The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-12-23
BLACK KU-KLUx IN YORK,
NEGROES BANDED TOGETHER FoR
ROBBERY AND MURDER.

of Secret Society, Whose Object was to
steal, to XIII Amy ono Detecting Them,
and to Clear Accused Members by False |
Testimony.
(From the News and Courier) |
YoEKvILLE, December 15.-About two |
weeks ago, OF on the night of November |
30, John Lee Good, little son of Mr..
w. T.. Good, who lives in the western |
part Of this county was brutally mur-
dered. The News and Courier has pub
lishcd several very mca8re accounts Of |
the horrible affair." from which it has APP
pcarcd that about forty negroes in this
county have banded together to rob and
plunder and murder all persons who
might detect them in their lawlessness.
ROBBERY AND MURDER.
The coroner's investigation of the
murder Of little John Lee Good has re-
vCalcd most alarming state affairs in
that section, she wing most conclusively
that stupendous conspiracy had been
formed among the negroes, tho object
being robbery and murder. An inno-
cent child was the first victim of the
ticndish miscrcants, but developments
have proved that other murders were
freely discussed and planned, and that
only y recently members OF the gang lay
IN wait one night for prominent citizen,
Knowing he would pass cortaiu point
on the evening named. The confession
of ono of the participants in this affair
IS corroborated Icy tho gentleman him
sell SO lar as to place, action Of his horse,
&c., and day or two after the occur
romeo he mentioned it to friend, but
without the least suspicion that by for
tultous circumstance, either lack of cour-
age of the man on watch, or because he
had fallen asleep, he was saved from six
murderous bullets.
Trial Justice j. p. blair, acting as
coroner, summoned a jury Of very dis
Greet men Of tho nci9hborhoOd, and in
conducting the inquest they have dis
played considerable tact, and, under the
difficult circumstances surrounding them,
have by practical investigation brought
to light the astounding facts which have
placed the Broad river section iii Il state
Of terror and spread alarm throughout
the county.
Circumstances pointed almost conclu-
Slvely to Nose Lipscumh, Dan Roberts
and Bailey Dowdle as the perpetrators of
the deed, with perhaps another accom-
pllce; and after the close of the first
day secession they were committed to iail.
On the second meeting Of the jury, on
the st INST, after taking testimony, cir
cumstanccS AMI statements Of some of
Inc witnesses pointed to Prindly Thomp-
son as another concerned in the murder,
and he was also committed.
THE CONSTRUCTORS IN JAIL.
In the examination of so many wit
npGGnS a. # io.nn,,, L., I
another OF "thc club, s'tho clan" "thc
society,"" the Witnesses membership and
similar expressions gave clue Which
was successfully worked up, and the re-
suit is that now 26 negroes, ranging in
age from l6 to 80, arc inmates Of the iail,
lhclr offence nclnG murder or aiding
therein. These prisoners are Mosc Lips
comb, Dan Roberts, Bailey Dow,llc and
Irmd thompson, principals, and the
following, any of whom will no doubt
1nd 1t difficult to prove innocence as ac-
ccsSorlcS, by reason of the combination
or conspiracy they formed, and which
by evidence SO far adduccd has been suf,
ilclcntly sustained: Giles Good, John
GOOD, Les Wood, Dick Thompson, VIM
tlalG, George "amlCsOn, Scott Thomp
son, WadiS Bunkhcad, David Wilkes
Masses Roberts, Will McCluncy, Wallace
lied, sam Thompson, Owens Moore
Allen Good, Bob Smarr, Squire Thomp
son, Brown Robins, Jack mckinney
Sam Good, VIM. Washington. OF this
dark cloud OF prisoners Gilc Good anC
Wallace Reid figured prominently in the
murder for which Columbus Crawford
was hanged IS months ago. Wallace
turned States evidence, and Giles, who
has always been regarded as tho instiga
tor OF tho deed, though Columbus ad
mlttod on the gallows that he fired tho
fatal shot. Giles is mulatto, probably
00 years old, crafty and cunning, aud
has the power to lead the people of his
race, ovcr whom he has cXcrted stroDl
influence.
No attempt to overdraw the picture
or to add word to increase the excite
mcnt this affair has produced, is ncccs
sary after recital of the bare facts
After the coroner's jury obtained tho
ciuo us to the supposed conspiracy, they
devoted the third day Of the inYestipa
hon. last Friday, to that branch of tho
c"Se' and the following is q specimen OF
tho sworn testimony:
THE STORY or ONE or THE THUGS,
VIM. Roberts: | am member of this
clan. was received by Jack McClupey
IN August, 1856. | know who he said
belonged to the clnn--Allcn Good, Wal.
lace Reid, Prindly Thompson, Bailey
Dowdlo and Nose Lipscomb. jack said
he had very good men as members, and
he wanted me to join. If a man canghht
amember stealing the club was to make
INN suffer. did not attend their meet
lngs regularly, but said TO them once.
'Boys, we must swear together. Though
| have never been with you, YOU have
got my name, and / will stick to you.
We will stick together" I did not take
the oath. Me and Allen Good, Dave
Wilkes, Wallace Rcid and Jack McCm-
1ney met, | knew that they were mem
pers' and the move was made that if any
one was caught stealing we would make
the man that caught him suffer. Our
purpose was to go two or three together
to mans house, and if he detected rs
we would mob him right there. The
meetings. We're to be all at Jack McClu-
neys' and on Wednesday nights. They
said one Sunday month ago they
wanted to make a raid nrcttv soon