On arrival there, at day-break on
Tuesday morning, he begged to be taken
to his family, promising that if they would
do so he would tell all. His wish was
granted, but on his arrival there he stout
" maintained his innocence, and said if
he were hanged his blood would be upon
their heads. One of the party who had
hold of the rope which bound him grew
impatient, and giving it q pail told him
TO come on.
Moore was now put into buggy, and,
amid the screams of his half-distracted
wife and the wailing of his poor chill
dren, was driven to within fifty yards of
the spot where the body of his victim
was found. At the junction Of two dim
country roads, over one of which he had
conducted Miss Woodward to her brutal
death, good. sized post oak was selected,
standing Just off the road, on wooded
eminence, sloping toward the north, and
upon which the early sunlight was she'd
ding its soft rays. One end of common
cotton rope about three-fourths of an inch
in diameter, was then made fast to one Of
the limbs, the other was fashioned into a
hangman's knot and adjusted round his
neck, and the question was once more
asked him, care you ready to confess ?"
In clear, firm voice came the answer,
~ am innocent"
Col. Woodward, from Winnsboro, who
happened on the ground, advised the
crowd, about 600 in number, to desist and
let the law take its course; but after lis
tening to him moment they turned their
backs on him, and, pulling the buggy out
from under the unfortunate Moore, left
him suspended in the air.
He hung thirty-nine minutes, when DR..
Tolland, the same physician who made
an examination of Miss Woodward's
body, pronounced him dead. His corpse
was given to his family for interment.
A noticeable feature of this lynching
is the fact that the entire community was
in hearty sympathy with it. Old gray
headed men, tottering on the verge Of the
proye-younp men in the nrime and yioor