The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-13
A BRUTAL NEGRO.
Motheriess Nephew to a Post and Whips
Him to Death.

South Carolina Brute Ties His Little
Motheriess Nephew to Post and Whips
Him to Death.
SENECA, S. c., March 5.-News of .
blood-curdling tragedy comes from Town
vile, a small hamlet ten miles from here,
and state of excitement among the people
which well nigh led to lynching John
Barnes, large-framed eolOred man, was one
of the most noted negroes OF that sec
ton, living on a farm on the edge,
of the village Unlike most of his race,
he is man who has a sharp eye
to business and makes members of his fam
lily more like slaves. "Dey made me wOrk,"
he would say, when l was boy, and no
lazy folks can live about me-" So grinding
were his exactiOns, and so terrible the OathS-
that he hurled upon those who CHANGED to
be in his service, that he became the most
hated man of his race in the vicinity. Some
months ago his sister, Mrs. Craft, died, leav-
ing an only son, about seven years old. to the
care of her brother, begging him to fill the
place of father to her child. The boy,
notwithstanding his tender years, was made
to do the work of man, in a cotton patch
last December. He would not get TO bed
till 10 at night, and had to be up at in the
morning. When he failed in this his fnhu-
man uncle would tie him to post, strip his
back and lay heavy welts upon his bare
skin. These repeated caStigatiOnS and want
of sustaining food broke the boy down COM
pletely. Last Thursday morning when
Barnes called the boy up the little fellow
pleaded his inability to rise, when Barnes
grabbed him roughly, saying: You
won't get up? We will see who is master
here" Taking the child to post Barnes,
stripped him naked, stood him against it,
tied a rope around his knees to the post, and
then running it up he run one coil around
his waist and the post and at last he ran it
around the boys neck and the post, leaving
the lads arms free. Thus he was pinioned
firmly, so he could hardly SqUirm under the
repeated weltS which were laid on him.
Barnes used hickory switches, cutting the
skin at almost every blow. After he had laid
Onabout twenty he tiercely demanded know
if the boy would get up early hereafter. The
latter only dropped his head in exhaustion
which the fiend understood to be negative
reply, WhereupOn he began laying on again,
becoming perfectly furious in his frenzy,
and it was only when Il cOlOred woman
who stood by earnestly begging Barnes to
desist, rushed up and graSping the madman's
arm, exclaimed: John Barnes, you have
killed your sisters child' that the brute
paused. Ss-e enough the boys body was
stiffening DNo the Tigidty of death. When
the alarm was given most hOrrid sight
met the gaze of the people who
came to the spot. There the
body stood, bound to the post by
ropes, perfect mass of blood and mangled
flesh, the marks indicating at least one
/ i III,
was taken down and as tenderly cared for as
possible, when word went forth, Where Is
Barnes? Lets hang him up! He deserves
all the rope shOrer' Wrought up to mad
ness by the sight before them. negroes set
out in pursuit of Barnes. but could not find
him. Threats of lynching were heard on
every side. Whites also joined in the
search, and fortunately for Barnes it was
into their hands he fell. and by them he was
taken to Anderson Jail where he now
awaits the action of the courts.