The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-29
Ten Assassins Are Condemned to Be
Hanged in South Carolina
Next Month.
Unpleasant Duty of the Judge
Who Sentenced the Squad
i to Death.
Lamsntation and Manifestations OF Sore
Grief From Female Relatives OF tho
Condemned Men.

CoLuMBrA, s. O., Sept, 28.--Wednesday
and Thursday In the Laurens court of ses-
sions were consumed in tho trial Of Jim
Young, Allen Young, Monroe Young, Hen
derson Young, John Adams, Perry Adams,
Lige Atkinson, Tom Atkinson, John Atkin-
son and Jack Williams for the murder of
Thornton Nance. The jury retired at six
O'Clock Thursday evening. and in three
hours brought in verdict of guilty" with
Recommendation OF mercy as to all.
Piedmont 10 the name Of negro church in
Hunter township. near Mountvills, on the
Georgia, Carolina and Northern railroad. A
splendid farming section surrounds il, Dense
" settled by an unusually intelligent and
well-to-do colored population. Most Of the
white men in the nsighborhood are wealthy
landowners. On the night Of the 9th Of last
August service was held ct Piedmont, and
Edmond Nance an old and respectable
negro, with his wife and four sons, were
of the congregation. Whom the service
was over the worshippers dispersed to
their homes, but the band of murderers
named above were on hand, though they
had not been in the church. They quar-
relied with John Nance, and swore that
he should not live. Old Edmond
and his family we're terrified, and for q
long time dared not venture into the dark
ness. II seems that John Nance had made
indecent proposals in writing to John At
kinson's wife, and the husband and his
brothers and friends were thirsting for
vengeance. Finally most of the Atkinson
crowd left, and Edmond, with light wood
TORCH followed by his wife and sons, set ont
for homo. Before going many steps two
crouching figures at tho side of the road
passed them at rapid gait. Five hundred
yards from the church, where the road is
worn below the level and there is
vines to the left. John Nance was
another moment the road was full Of armed
negroes. Shot after shot was fred, and for
two minutes the fash of pistols lent bright
nsss to old Edmonds' torch. Then the
dead and Sam Nance dangerously shot
through the lungs. John Nance escaped
unhurt. The defense undertook to prove
that John Nance had shotgun. One Of
the attacking party received slight
wound. presumably At the hands Of big
to prove an aiibi as to seven
Of the accused, and advanced the
theory that Nance was killed by
Henry Suber, negro who was certainly at
the klll1nR, Dub has AV0EC0u drTeSGs ALI Oh
the prisoners were positively identified by
several witnesses AZ having assisted in the
assassination. The tenor Of the proof was
that Jim Young fired the fatal shot. The
state maintained that Thornton Nance was
killed in an effort to thwart careful plot to
murder John, his brother. The prisoners
we're brought to the court room at IL o. clock
in the morning. Judge Hudson overruled q
motion for q new trial. Then they stood
up to receive the death sentence, eight in
a line in front of the bar railing and two in
the dock behind. It was a remarkable
scene. AS body they appeared far above
the average negro in intelligence. Lige At
kinson and the Adams boys are handsome
mulattoes. Judge Hudson. before sentenc-
ing them, remarked that he had never be-
fore had such an experience. He COM
mented on the habit of the colored people
to select religious meetings ns time 10.
deeds of blood. Then he pronounced the
20 next. The prisoners showed no emo
ton, but as the judge concluded there was
vail from the audidnce. 1t came from
the wife of Perry Adams. She was joined
by another, and finally they were taken out
by constables The wives, children and
parents were grouped together in the public
square as the ten condemned men passed
back to Jail in charge of deputieo. The
whole quarter resounded with their cries
and weeping. The recommendation to
mercy made by the jury has no effect un-
der the laws Of this state, and the entire
gang will be hanged unless the governor
chooses to interfere.