The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-10-28
THE EDGEFIELD LYNCHING.
E~xtenuating Statements which arc Made
In Behalf of tho Accused.
(Spcc,al to the Neo$ and N0ur7or.)

INV ~ tsth L
In Behalf of tho Accused.
(Specadt to the .Neos and I0ureer.)
AUGUSTA, GA, October 22.--This
beautiful city is SO near to Edgcfeld
and is so intimately connected with
the county that no day passes that
several Edgcfield men are o seen on
the outrageous streets. 1t is easy,
therefore, to obtain the gossip CON
corning tho Edgeiicld affairs which
rarely finds its way into print. The
all-absorbing topic in Edgcticld at
this time is the lynching of Culbreath,
and it mnst be admitted that the state
mcnts which are made in Augusta
upon the subject change materially
the aspect of the dcplorable affair.
1t is asserted that Mr.. Culbrcath
treated his wife with the utmost bru-
his conduct WAS so offensive to the
people that it is surprising that he was
not lynchcd at an earlier day. Among
his other offences, it is said that in u
drunken fit he dashed his wife severe
ly with a buggy whip, and when re-
monstratcd with by her mother dashed
that lady in the same way. AS a con-
sequence of his behavior, Il separation
took place. Mr.. Culbrcath, however,
continued a surveillance over his Wifc's
actions, and without any reason what
ever was furiously jealous. AS is
known, Mr.. Hammond was assassinated
in the yard of Mrs. Culbrcath's house
where he had gone at the request of
her son to remain tor the night. Ono
of my informants SAYS that he knows
it to be a fact that Mr.. Culbrcath
caused Hammond to be assassinated,
and that he was as much the assassin
rs though he had actually pulled the
trigger. This, at all cvcn}s, was be-
lievcd in the county and was the immc-
date cause Of the lynching, The pco-
pie of the county felt that such con-
duct should be tolerated no longer,
and they unwiscly took the law into
their own hands. An Edgefcld man
whom / talked with said, with great
emphasis, that he held that lynching
was never iustifiablc, but if ever it "a
to be justifiable it was so in Culbrcath's
case.
There arc now in Edgeficld Jail more
than thirty persons who arc accused
of participation in the %lynching. The
accommodations are altogether insult
ed with disease by reason of the condi-
ton of the buildings in which they arc
confined. They did not apply for
bail, but have suffered severely al
ready, and their suffering is not in
their confinement alone. The accused
! form the bulk of the adult male popu-
lation of two or more townships in
Edgcticld county. They arc taken
from their plantations ut II busy season
| of the year, and in their absence it is
impracticablc to control the cOlorcd
laborcrs, who are iilching tho cotton
from the fields right and left. 1t is
asserted in all seriousness that many
families will be deprived of bread and
meat by the arrest of the accused, all
of whom, it is said, arc ready to give
bail TO any amount that may be rcquir-
cd.
L give these statements in order that
the public may know what is said by
those who are acquainted with the
lynchcrs, and who feel that the act was
| so nearly justifiablc that there is no
reason to keep the accused in jail, and
who maintain. further, that the facts
TO be developed before the grand jury
or in open Court will satisfy the public
mind that no great wrong has been
done. When it is urged that the
| Courts should have been rcsortcd to, it
is shown that the original offences of
| Culbrcath could not have been made
the subject Of II judicial Investigation
without n public scandal.
AS regards the assassination of Ham
mond there is n feeling, ! am sorry to
say, that whatever the evidence, Gull
/ breath would not have been convicted,
and that lynch law was the only law
! that would meet his case. The accused
Il nt.A c,s,l 40 lN ht,.ll,y ,,,n,lI~ -,
| dustrious and w~cll-bchuved citizens,
be gully of an act of violence of any
| kind.
All this is given to the readers of the
! News and Courier, without comment,
and in order that they may know what
is the opinion held by those who claim
to be familiar with the facts of the
case.
More Lyncbers Committed to jail
E%DGErIELD, October 22.--Sherin
QUITS brought TO Jail last night Morgan
Dorm, Ebert Dorm, Richard Ham.
mond and w. Fl. Hammond, charged
lynching. He had warrants for two
other parties, but could not find them.
The sheriff was arrested to-day by
Coroner Johnson under q warrant
charging him with official misconduct
in permitting and allowing prisoners
to escape. The sheriff gave bond for
his appearance at Court. Two prison
crs, Collier Hammond and Reuben
Johnson, were granted permission last
night to go to their respective homes
under charge Of q constable, the party
to return tonight. For this offence
another warrant was issued against the