Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-05-17
THE LyNCHING OF 4EAPHART.

cd the horrors OIL lyncn-laW. we
have intimated that all Of the
charges OF assault made against
colored men relative to white women
could not be substantiated if the
facts were properly presented.
This position was never more
wildly sustained than in the case
which we quote from the telegraph.
ic dispatches;
COLUMBIA, S. c. May 5,-Willie
Leaphart (colored) was shot and killed
in Lexington Jail last night. This h
the extent OF the Information thus far
obtained by Gov. Richardson. Leap
heart was convicted OF assault upon
Rosa Cannon, q young white girl, at
her home while the rest OF the family
were away, and sentenced TO be banged
April 18th. Learning of an attempt TO
lynch him, and Notwithstanding his
death sentence Leapheart was brought
to Columbia for safe keeping upon the
advice Of the Judge who tried him.
The people OF Lexington became
greatly exasperated, and public meet
inRs were held denouncing the Cover
nor for removal and declaring it q re-
Election upon the dignity Of the county
and its ability to shield its prisoners.
A strong delegation waited on the
Governor and Judge, and after person
ally pledging themselves for his safety
while In the Lexington Jail they were
allowed to take him fback. The Gov
ernor has telegraphed for full particu-
lars. The prisoner had been respited
to allow time for motion for q new
trial on grounds Of after discovered
evidence deemed sufficient by Judge
Wallace.
Now let skeptics on the subject
ponder these lines. So the people
of LEXINGTON became exasperated
on accoun. rejection upon
the dignity :, the county and its
ability TO shield its prisoners.
Be it remembered that this is
the same state that boasted of its
civilization and its ability to put
down Judge Lynch. But the end
IS not yet. The reason for the
respite are made manifest by the
following:
CHARLESTON, S. G. May S,-The
Lexington lynching case assumed a
new and unexpected phase today.
Yesterday w. }. Miller was arrested In
Lexington county and lodged In Jail,
charged with perjury. IL was on his
affidavit that the Governor reprieYed
Willie Leapheart, who was lynched on
Monday night at Lexington. Miller
swore that Rosa Cannon had said that
Leapheart did not assault her, nor at
tempt to assault her; that her mother,
brother, and father did not believe she
had been assaulted. and that he believe
ed that she had been persuaded by Ger
tain persons TO state that the Negro
had committed an assault In order to
convict him. 1t was upon this affidavit
and other corroborating statements that
Leapheart was reprieved. Today
applied to Judge Sim0ntOn, in the
United States Court, for q writ of
hobeds corpus to take Miller from the
custody Of the State officials and bring
him before the United S ates Court.
The petition is based upon the fact that
Miller Is Deputy United States Mar
shall and was engaged In serving certain
processes issued 1y the United States
Commissioner Bandskett of Columbia
when he was arrested by the State
authorities on the charge OF perjury.
Miller will be brought before Judge
Simonton tomorrow. Marshal Cunning
ham says Miller is fearful OF being
lynched.
So this justice loving Deputy
United States Marshal is arrested
for telling the truth. But the
Atlanta. ga. Ne,Us published an
other version OF the affair. II
reads:
Willie Leapheart, q colored youth, wa
lynched on Monday night last at Lex
ington, 5. G.
Ii seems that white girl by tn,
name Of Rosa Cannon, had been ruine'
by q white scoundrel, by the name o
Corley, and to shield his wickedness h
had Leapheart apprehended as rapist
He was unprecedented, arrested: an,
sentenced to be hung. In the mean
time q letter was sent to the Governor
endorsed by the presiding Judge, show
ing cause for delay in the execution o
sentence. The governor accordingl
respited Leapheart. The scoundrel
Corley, then drummed up crowd an
lynched Leapheart.
Now let Governor Richardson Ok
haust every means he has to secure tn
conviction of Corley, and let our 60
ernOr be as active 10 aiding him as b
was in 1875 in suppressing Negr
votes.
Just to think that an innOceT
colored man should be made tn
victim of such conspiracy.
The other side seems desperat
and sends another report to I'll
country. Here it is:
COLUMBIA, s. c., May 9@The co
plIcatIons in the Leapheart lynchi q