The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-01-26
A BRUTAL OUTRAGE AND
MURDER!
A C. ri nj e WITH A
PARALLEL.
swift Vengeance Melted
Out to the Guilty
Parties

1t is with profound sorrow That we
chronicle this week crime that in
tiendish brutality is without L. parallel
in this State A beautiful and noble
young life ruthlessly blotted out by
fends in human shape, aud under cir
cumstances SO horrible that the heart
sickens at the revelation. Gladly would
We spare our readers the details of such
crimes; but justice and a vindica-
tion of the community that took the law
into their own hands demand that we
should give the facts.
Mr.. VIM. Werts lives about two miles
from Prosperity in this County. Mon
day afternoon, the 18th instant, his
daughter. Miss Bette Werts, went from
her fathers to visit her brother, MIR.
SHm'l Werts, about three quarters Of d
mile distant. Mr.. Werts. thinking his
daughter was spending the night at her
brothers, felt no uneasiness about her
till the next morning it was discovered
she was missing, and search being in.
stituted she was found dead about half
way between the two houses. Suspi-
cion pointed to two negroes, Dave
Spearman and Sam Fair, who were
working for Mr. VIM. Werts. Fair made
a partial confession to the effect that he
and Spearman were working in a field
by which the lady passed in going to
her brothers.; that Spearman told him
that he intended to waylay her on her
return. and that he did carry out his
ficpdish purpose. He denied having
anything to do with the crime, but
woald give no reason for net informing
Mr.. Werts of Spearman's designs. al
though he had abundant opportunity
fer doing so. In addition to this, some
sircds from Miss Werts' zephyr shawl
that she wore and some of her hair was
found on Sam Fair. The negroes were
carried to Prosperity and locked up in
the guard house. A post mortem ex-
animation by Dr. Langford revealed
that most diabolical outrage had been
com mitted. The news spread rapidly,
and the citizens of the surrounding
country began to gather in Prosperity
Tuesday evening in large numbers.
The testimony before the Coroner's in
quest put the guilt of the negroes be-
yond the shadow of doubt. The re-
suit was certain; there was unanimous
resolve that the brutes should meet
swift vengeance. The first idea was to
wait till l P. NJ. Wednesday and bang
the Two negroes together; but as all the
horrible details of the crime became
known the indignation and rage of the
crowd could not brook so long delay.
So about 1 A. NJ. Wednesday the guard
house WAS broken open and the negroes
taken out. Sam Fair was shot there,
and left for dead, and Dave Spearman
was hurried off to the scene Of the crime
and tied to the tree behind which he
had waylaid his victim. He was told
that he had only few minutes to live,
and an opportunity was given him to
make a statement. He then made a
full and detailed confession. His con-
fession, in its details, is too horrible for
print; the outlines Of it was as follows:
The two negroes worked for MIR. Werts
last year; they had for nearly year
past been contemplating committing
this crime whenever the first opportuni-
ty offered; Monday afternoon when
they saw the lady pass the field going
to her brothers. they laid their plans;
he himself hid behind a large tree on
the path and awaited her return; as she
came along he seized her, tied i cloth
around her neck to prevent any outcry,
| tied her TO a tree, went for Sam Fair,
and they returned together and accom-
| plished their british purpose, repeating
their visits time after time during the
! night. He didn't know what time Of
the night she died. After she was dead
they carried her body short distan ce
in the direction of her brothers house.
He told where he had hidden the cloth
with which he had gagged and chsked
her. Being released he went straight
TO the place and found it. He was then
retied to the tree, and a volley of lead
from guns and pistols was poured into
his body, killing him instantly. The
party then rode away.
In the morning it was ascertained
that Sam Fair was not dead, but had
escaped. Vigorous search was instltu-
ted; and be was tracked in the direc-
ton whence be had come and found at
his mothers house not far from the
scene of bis crime. When this reporter
rode into Prosperity Wednesday morn
ing at half past II the town seemed al
most deserted Going on in the direc'
ton Of Mr.. Werts' he met a crowd O
25O or 800 men coming on toward Pros
perity bringing the negro with them il
buggy. Desiring to see the bushes:
through he turned and rode back with
the crowd. Reaching Prosperity they
took the negro out of the buggy, ant
two physicians examined bis wounds
There were i've of them-one 10 th'
face, one in the back Of the neck, one IL
d., xh1,,1Jor ona in tho side and onp !,