The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-11
AN APPEAL TO JUDGE LYNCH.
Speedy Justice Melted to the Georges VII
lain.
Special Diwatch tohc Ncrs aud Courier.
l>-ct1vrrrC Nforol,

AS you nave Deeu alTeaQy aQVlScQ, an
outrageous assault was perpetrated upon
Mrs. Byrd, six miles from Georges, on
Saturday morning. by one-armed negro.
From the description he was believed to
be the same man who committed a bru
tai assault and robbery on an old lady
also MINED Byrd, mile and half from
this place, on the 4th of February, and
who has been prowling about this Sec
tion, keeping the women, both white and
colored, in constant terror. His evil
reputation extended through this section
of country for twenty miles in Colleton
and Orangeburg, and thyfear of him was
widespread. He pursued two colored
women only last week.
On Saturday a regular hunt was organ
ganized-the entire male population par
ticipaLing. Every road was picketed and
the roads thoroughly searched. At
4o'clock yesterday Sunday morning he
was captured in the road, three miles
from the scene of the previous days out
rage and taken to Byrd's house, where
he was identified by Mrs. Byrd, and con-
fessed. Some seventy.men were present,
and vote was taken as to the disposi-
tion of the prisoner. The colored
men were in the majority, and
they voted soldly, with two ex-
ceptions, to let the law take its course.
In obedience to this decision the man,
who gave the name of Louis Kinder,
having been variously known rs Moses,
Fulton, Gaillard and Skinner was taken
to Georges and turned over to Trial JUS
tice Reid. who placed him in the town
guardhouse, under strong guard. An
unsuccessful effort was made during the
night to take him out, the attacking par
ty being repulsed.
The prisoner was sent 10 WATERFORD
this morning in charge of two special
constables, with commitment issued
on the affidavit of Mrs. Byrd. When a
mile and half from Georges, he was
met by party Of seven or eight men
who forcibly took Kinder from the off.
GERS and rode off towards WATERFORD.
This party was said to consist lagely of
the relatives of the Byrds. The .consta-
bles returned to Georges and reported,
and posse was sent in pursuit. From
hint received there took the Branch
vile road, and after fourteen miles hard
riding overlook the party three miles
from here. They had the negro chained
by the neck, walking behind buggy,
which was driven slowly, and they al
lowed him to ride occasionally. The
party was composed of five men in two
buggies and two or three on horseback.
The prisoner was taken to secluded
spot in the woods and kept until night,
a number of men coming here and idling
about. Kinder had stated that the as
sault and robbery on Mrs. Byrd month
ago was done by his partner, Isaac Jen-
kins, living near Williston, and the par
ty sent after him.
About 9 o'clock tonight Kinder was
brought in quietly and confronted with
Mrs. Byrd, who recognized him as her
assailant. He still denied this crime,
however. 1t had been intended to bring
jenkins from Williston and confront him
with Kinder, but telegram was received
here stating that the search for him
was unsuccessful. Kinder was then ta-
ken by o dark and circuitous route
through the woods to a lonely spot
mile and quarter from here, near an
old cemetery, and on the very spot where
man was hung some fifty years ago.
A crowd of some seventy-five or one
hundred gradually gathered in the dark
ness, guided to the scene by the camp
fires.
A stout rope with moose was thrown
over a convenient limb and buggy
drawn under, on the seat of which Kin
der stood bound, his one arm being strap
ped to his side. He was given ten min
utcs, dnring which he prayed fast and
fervently in muttering tone. His an
swers to interrogations were respectful,
but made in firm voice, although he
trembled violently. From his confession
it appears that he was native of Green
Vile, but had been living about Kings
tree for a number of years, and for some
months had been continually prowling
about the country at night, sleeping in
the woods by day and existing solely by
theft, disposing of the proceeds Of his
robberies at various places.
He acknowledges the commission of
an outrage on a colored woman in New
berry six years ago, the killing of n col
ored girl near Kingston last April, al
though he insisted that this was acci-
dental four burglaries and innumera-
BILE thefts and robberies. At the last
moment he acknowledged that he as
saulted the elder Mrs. Byrd, having de-
MED it previously, but claimed that
jenkins participated in that crime. He
said he thought that he deserved death,
and hoped that he had made his peace
with God.
At signal four men seized the shafts
of the buggy and drew it from under him,
giving a drop of two or three feet, which
seemed to break his neck instantly. He
hardly struggled at all. AS we'll as
could be seen in the darkness be was
swung at halfpast 10, and after he had
been hanging twenty minutes the crowd
dispersed, leaving the body suspended,
after firing volley into it from their
pistols.
Kinder alias Fulton, alias Skinner,
alias Gaillard, was man apparently not
more than twenty-seven years old, five .
feet nine inches in height, slenderly
built, poorly dressed, being ragged and
barefooted, and with a rather bad eX-
preston of countenance. He seemed to
be man of some education, speaking
correctly and being able to read and
write. Several colored men were present
at the hanging ond assisted. The color
ed citizens abol here, so far as have
seen. unanimously endorse the action of
the Vigilants.
There was little or no excitement
even on the ground. One or two derisive
remarks from the crowd and some firing
off pistols and cheering while returning
to town were the only symptoms Of dis
| order.
Kinder attributed his capture to the
loss of a black cat, which, he stated, he
had purchased from Gypsies, and would
have insured him against being caught
or losing at gambling. On his body was
found a charm consisting of bones and
roots sewed up in buck skin. He was
| mod with iro,,opoa rovolyor uhnr