The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-30
DodGing the Lynchers

Several months ago Charles Hawkins,
young negro farm hand, made
felonious assault on Miss Brocknan,
young white woman Of respectable
family whose mind is weak. The assault
was made in the kitchen of the house in
which Miss Brockman lived and Haw-
kins was caught in the act. He escaped
at the time but was captured few DAYS
later and put in Jail at Spartanburc.
The scene Of the crime was near the
Greenville line and many men in this
county Joined with the Spartanburg
people in the effort to take speedy ven
geance on the criminal. A large body
of men visited Spartanburg city and
raided the Jail but the officers had been
warned and got Hawkins and Ed Bundy,
who was likewise wanted for lynching
purposes, out of the Jail to the woods.
a hunt for the two negroes was con-
tinued all one night and part Of the
following day, and the searchers mar
WY missed finding them several times
The two men were put on a train
however, and carried to Columbia where
they were lodged in Jail for safe keeping.
1t was all right that far, but the
officers Of the Law found that they hada
good deal of an elephant on their hands.
1t was known that the feeling against
Hawkins was nota temporary outburst
of public wrath. The people of the
neigh borhood were determined that he
should die for his crime. The helpless
ncssof his victim, the resectability her
her and connections and the fact that the
law could not hang the criminal cement
ed public sentiment 80 that it was known
that no power conld save Hawkins from
lynching if he ever got where Spartan.
burg or upper Greenville men could
reach him. He had to be tried in some
way or released. The latt er alter
native eapd not be .copsidaxed and the
prohasm was how tos Nh audSsvoid
having him seized id Missouri room or
on his way between there and the jail
A plan was at last made. and it was
determined to have Hawkins brought to
Greenville, kept here until the court
was ready for his case, hurry him over
to Spartanburg. accept his plea of guilty
and send him to Columbia by the first
train. Accordingly Sheriff Gilreath
was given secret instructions last week
He sent his son and chief deputy j. ID.
Gilrcath, to Columbia on Wednesday.
Mr.. Gilreath presented his order to
Sheriff Rowan, of Richland, and after a
slight delay, received Hawkins harried
him into carriage and put him aboard
the train, He warned his prisoner to
keep his mouth shut" and the advice
was faithfully obeyed. Hawkins
hardly opened hismouth during the
whole day, and was not at ease an instant,
for the perspiration poured from him
from the time he lef Columbia until his
arrival here. An assumed name was
givon to all enquiries, and Mr.. Gilreath
met all questions with evasive answers
A reporter from the Ne,cs was at the
Jail when the street car stopped at Broad
street aud Mr.. Gilreath and his prisoner
got off. Hawkins is apparently about
twenty-five years old, and is Of very
dark gingerbread color. He is Of
medium height, and weight and pock
marked, the pallor Of CONTINENT bring.
ing out the pits on his face plainly. He
seemed to be in. good humor as he
approached the Jail, but as he saw the
reporter an anxious expression appeared
and he looked at that harmless individual
with long and steady gaze in which, :.
whole chapter of questions appered. He
was quickly taken up stairs and locked
in. The sheriff. the deputy, Solicitor
Orr and VIM. Il. Irvine Hawkins counsel
and the Ne,os representative. were the
only persons here who knew who the
prisoner was. The last named was not
bond to secrecy by official duty, as the
others were, but was put under oath by
the sheriff, who has not been able to
enjoy night of sound sleep since his
undesirable paisoner came here, know
ing that if hint of his presence got into
the country there would be lynching
in spite of all that could be done.
Over in Spartanburg Solicitor Ducnan
found his plan would not. work.
He knew that against AN attempt