The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-20
Especial to the News and Courier.

Special to the News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, February Ex-Governor
Richardson's quiet Sunday struggle
with the grip was interrupted this fore
noon by the receipt Of the following
dispatch:
CHESTER, February 16.-To J. P.
Richardson, Governor, Columbia:
Telegraph me order to remove Green
Brown to Columbia Jail. He is in Jail
for numbering my father. He will be
lvnched if not removed at once.
w. H. HOOD,
Sheriff of Chester co 'ty.
Governor Richardson in reply tele-
graphed that Brown must be removed
ut once if in danger of being lynched.
After a conference with Assistant
Attorney General Bachman, Private
Secretary Gonzales sent at l.5O p. NJ.
the following dispatch:
TO the Captain Of the Lee Light In
fantry, Chester: Respond to call of
sheriff to protect a prisoner.
W. T.. GONZALES, Private Secretary.
Tow. H. Hood, Sheriff, Chester: The
captain OF the Lee Light Infantry has
been ordered to respond to your call.
Protect prisoner at all hazards and re-
pert his disposition to Governor by
wire.
We GONZALES, Private Secretary.
The prisoner was brought to Column
bia on this evenings train and safely
lodged in that noted stronghold, the
Richland Jail, where Sheriff Rowan
will keep uim secure until he is taken
to Chester for trial. His guards to Co.
lumbia were Messrs John B. MctaGden
Jno w. Dunnovant and w. H. Neal.
The News and Courier's representa-
tive could not get across to the jail this
evening to interview the prisoner, but
the iailer said that he insisted he was
innocent. The members of the guard
from Chester Went to church and
could not be found until ~ o'clock to-
night. Col. John B, McFadden, the
leader of the party, is the treasurer OF
Chester County and a prominent CIT.
zen. He gave the following account OF
the affair:
Mr.. John Hood, the murdered man,
was the father of Sheriff Hood and OF
two leading merchants Of Chester. He
was about IS years old and lived IN the
town, Last night he took tea with his
son, Israel Hood, and about s O'Clock
strolled out Pinckney street towards
his own house. He was not seen alive
after that. At o'clock this morning
his body was found on side street
leading from Pinckney to Centre street,
and within two hundred yards OF
Pinckuey street, which is the principal
street. He had been killed by two
gunshot wounds, the mixed bird and
squirrel shot scattering from his neck
to his knees. 4 jury of inquest was
summoned and evidence abduced
which led to the arrest of Green Brown,
between 9and 10 a. NJ.
Brown is anegro about IS years old
and has Ueen employed as a laborer IN
Chester. He had separated from his
wife and was very jealous OF her.
Believing her to be untaithful to him,
he had declared that if any one came
near her house at night he would shoot
him. This house is a short distance
from the side street where Mr.. Hoods
body was found. 1t is believed that
Brown was lying in ambush and fired
on the old gentleman when he strolling
along unsuspectingIy. The shots were
heard by a number of people.
When arrested Brown had double
barrelled gun, both barrels of which
had been recently discharged. Other
bits of circumstantial evidence were
offered, but the inquest had not been
concluded when Col. McFadden left
Chester.
Upon the negro's arrest and the
revelation of the charges against him
there were immediate demonstrations
leading to the belief that he would be
lynched. The murdered man had many
relatives and they were nearly all
inclined to lynching. His son, the
sheriff, acted, however, like true SER
want of the law, and after consultation
with Col. McFadden sent the Governor
the telegram quoted above. He was
almost unnerved by the murder, but
was determined that the negro should
have u fair trial. He deputized Col.
McFadden toprotect him and take him
to Columbia"
When the guard were about to leave
the Jail for the train the Governors
dispatch authorizing his transfer was
received. The negro was taken in q
carriage to the train and no attempt
was made upon his life. At one time,
however, it was in greatjeopardy, Col.
McFadden says, and only strenuous
efforts prevented a daytime lynching.
y. G. G..
(.PFESNVn0n