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

Almost Lynshing at Rock Hill.
Rock HILL, February Upon few
minutes notice that there would probably
be q lynching at Rock Hill, came up from
Columbia to-day. When i arrived the
lynchipg excitement was just over.
The crime was the murder Of W. G.
Alternately. The assault, which resulted In
his death, three days later, was committed
on last Friday night, January 25. MIR.
Abernstby 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, q
few yards distant, where his wifo and five
children were. Mr.. Abernatby remained in
tho store. About 1890 p. NJ. Mrs. Aberns-
thy heard noise at her door. Opening It
che admitted her husband. 1twas dark in
the room or entry, and she asked what was
tho matter. MIR. Abernathy answered
family that he was very sick and asked her
to geta light. When the light was obtained
she discovered that he was wounded and
bleeding. Alarmed, she inquired the cause,
and her husband answered that ho 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
McManus. 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 remarked
after the assault on MIR. Alternately to a ne
gro, who was expressing his regret Mt 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 70 be a confession, implica-
ting another negro ssction hand named John
Fcaster. Fcaster had been arrested and held
rs witness against Coston in the beehive
case. Colston now declared that on Thurs
day afternoon, when he was hunting with
Mack, Ell and three others, should make q
raid on Massey Cos store the next night.
Feaster declared that if any man divulged
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
saw Mr.. Aberna,hy sitting under q lamp
with two shoe boxes at his back. On the
top of the highest box lay n singletrsc.
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 Gingletrec and struck
MIR. Abernathy twice on the back OF the
head with il, Telling him so that his head
dropped over nail keg in front of his chair.
Then Feastcr struck him, but Colston did
not observe what weapon he used. Fsaster
iumbled in the stricken m0n's pockets.
Mack went to the money drawer Of the store
and tried to pull ii open. A hell a,iach.:!
10 it sounded an alarm, and frightened
them. Mr.. Abcrnathy then began struggling
and the assassins fled, Feastcr carrying
Sh em % @ fhG of Of dla Sn5 5or GS Mss, s. morning
This was the substance Of Colstons state
ment to the trial Justice While IL s,i
IDENTIFY was partly false, tho description oi
the assault must have been nearly accurais,
Ior in nSh keg, which the negro had tax en-
ior Haii heS, was found quart Of blood
In consequence Of this evidence Feas,er
was examined by Trial Justice White. lie
insisted that he was innocent, and was ipso.
lent and defiant. Colston claimed TO be nm
aeic 10 idcntify any other negroes than
Mack and Feastcr
Dut "heh-thc time came for the execution
OF the warrant there was q check larpc
number Of citizens from the Catayb, .Jupc
non reached tue town, and when between
ii anu IL o'clock an effort was mnde 4,
convey the prisoners to the Three Cs train
oOuhu lor lorkvLle the crowd interfercd
anu m refused to allow them TO leave town.
ihey were brought back and placed in the
guard house. The crowd swelled until there
were about three hundred incensed men
about the guard house. The citizens greatly
aesired that the law should take it's course
out the countrymcn were bent on lynchipg
Inc iVes OF the negroes at | o'clock to-day
were not thought worth an hours purchase
Cool headed citizens worked amid the ex-
CITED throng in the interest Of law and with
effect
II Is conceded that the most effective ap-
peais were made by the Rev. James =. " hitc
respyterlah minister Of this town, who
mas congregation in the district where the
murder was committed. Mr.. White
mounted wagon in the midst Of the crowd
ana made such strong appeal AS greatly to
quiet the passions which had been aroused
An argument which was used by others
mad great effect, and it WAS that if these
negroes were lynchcd there could he no
clue to the other guilty ones.
Iheshd oft all was that the negroes were
reluctantly allowed TO be taken to York
Sl'le under guard on the 3 Z. Nj. train
N. 6. q. to Ncws ant Cowicr.
LGFR.SAvING lMvENTIoy Croonv;,o
FEBRUARY IA company has been formed
here to manufacture aud push Tho solo ~