The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-02-08
Almost a LynehinR at Rock Hin.

Rock Hull, February Upon . few
minutes notice that there would probably
be . lynching at Rock Hill, came up from
Columbia to-day. When arrived the
lynchipg excitement was just over.
The crime was the murder Of w. G.
Abernathy. The assault, which resulted in
his death, three days later, was committed
on last Friday night, January 25. Mr..
Abernathy formed the company Of the
mercantile firm Of Massey & Co., who did
business at Catawba Junction, on the Three
Cs Railroad, about nine miles from this
place.
On the night mentioned Mr.. Massey was
away, and instead of staying in bis house, o
few yards distant, where his wife and five
children we're, Mr.. Abernatby remained in
tho store. About 1880 p. NJ. Mrs. Aberna-
thy heard q noise at her door. Opening il
she admitted her husband 1t was dark in
the room or entry, and she asked what was
the matter. MIR. Abernaihy answered
family that he was very sick and asked her
to geta light. When the light was obtained
she discovered that he wa, wounded and
bleeding. Alarmed, she inquired the cause,
and her husband answered that no had fall
len down in the stere. Investigation proved
that he had received blow from behind
with some blunt instrument, which had
broken his skull. The fracture extended
across the head from ear to ear. On the
top Of the head was an indentation, the
skull being depressed and bearing upon the
brain.
The first arrest was made on Saturday
morning. The negro arrested was known
as Charley Mack, but called himself
MoManus. He was suspected because he
was the last man seen in the store with Mr.
Alternately on Sunday night.
Several weeks before the murder Mr.
Alternately had some of his beehives stolen,
and negro named Charles Colston was sus-
pected Of the theft, and this was the nominal
cause of the arrest, although the fact was
stimulated by the fact that he had remarkc cd
after the assault on Mr.. Alternately to ne
gro, who was expressing his regret at the
occurrence, that that was nothing, and that
If they, Massey g. Co, did not lookout their
store would be in ashes before the week was
over.
Trial Justice VIM. White, Of Rock Hill,
issued the warrant of arrest. When he
found himself in the tolls Colston made what
he declared to be q confession, implica-
ting another negro ssction hand named John
Feaster. Feaster had been arrested and held
as witness against Colston in the beehive
case. Colston now. declared that on Thurs
day afternoon, when he was hunting with
HeAS'eI, INC lntter proposed tnaJ ne, Cn8rley
Mack, Ed and three others, should mako a
raid on Massey s. Co.'S store the next night
Feaster declared that if any man divulp cd
the secret the others would kill him. 1t
was agreed that if either Mr.. Massey or
Mr.. Alternately was in the etore he should
be killed. On Friday night they then went
to the scene Of the crime.
Reaching the store, Colston said that they
cav Mr.. Abernathy sitting under q lamp
with two shoe boxes at his back On the
top of the highest box lay a singletree
Colstou was placed at the door to watch
while the others entered. Mack got behind
his victim and Feaster in front Of him.
Mack picked up tho Gngletree and struck
MIR. Alternately twice on the back OF the
head with it, telling him SO that his head
dropped over nail keg in front of his chair.
Then Feaster struck "A, but Colston did
not observe what weapon he used. Fsaster
fumbled in the stricken mons pockets.
Mack went to the money drawer of the store
and tried TO pull it open A bell attached
to it sounded an alarm, and frightened
them. Mr.. Abernathy then began struggling
and the assassins fed, Feaster carrying
with him Q sack of flour. Next morning