Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-27


Dave and Sam were then confronted in
the court room before the jury, but Dave
denied every allegation of the other negro.
They were then placed in the guard-house,
where Trial Justice A. H. Wheeler had pro-
vided guard, and the jury, after sitting un'
til o'clock Wednesday morning, without
verdict adjourned to P. M.
A large crowd had listened to the revela-
tions of Sam with intense indignation and
horror, and after the adjournment of the ju.
ry proceeded to the guard-house, overpowered
the guard, cut down the door and took Dave
out, leaving Sam within, not having proof
against him. The night was rainy and dark.
A mass Of men, among whom were pumber
of negroes, swept rapidly along with the doer
of this horrible deed towards the place of its
committal. Arriving there, Dave made the
following blood curdling confession
He said he had laid in wait behind large
pine tree till Miss Werts returned from her
visit. As she passed him on the path, he
sprang behind her and seized her by the
shoulders. She entreated him piteously to
let her 20, promising everything in the world
she had if he would. He choked her until
insensible, tied rag (afterwards found to be
Sans handkerchief) tightly around her neck,
knotted it firmly to sapling and accomplish.
ed his infamy. He went to the house and
after supper returned with Sam. They found
her still breathing. Sam then outraged her,
he standing by. Sam then choked her to
death for fear she would inform on them.
They then removed the body about forty
yards, throwing it in the path just beneath
the fence He told where he had buried the
rag he had used to tie her, and this was iden-
tilted by Sam's family as belonging to him.
This CHASTITY and almost incredible tale,
told in the forest glade which had witnessed
its origin, moved his captors to frenzy.
Many were for burning him alive, but more
moderate counsels 'evailed. He was tied
by the neck and waist to the pine tree where
he had lurked in waiting for his victim, and
about O'clock in the morning, while the
sweeping rain fell heavily, dozen guns flash.
ed out Of the darkness and ended as mon
strous story as ever reached human ken.
The negro was Indifferent and cool to the
last, avering his willingness to die, and be.
lraying no fear
The party returned to Prosperity, where
they took Sam out Of the guardbouse and
poured volley into him, leaving him for a
corpse. They then dispersed. Later in the
morning it was ascertained that he had slip.
Ped away and reached his mothers house,
about three miles distant During the day
the coroners jury had rendered the verdict
already telegraphed. A strong party went
in search of him, and found him in bed
suffering from several slight wounds which
were pronounced not dangerous by the physi.
clans. He was taken to Prosperity in a
buggy under escort, and for an hour or two
consultation was held as to bis disposition.
Trial Justice A. H. Wheeler and the jurors
endeavored to take him from the lynchers,
but we're almost run over in the attempt.
The public square was crowded with stern.
determined men of both colors. Many ne.
groes as we'll as whites desired him burnt.
This view was again overruled. The prison.
er remained stoical
About midday the crowd escorted the
wretch, who walked willingly to pine grove
about half mile from the town. He de.
clined to say anything more than he had
already done. He was led to a stoutly
branched pine tree, moose put round his
neck and an agile negro climbed the tree
and passed the rope over limb. Every one
grasped it, and the second of the 6ends suffered
the vengeance of an outraged people. The
lyuchers then gradually and quietly dispersed
with hardly dissenting voice against the
primitive but trustworthy justice they had
meted out.
The funeral procession of Miss Werts had
only preceded this procession of vengeance
on the same road by half an hour.
The dead bodies of the fends who perpe
trated the diabolical deed and who suffered
just and merited punishment, remained
several days without sepulture. The author
ties of the colored church in that neighbor-
hood refused permission to bury them in
their graveyard, and the negroes refusing to
bury the body of Sam Fair, two gentlemen of
Newberry secured his burial on Saturday at
their own expense.
Miss Werts was the only unmarried daugh-
ter of her father, and was possessed of con.
siderable property. She was engaged, and
was to have been married in March to a
gentleman residing at present in Charleston.