The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-26
Special Dispatch to The Neus and Courier.

DuC are ONcrruieu-I1uIlS W d lIoc NCai
the Scene of the Murder.
Special Dispatch 10 The Neps and Courier.
SpARTANBURG, June II.
Sunday last, week ago, the body of a
Young woman was found in the woods
near Vernonsville, in this county, shock
ingly mutiIated. The remains were iden-
titled as those of Miss Francis Heaton, or
Woodward, her mother having married
twice. The appearances indicated that she
had bCe- outraged under circumstances
of horrible cruelty, robbed, shot and her
throat cut. Suspicion fell from the first
on John ]. Moore, white man, living
within few hundred yards of the scene
of the tragedy Moore is farmer and q
storekeeper, 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 as
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
saulted her twice in sight of his own house,
and he was seen soon afterwards alone in
the woods near the scene of the tragedy,
hatless and shoeless, walking near Tiger
River. The tracks found leading from
the body corresponded 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
Oh 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 was
arrested and lodged in Jail.
The people throug hout the entire sec
ton 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 he would obtain change
of venue from this county and be defend
ed bv able counsel.
Last night $50 mounted men, armed
with side arms and shot guns, rode 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 broke into squads, each of which
was under the command of leader, to
whom all yielded implicit obedience, or.
ders being issued in military style and
promptly executed. No disguises were
used, and all classes and ages 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 a 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 all 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 focked to the scene from all di.
rections, until q crowd of six hundred
had collected.
1t had been announced that Moore
would be hung at 10 o'clock, although
some were in favor of burning him. l
interviewed the prisoner, but ne refused to
confess anything, although he had prom
ised to do so on condition of being allow
ed to choose the manner of his death.
The crowd became impatient, aud FAR
rangements were Systematically made for
the execution. His wife and family we're
brought up and allowed to see him. A
minister was also brought to him. The
people showed q terrible quietness and
cool relentlessness, but there was an en-
tire absence of all excitement or bolster
ousness. A person one hundred yards
from the scene would not have suspected
what was transpiring.
Moore said little, but was cool and self
possessed. / do not think that even at
the last moment he thought he would
really be hung, although he said SO. His
manner rather indicated that he thought
it an attempt to frighten q confession
from him. The sisters of the murdered
woman were brought face to face with
aud implored him to confess, which he
again refused.
The idea of burning seemed to gain
strength and some few advocated tortur-
ing him before death. The committee of
arrangements, however, refused to allow
either, and proceeded quietly and delib-
erately with the preparations. The lower
branches were cut from stout post oak
and buggy was drawn under project
ing limb. The prisoner was bound and a
hangman's knot put about his neck and
the other end of the rope securely tied to
the limb, and he was put standing on the
seat of the buggy. He said a few words
here denying his guilt, and expressing
the hope that the right man might be
caught sometime. He said that if he
thought as the people did his action
would be the same rs theirs under SINH
lar circumstances.
The question was put to the crowd
whether his request that his body be
turned over to the family should be
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 the action
of the law. He was listened to quietly,
but as soon as he concluded the cry again
arose: Hang him! Hang him! String
him up!
At a. m. two men went deliberately
and quietly, took hold of the shafts of the
buggy and drew it from under the DOOM
ed man, who swung off amid perfect de-
corum and silence. The knot slipped to
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 he
eoorcoly ctru0olal ond onneornd tO sI1tfer