The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-06
LrNtnED A CONDEMNED NtGRo.
Tho Victim of u South Carolina Mob May
Prove TO Have Been Innocent.


| COLUMBIA, S. c., May Sat . o'clock this
morning Willie Leappart negro. lsyears old
under sentence of death for committing n
| criminal assault on a white girl. was murdered
| In the Lexington Jail. twelve miles from this
city, At tho March term OF Court Leappurt
was indicted for an attempt to commit an as
sault He had no lawyer and no witnesses
aud the Judge appointed n lawyer 20 defend
him. Upon being put on the stand, Rosa
Cannon. the girl whom Leappart was indicted
for attempting to assault. testified that the
deed had been committed and although the
negro pl owed that be had been absent from a
church a mile distant but twenty minutes he
was convicted and sentenced to be hanged on
the 1lth OF April.
On the evening OF April 10 the Governor
received IN affidavit made by person In Lex
inGton. and OF such character that the Judge
endorse upon it his request that a respite be
granted. ard Learpart brought here to prevent
lyuchinE The Governor accordingly respited
the boy until May in order that motion for
n new trial might De made. Tho people of
Lexington in mass meeting denounced him
Tor his act, and sent n dozen Of the cVurty's
most prominent men 70 demand the return of
the prisoner. aud asked to be put III possession
OF all the papers filed in :he case.
The Governor retused 10 show the papers
until the eXcitotDent had abated. as 1t was
davit UPON which the Judge acted and thut OF
the prisoners lawyer might he taken. having
40 power TO send the prl-o ner bRck 10 leXing-
ton. he referred the delegation u the Judge.
who, upon Tho members o. the committee sign
inX bond picdGinE themselves, for the SAFETY
OF tho prisoner, Kr1nteu an oder demanding
Leappart TO the Lexington Jail.
Tho principal complaint Of tho reople Of that
county had been that they had been discredited
and were not considered law-abidinG men.
l.eappart was taken back 10 Lexington Just
Between and O'Clock this morning n party
Of about ilfty men dismonnted from their
horses at ITO Jntl door, and some, Of them
knocked down tho door OF the section of tho
building occupied by the sheriff lie WAS COW
cred by half dozen ,reYoIyers. and the keys Of
the Jail were demanded. These he NJ once sur
rendered, and the doors Of tho Jail. although
secured by combination locks. tha wor kings of
which were supposed to 10 known Only 70 the
Short were soon opened and the party en-
An attempt was made to bring Leappart out
side and hang him. but, the negro fought with
desperation. He sei2ed bar or club that WAS
In his cell and knocked down several OF tho
foremost men. The lyncheTs thereupon opened
fire upon the prisoner with rifles and revolvers
and In Il lew minutes he was riddled by over q
hundred bullets. The party then lett the Iai.
and this morning tho streets were plucardOd
charging the Governor and Judge with the re-
sLonsibiliiy for tho murder.
II IL Understood that tire Governor has I'M
portnnt information in his ros-es,ion in regard
TO this case that Will be mhdc public In n day
negro was innocent OF Tho terrible crime
charged, and tin. he was prosecuted 10 con- |
ceal the crime pi others am % WAS tho victim |
of horrible conspiracy. II this is true 1t Will |
come out for tho solicitor for the state will |
tomorrow. A only few of the lynching |
Tarty, we're masked. number OF them can Ue |
identified.
GOV richardson was notified tonight that |
John I. Graham. the attorney Tor the lynchoI |
negro had fed from Lexington from II mob !
that threatened his life. and, that there we're |
ahont iity drunken men IN the town, some OF |
whom were surrounding tho house q Graham. !
Of the mob indicated that il they attacke Tho |
house they would have respect for neither sex |
or age. and the Governor Wa requested to send |
protection Tor these people from this city. lie !
Immediately t"egraphed the sheriff TO guard |
L posse, and that tho sheriff would be held ro-
nOns!ble for the peace Of III" town and the |
safety Of Mrs. Graham and hoT "hiiruu. II Is
said that LAWYER Graham eft Lexington for /
oIunIhia curly in the NJ ernopn, and as he has
not arrived. some Apprehension is felt for hls
safety