The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-13
AN EDITORIAL FRACAS.
Serious Trouble Amo,s the Newspaper
Men of Marion--EditCr Hamer Of
the Inder .ltacked in His
Office.
Especial TO the Register.

MARION, S. c., Feb. 5.-The Pee Dee
Index, published this morning, con-
tains the following story of {. sensa-
tional affair which occurred here last
night:
Last night about o'clock, everything
l'eing quiet and still upon the streets,
as the editor of the Index, P. B. Ha-
mer, was sitting in his office alone,
some one raped at the door. Mr..
Hamer went to The door and opened it,
and as he did so he was attacked by
Junius H. Evans and w. J. McI<erall,
editors of the Marion Star. Evans sand
McKerall both caught hold of him and
one of them struck him. Mr.. Hamer at
tempted to defend himself, but was
dragged from the office by the two
men. In the melee he was thrown
down on the floor. In his efforts to re-
gain his feet he was thrown down the
steps, his head striking either one of
the steps or some hard substance in the
yard. From the effects Of this blow
Mr.. Hamer was rendered unconscious,
and does not remember what subse-
quently occurred. During the fight
Evans tried to force an apology from
Mr.. Hamer for the article published in
the Index last week concerning the
Star, but this was steadily refused, and
Evans said: "Let's beat him until he
does apologize or give up" No apollo
gy nor explanation of any kind was
made by Mr.. Hamer, as he had made
up his mind that they might kill him
before he would retract or apologize
for anything that he had said. While
on the floor Evans and McKerall
kicked and choked him while vainly
endeavoring to make him either call for
help or apologize for the Objectionable
article.
1t was impossible for Mr.. Hamer to
defend himself successfully, as he was
wholly unarmed and as either Of his
assailants is his equal in physical man
hood.
WHAT LED TO THE TROUBLE.
In the Star of the 22d ult. appeared
an article purporting to be a bit of
local history, while in fact it was an
attack upon the white citizens, the
Democrats of the town, on the subject
of the recent and last years town elec-
tions, charging fraud and bribery to
our best citizens and undue influence
upon our colored voters. The Index
replied to that article last week, the
18th ult., in defense of the town, al
leging that the Star had allied itself
with the negroes, and in abusing the
whites of the town was in full accord
with the most radical of Radical papers.
This, it is alleged, is borne out by the
Star, in each of the two last elections,
were very active in defeating the regu-
lar nomination of such men as G.. A.
Norwood, president of the Bank of
Marion; J. P. Davis, County Treasur-
er; R. J. Blackwell, merchant; P. A.
Wilcox, lawyer; G. A. Wilcox, mer-
chant; E. T. Elliott, and other leading
citizens. The tickets elected were nom
mated and elected by the solid colored
vote, with only the few whites who
favor liquor selling in our dry town.
One of the editors of the Star has
been clerk, the only paying office, un-
der both councils Of late the edito-
rials of that paper have been strongly
tinctured with flattery of the negro;
hence the attitude of the Index.
After waiting until the last moment
of the week following the publication
of the article in the Index, Junlus H.
Evans and w. J. McKerall went to the
office of the Index and committed the
assault as reported in the Index to-day
by Mr.. Hamer himself.
Mr.. Hamer's office was the scene of a
perfect ovation to-day, most of the
leading citizens calling and expressing
the greatest indignation.
A petition for the removal of Junius
H. Evans from the office Of Trial JUS
tice has been circulated and signed by
| ,lp,ost oil of the white citizens