The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-26
Hanged by a Mob.

As lOIcSDduoWed III VI bCSD"tCU Oh last
night, Judge Lynch has exercised his sway
in the case of John J. Moore (white). lately
in the Jail of Spartenburg county. S. c..
charged with robbery, outrage and murder.
committed upon the person Of Mary Wood
ward. a Young white woman. 1t was last
Monday week that the body OF this woman.
far gone in decomposition, was found Ia the
woods of the Spartanburg county. cut and
shot to pieces, as heretofore described. and
with the clothes thrown up over the head.
Moore. having been arrested en- suspicion.
confessed that the woman who was from
Pickens county. :. c., anI who had left
her home on account OF unp!easantness in
the family and VAS hunting for an uncle in
Spartanburg) had come to his house on a
certain day seeking directions. and that he
had gone with her to a point about forty
wards from the spot where the body was
subsequently found. Upon his being ar
rested there was found in his vest pocket
an erIing which had been torn from the ear
of the dead woman.
A BAD CHARACTER.
Moore was a farmer and Il storekeeper and
a licensed whiskey manufacturer. in com
Portable circumstances. and IA life long resi-
dent Of the neighborhood His reputation
was very bad. however. he having escaped
through legal ~loopholes from the consequent
ces of half "a dozen ugly charges. and being
widely known as a thief, sharper and des-
perado. The evidence against Moore
gradually accumulated The deceased had
last been seen alive going with Kim 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
bis company. Ii is alleged that he assault
ed her twice in sight of his own house, and
scene of the tragedy, alone, hatless and
shOeless, walking near the Tiger River.
The tracks found leading from the body
correspondent with the size of his, and
showed that they had been made hy shoes
run down at the heels and on the side. His
foot gear was all in that condition. 1t is
also stated that he had blood on his panta-
looms when he returned to the house. and
his account of the time of his absence is
fatty contradicted by witnesses before the
| coroner. He was arrested and lodged in
Jail.
PUBLIC INDiGNATIoN.
The people throughout the entire section
OF the county We're much excited and in
censed. and a plan of speedy and terril lc
vengeance had been maturing, the fury oi
the cit &c Is been aggravated by the report
that he would obtain Il change of venue
from Sp.rtanburg county and be defended
be able counsel. J asst night $50 mounted
men armed with side arms and shotguns,
roc INTO S.partanhur9 and surrounded ths
Jail, leaving heavy pickets along all the
roads leading here"
MOORE IN THE HANDS OF a MOB.
But in the course of the night the Sheriff,
experimenting that the posse would be over
come, clandestinely took the prisoner from
- i . - 1l t.s,. nf -
the woods on the line OF the Atlanta ano
Charlotte Air Line Railroad. proposing t
put BIN on the hight train and bring hin
10 Charlotte. He had been watched, how
ever, and before the train passed Spartan
burg. coming north, Il squad rushed upoi
the guard and took the prisoner out OF thel
hands. Returning with him to the town, |
was agreed with the others of the mob tina
he should be hanged at ten O'Clock tin
morning upou the spot where the crime va
pcrpctrated. At first Moore talked freely
DENYING his guilt with vehemcnce, bat a
the morning wore on he grew Sullen. an
tinally became abusive. Having manifesto
this disposition the mob resolved to max
short work Of him. and having reached tn
scene of the murder at eight o'clock the
sent invitations to the people of this SUI
rounding country and Went to work.
PUBLICLY HANGED
Moore,s wife and children were presen
and 4 sister OF the deceased. The latte
asked to be permitted to have some CONVEX
sation with the prisoner. but he declined t
answer her questions 1t was submitted /
her whether Moore should be burned {
hanged, and she decided in favor OF til
latter method. The rope which had bee
tied around the prisoners neck was accort
in OIV thrown nynr - limb and the bjOTV
which he had been riding was driven iro1
under him 10y the two oldest men IN til
crowd. A citizen of YOrkville who W.
present and asked leave to speak III tt
prisoners behalf could not get a hearln:
The body was left dangling il the ar, an
the 800 people who bad witnessed the eN
cution quietly dispersed. No dlsgnls'
were worn, and the affair was in all respect
open and public. Due advertisement
having been made, a number of people we
out from Spartanburg in an omnibus to WI
ness the execution The prisoner new