The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11
A LESSON BY JUDGE LYNCH.
Lone Women in the Country must be as
Safe as if a Regiment Surrounded
Them.
TSpecial TO News and Courier I

Especial to News and Courier
GREENyILLE, Dec. 3.-Riddled with
bullets and left in the woods to die a
lingering death is the death Judge
Lynch decreed to Henry Johnson, alias
Henry WHISKY, colored, four miles from
Central, in Pickens County, this morn
ing before daylight.
On Monday the quiet little town of
Central was excited by brutal outrage
perpetrated upon Mrs. Thos. Walters,
wife of a white farmer living four miles
from Central. The outrage was one of
the most horrible ever known. While
busy at work in her home Mrs. Walters,
who is a handsome young woman, 20
years old, was frightened by a gun
being placed at her head by an unknown
negro, and the command, Don't move,
or I'll kill you" Throwing rope over
her head the negro led her from the
house like cow into the woods some
distance away. She kept up continual
scream, but her husband was mile
away working in saw mill, and the
nearest neighbor lived long ways off.
The negro pulled the terrified woman
over bushes and through brambles un-
til he reached. a secluded spot, where,
after the most cruel and outrageous
treatment, he threatened to kill her,
but she begged piteously, and the villain
went away and left her.
AS soon as she could she hurried to
neighbor's house and told the terrible
story. The entire section of country
was aroused and parties searched every
where. Johnson was captured yester-
day afternoon at the Richland trestle
on the Air Line Road, and last night
was taken before Mrs. Walters, who at
once recognized him.
Fifty determined men had gathered
and Notwithstanding Johnson'sapp
he was silently marched away and four
minutes afterward fifty or hundred
shots rang out on the early morning
air, and testified that a horrible crime
had been avenged.
A reporter visited the scene of the
lynching. No one acknowledged know
ing anything of the disposition made of
Johnson, but search revealed the spot
where he had been tied to tree, and in
the woods the brute was found dying
brute's death. The mob had evidently
left him for dead, but he had recovered
sufficiently to crawl further into the
woods. He lay in a poonof sweltering
blood, and occasionally an agonized
moan escaped his lips. The body was
terribly mangled. The left eye was
shot out, and a load Of shot had en-
tered the left ear. All over his body
bullet wounds were visible. No one
dared offer assistance, and the negro
was dying when the reporter left.
No sentimental placard was placed
on the body, but it lay there an impress
sive lesson that the women of thu
country will be protected.
Mrs. Walters still shows signs of the
terrible treatment she received. Her
eyes are red and swollen, and blue
mark shows on her neck.
Public sentimentjustifes the horrible
death meted out. Johnson has proba-
bly, been guilty of similar crimes, as he
told Mrs. Walters that she was not the
first white woman who had been his
victim.
He recently served two years in the
State Penitentiary for an attempted
assault on colored girl. w.w.P.
JOHNSON CRENATED.
GREENvILLE, Dec. 4.-The body of
Henry Johnson, colored, who was
riddled with bullets hear Central be-
fore daylight yesterday morning for
assault upon Mrs. Thomas Walters,
was cremated some time last night, and
the coroner of Pickens County found
nothing oft to-day but small portion
of one foot, which was charred by fire.
Johnson recovered consciousness We'd
nesday, and it is said, begged for wa
ter. Report is that he died yesterday
afternoon and that several hours after
bis body was covered with brush and
logs. A lighted match was applied by
unknown persons, and the blaze from
the burning wood leaped high into the
air and could be seen from the road
side.