The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-01-02
SIGHT.
THE BODIES OF EIGHT NEGRO MURDER
ERS OF BARNwELL, S. c., FOUND
BY THE ROADSIDE.
A TERRIBLE RETRIBUTI0N.
Bloody Vengeance Wreaked On the Assas
SINS by the Friends of the Murdered >
White Citizens.

New YORK, December 30.-The Times
special from Columbia, S. c., says the
coroner's inquest into the death of the
eight negroes who were lynched at Barn
well was held Saturday night at the scene
of the tragedy. 1t was terrible sight
which the jurymen looked upon. On the
left side of the road were the bodies of
Ripley Johnson and Mitchell Adams,
charged with the murder of Hefferman. On
the opposite side were six bodies of negroes
charged with implication in the murder of
young Robert Martin. They were tied to
young oak trees on the roadside, all except
Mitchell Adams, who was tied to post
which marked the corporation limits of
Barnwell. Johnson was tied to little tree
close by Adams.
The others across the road were tied, two
to the same tree with their backs to the
saplings and the rope passed around the
tree and around the bodies of the men, in
some instances nearly all the way from the
head to the feet. When shot, however, the
weight of their bodies had swung down on
the ropes and now they occupied all sorts
o. grotesque and revolving positions. One
hand swung forward over the ropes which
encircled the waist the head hanging down
| and the tongue protruding. Another had
dropped straight down, the legs bending
under the weight.
In one or two instances the bullets had
entered the head and blood disfgured the
distorted features.
In all sorts of positions they hung-a
horrible sight not soon to be forgotten by
those who looked at it. The frightful
nto Of 1.
| testimony of physicians who examined
each body.
In brief, it is follows:
Henry Furoe, ten balls in his body. Age
about "a years.
Peter Bell, one ball at the back of the
heck at the base of the skull. Age about
60 years.
Harrison Johnson, four balls in the body.
| Age about 35 years. ~
Rafe Moral, six balls in the head and
| body, .either of which would have been
| fatal. Age about go years.
Judge Jones, eight balls; one in his brain.
About % years old.
Robt. Phoenix, four balls in the body.
About % years old.
Ripley Johnson, eight i balls in the body,
one in the face About 30 years old.
| Mitchell Adams, nine balls, one through
the brain. About 65 years old.
On this testimony the jury returned a
verdict that eight men came to their death
| from gun shot wounds inflicted by some
party or parties unknown. In order to
allow the doctor to make examination and
probe the wounds, the bodies were cut
down from the trees and laid on the
ground. The clothes were cut from the
bodies to enable him to get to the wounds
and the sight was not improved by their
changed position.
The men lay around in whatever position
| the surgeon had left them, on the side, back or
face, as the case might be. Three lay on
the roadside, others here and there among
| the little oaks on the side of the road large
parts of their bodies exposed and their cut
and torn clothing hanging about them in a
| grotesque way.
| After the coroners inquests the negroes
were notified that they might remove the
bodies if they desired:
The families of Ripley Johnson and Nit
chell Adams removed their bodies to their
homes, but the other six remained up to
midnight treated as outcasts and murder
ers. There were none to mourn; none to
cross their hands or to close their eyes.
Neither whites nor negroes wanted to re-
move the bodies.
| A prominent negro of the town said I:
"We never put them there. Let those re-
move them who are responsible for their
| being there"
/ pdlu JhC budyOI VI DdTuWell.
bodies are outside the limits of town and
they were prisoners of the county. We
don't care to place ourselves in the light of
assuming responsibility in the matter.
The town of Barnwell has had nothing to
do with the affair. We have, however,
notified the negroes that they could go
ahead and bury the bodies and we would
pay the expenses. Acting with the sheriff
we have employed a man to make coffins
for them, and it will be done as soon as
possible,'
A leading colored citizen was asked what
his people thought of the lynching: "We
think it is great outrage" said he.
"What course do you all propose to take
in the matterp Is it true that there is any
idea of violence or vengeance entertained
among your"
mot the slightest" said he, "it would do
no good and nobody is thinking of it, but
we have decided to call meeting of all the
colored people in Barnwell county"
what for?"
ITO move away from here. We want
everyone of us to get out of the country
and leave it forever. We would be willing
to go even to a worse place If that were
possible rather than stay here. No, sir, We
contemplate no violence or revenge but we
mean to leave Barnwell county,"
This was assented to by all those pres
ent.