The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-27
A MURDER HOST FOUL.
The DlnbolIcal Crime of two Negroes.
Special Dispatch to the Nars and Courier.

The DIabolIcal Crime of tWo Negroes.
Special Dispatch to the Ners and Courier.
Prosperity, S. c., January 10.
This whole peighborhood is aroused
and Mortified by the murder of Miss
Bessie Werts, on Monday night, near
this place. The crime is without parallel
in its details, and the people here have
been almost wild in their determination
to visit swift punishment on the perpe-
traitors. The victim was the daughter of
Mr.. William Wcris, living two miles from
this place.
Miss Bessie left her fa,her's house
on the afternoon of the 17th instant
to visit her brother who lives a mile
distant. Two colored men, named David
Spearman and Sam Fair, who were work.
ing on MIR. Werts's place, saw her leave.
Sam says that Dave told him that he in
tended to meet her as she returned home
that evening and assault her. He said
he told Dave not to do it. They were
ploughing together when this colloquy
took place. Shortly after Mr.. Werts
stopped Dave from ploughing and put
him at other work, which vas unfortu-
nntely, near the path that Miss Bessie
would have to return on. He said Dave
went to the spring which she would have
to rcpass. While there he sang as signal
for Sam to como 10 his assistance, but
Sam says he would not go. After supper
he and Dave left Mr.. Werts to 20 to q
neighbor's house. When they reached
the spring he wanted to go the path ON
which the dead body was afterwards
found. Dave told him not to go that
way as somebody was up there. They
went short distance and separated.
understand that Dave confesses to
being behind pine near the path that
Miss Werts would return. As she passed
he caught and choked her, and accomplish
ed his purpose. He then tied her to q
bush and went to Dir. Werts'sand attended
10 his duties and ate his supper, and then
he and Sam returned together, and after
they had both abused the poor girl, they
killed her. Last night about O'Clock
the coroner's court adjourned without a
verdict. Trial Justice A. II. Wheeler
had the prisoners safely placed in the
guardhouse. He and Others remained
near some time until the crowd partially
dispersed and the excitement had abated.
Then feeling they wer" secure he went
home and left the key with constable
Some time after 3 o'clack this morning
the guardhousc was broken open and the
prisoners taken out. Dave was found
dead this morning tied to the pine tree
he had concealed himself behind. Sam
was found ut home, with the marks Of
four balls, all slight. An immense crowd
of lnfuriated citizens went TO his house
and brought him back to Prosperity Mr..
Wheeler, the trial justice, and the jurors
nHn h0 I,,tt a.,
refused to give him mp. As the news
spread the crowd increased and be.
came moro infurated, and rushed over
Justice Wheeler and took Sam to the
suburbs of the town and hanged him.
Both colored and white people participa-
ted in the lynching. Miss Werts was an
amiable and pretty young lady, about 20
years old.
Further Details OF the Dreadful Crimo
and Its Ennishment.
Correspondence Of Columbia Register.
PROSPERITY, S. c., January I9.-As
Miss Bette Wertz was returning home
ON the evening of the 18th from her
brothers she was attacked by Dave
Spearman and Sam Fair, colored EN-.
ployees of Miss Wertz's father, and out
ragged. She was then tied and gagged.
Dave and Sam then went to Mr.. Wertz's
and eat supper, afterwards returning to
their victim, again outraging her, and
then choked her to death. The BODY
was then carried about twenty yards and
Laid down where the feuco crossed the
foot path, and left were she was found.
Yesterday morning Trial Justice Wheeler
held Coroner's inquest, at which suspi-
clon rested on the above mentioned par.
ties. Sam confessed that lie knew that
the deed was to be done, but claimed
that he was not participant in the act.
The guilty parties were put in tho
guard house, to he carried to Jail to-day.
During last nigh. .he guard house doors
we're forced open and Dave was taken to
the spot where the deed was committed,
and understand he made full confess
sion that he and Sam committed the act.
Dave was then tied to pine tree and
shot. The infuriated party returned to
the guard house and took Sam out and
shot him on the spot, and left him for
dead.
After Or light the incensed people
searched for the bodies, and found Sam
at his mothers in bed with several bullet
holes in him. He was brought to Pros
perity and taken about one mile from
town aud hung at l p. N. The hanging
was participated in by both whites and
blacks, and about $50 or 800 men we're
witnesses.
Everything quiet Tonight. The deed
was nearly year in being planned, &C.
cording to their confessions. Miss Wertz
was highly respected. L.
40 = II