The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-12-11
Riddled With Shot.

GREENy1LLE, S. O., December 3.-Rid
died with bullets and left in the woods to
die q lingering death, was the fate that
Judge Lynch decreed 10 Henry Johnson,
alias Henry Wiesly, colored, four miles
from Central, in Pickens County, this
morning before daylight.
On Monday the quiet little town Of
Central was excited by a brutal outrage
perpetrated upon Mrs. Thomas Walters,
wife of 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 handsome woman twenty years
old, was frightened by 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 a mile away working, in a
sawmill, and the nearest neighbor lived
long ways off. The negro palled the
terrified woman over the bushes and
through brambles until he reached Sc
cluded spot, where he proceeded to ac-
complish his hellish designs, keeping her
with him for some time. 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 a
neighbours house. and told them the ter
rible story. The entire section of country
became aroused, and parties searched
everywhere. johnson was captured yes
terday afternoon at Richland trestle, on
the Air Line road, and last night was ta-
ken before Mira. Walters, who at once re-.
cognized him. Fifty determined men
had gathered, and Notwithstanding John
sons piteous appeals to the woman whom
he had outraged to prevent the mob from
killing him, he WAS silently marched
away, and few minutes afterwerd Mrs.
Walters had the satisfaction of hearing
in the stiffness of the morning hours fifty
or hundred shots ring out, and she knew
that revenge had been obtained.
A reporter visited the scene of the
lynching. No one acknowledged to
knowing 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.
The mob had evidently left him for dead,
but he had recovered sufficiently to crawl
further into the woods. He lay in pool
of weltering blood, and occasionally an
agonized moan escaped his lips.
The body was terribly mangled. The
left eye was shot out, and load OF shot
had entered his left ear. All over the
body bullet wounds were visible. No one
dared offer assistance, and the pegro was
dying when the reporter left. No senti-
mental placard was placed on the body,
but it lay there as an impressive lesson
that the women Of the country will be
protected. Mrs. Walters still shows
signs of the terrible treatment received.
Her eyes are red and swollen, and blue
marks show on her neck. Public senti-
ment justified the horrible death meted
| out. johnson has probably been guilty
| of similar crimes, as he told Mrs. Walters
that she was not the first white woman he
had outraged. BE recently served two
years in the State penitentiary for an at.
tempted assault on colored girl.
GREENvILLE, December 4.-The body
of Henry johnson, colored, who was rid.
died with bullets near Central before day.
light yesterday morning for assault upon
Mrs. Thomas Walters, was cremated some
time last night, and the coroner Of Pick
ems County found nothing of it to-day
but small portion of one foot, which
was charred by fire. Johnson recovered
consciousness Wednesday, and, it is said
begged for water. Report is that he died
yesterday afternoon, and that several
hours after his body was covered with
brush and logs. a lighted match vas
applied by unknown. persons, and tht
blaze from the burning wood leaped higt
into the air and could be seen from tht
| roadeide.