The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-06-15
A FEARFUL OUTRAGE
Speedily Avenged by M Infuriuted People,
WHO Meto Out N Just Doom to the Eicnd.
Rock HILL. June II

ltOCk IlIIl', juno :.
respectable fifteen year old white
girl named Alice Mcdowell was brutally
outraged On last Sunday morning at
about II O'Clock by a negro. She was
out hunting plums in q field near town
when the fendish deed was committed.
She was accompanied by several children,
who ran, frightened and screaming, when
she was thrown TO the ground. The out
rage was complete. News of the crime
spread like wildfirc, the excitement be-
came intense on our streets, and soon q
largo crowd OH horseback was in pursuit
Of the fiend, VIII" had fled. A thorough
search of all the country north of town
was made, but without SUCCESS. At n
late hour this evening suspicion centre.
ing upon q young negro named John
johnson, formerly from Chester, he was
arrested at about 6 o'clock. He was
taken in the presence Of the lady, who Mt
once identified him rs being the scoun-
drel who had outraged her. IIc was also
identified by negro girl. who knew him
and saw him when he threw his victim
upon the ground. He is perhaps II
years of age, and is employed by gen.
tleman in town. The people were fear
fully aroused, and the most intense cx-
cltcmcnt prevailed.
At about o'clock this morning John
son was taken from the guardhouse by q
| crowd of about one tund d masked
men and hanged to the limb Of tree on
Main street, about forty feet from Rob
ertson's Hotel.
The night was intensely dark, and
| everybody had left the streets except the
guard wLo had been detailed to watch
the prison. When the crowd reached
the prison house they were confronted
by the guard, who disputed their right
to enter the building. but in moment
they wero each clutched by strong men
who held them fast until others rihed the
pockets cf Policeman Keer.cr in search
Of the keys. The officer had desperate
struggle with the men, but to no pur
pose. The keys were obtained, when q
number of men entered the building
and taking the negro out, they rclocked
the guardhouso and left the keys in the
| door.
The crowd proceeded to the place ol
execution quietly, and it is supposed that
after having adjusted the rope the Negro
was placed on horse which was driven
hurriedly from under him. When dis
covered this morning his tongue was oul
of his mouth and his feet we're only q
few inches from tho ground. His neck
was not broken, death ensuing from
stranguiation. His breast displayed q
placard upon which was written the fol
lowing emphatic proclamation "Oul
women shall be protected"
| At about seven o'clock the body WA:
cut down, and was conveyed on wagon
and placed under shed adjoining the
guardhouse, wher, still lies. The town
council is making preparations to bury
the body this evening, but am Informed
the negroes object to its being inferred
IN their cemetery. Acting Coroner $. NJ
Ferrell held All inquest over the body
| this morning. A number Of persons
! were examined, all Of whom testified
that they could net identify my of the
crowd, their faces and bodies being com.
pletely masked and not word being
uttered. The mayor of the town testi.
fed that Johnson had sent for him yes
terday evening late and made full con.
fession to the crime in the presence ol
himself and two reputable citizens. The
confession rs related by the mayor cor
responds with tho statement made by
the little girl by whom he had previous
| ly been identified. The verdict of the
jury was that the deceased had como tc
his death by being hung to tree on the
main street of Rock Hill by parties un.
known to the jury.
The guilt of the deceased was fastened
to him beyond the shadow of d0ub
| before he confessed. The community
deprecate lynch law, but this outrage va.
SO iiendish and brutal that they cannot
conscientiously condemn the lyuchers.
The little girl was badly hurt, and is
suffering much pain. She is daughter
ere dead. He was raised near Richburg
in Chester county.-Dipatch 10 the Ncar'
0ud Cnurier