The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-03-05
Or Manhood Lost, that John Barnes
Should Rest Comforta-
bly, in Jail2
While the Blood of His Sisters Child
Calls out For Vengeance on
His Guilty Head7
An Der True Tale Which Almost Com.
pels Respect for the Mandates
Of Judge Lynch.

SENECA, S. c., March News of a
blood-curdling tragedy comes from Town
vile, small hamlet ten miles from here,
and state of excitement among the peo-
pie which we'll nigh led to lynching. John
Barnes, large-framed colored man, was
one of the most noted negroes of that
section. Unlike most of his race, he is
a man who has sharp eye to business,
and makes members of his family
work more like slaves, "Dey made me
work." he would say, "when |
was boy, and no lazy folks can live
about me-" So grinding were his exac-
tons and so terrible the oaths that he
would hurl upon those who Glanced to
be in his service, that he became the
most hated man of his race in the vcin-
ity. Some months ago his sister, Mrs.
Craft, died, leaving an only son about
seven years old to the care of her brother
begging him to I'LL the place of father to
her child, The boy, Notwithstanding his
tender years, was made to 10 the work Of
a man in cotton patch last December.
He would not get to bed till ten at
night, and had to be up by three in the
morning. When he failed in this his
inhuman uncle would tie him to post,
strip his back, and lay heavy welts upon
his bare skin These repeated caStiga-
lions and want Of sustaining food broke
the boy down completely. Last Thurs
day 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 heren
Taking the child to a post Barnes
stripped him naked, stood him against
it, tied rope around his knees to the
post, and then running it up he
run one coil around his waist
and the post, aad at last he ran
leaving the lads arms free. Thus he was
pinioned firmly, so he could hardly
| squirm under the repeated wets which
were laid on him. Barnes used hickory
switches, cutting the skin at almost every
blow. After he had laid on about twenty
| he fiercely demanded to know if the boy
would get up early hereafter. The latter
! only dropped his head in exhaustion,
| which the tend understood to be mega
tive reply whereupon he began laying on
again, becoming perfectly furious in his
frenzy, and it was only when 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. Sure
enough the boys body was stiffenina
into the rgidity of death, When the
alarm was given a most horrible 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 in
| dicating at least one hundred and sixty
clearly defined laShes He was taken
down and as tenderly cared for as posi-
BILE, when word went forth, "Where is
Barnes? Let's hang him up. He deserves
all the rope, shore!" Wrought 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.