The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-08
sHER1FFs MUST NOT DODGE MODS.
Governor Tillman Has Mayor Renneman's
Murderer Taken Back to Spartan
burg and the Morgan Rifles
Ordered Out.
THE State, 2nd.]

oEOSEcO OuI.
The State, End.
John Williams, the slayer of Mayor
Henneman, of Spartanburg, was taken
from the Richland Jail yesterday morn
ing and carried back TO Spartanburg,
via Camden and Blacksburg, by De-
putty J. w. Holloway. The matter is
fully explained in the following state
ment, made by Governor Tillman:
"On Tuesday morning last Sheriff
Nichols, of Spartanburg, came into the
executive office to report the arrival in
Columbia of prisoner, John Williams,
from Spartanburg. Sheriff Rowan was
unwilling to receive him without an
order from ME.
"Sheriff Nichols reported that the
jsi! at Spartanburg had been guarded
by Henneman's friends on Sunday IN
order to prevent the prisoner being re-
moved; that considering the excited
state OF feeling, and what he considered
reliable information, that runners had
been sent out to the factories and othe
points around Spartanburg, and also
that dispatches had been sent to Green
Vile and Laurens to those desiring to
take part in the lynching, he, Mr..
Nichols, after consulting with some OF
the best aud coolest heads, deemed it
best to remove the prisoner, which be
did also upon The advice of Solicitor
Schumpert, with whom he had COM
municated.
"I told him that he had to carry the
prisoner back to Spartanburg, and after
canvassing the situation in all its tea-
lures the following orders were written:
1Ssl sUcr1oNs 10 ST ERIFF NICHOLS.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 90.
John NJ. Nichols, Esq, Spartanburg. -
SIR: 1t had just as well be understood
that the law in South Carolina must be
respected, and that lynch law will not
be tolerated.
You will, therefore, return to Spar
tanburg tonight and summon posse
of brave and trusty deputies to be in
readiness by Thursday. The prisoner,
John Williams, will he sent back to
Spartanburg that day, via B!acksburg,
in charge Of deputy from this city.
The Morgan Rifles will meet train
bearing HIM at Clifton, and escort the
prisoner to the Jail, after which shall
rely on you and your pc *e to uphold
the majesty of the law, and protect the
Jail against the mob if any assemblies.
You can, if you deem it necessary at
any time, summon the Morgan Eifles
to your resistance, out rely upon
your own loyalty and that of your
posse to show that Spartanburg's cltl-
zens know their duty aud wi! do 1t.
Yours respectfully,
E. T. TILLMAN, Governor.
P.S. ! will see that your posse re-
ceive reasonable compensation for their
time.
THE MORGAN RIFLES ORDERED OUT.
COLUMBIA, Sept. y.
Capt. J. G. Wardlaw. Clifton, S. G.
CAPTAIN: You will assemble your
company: armed and equipped with
plenty of ammunition, to take train
from Charlotte going west Thursday,
Oct. (day traia). On board that train
will be the prisoner, John Williams.
You will act as guard to escort deputy
Sheriff and prisoner to the Jail at Spar
tanburg and see him safely lodged
therein.
You will then be dismissed, but will
hold yourself in readiness 10 respond to
the call of the Sheriff at any time. You
will also lend the Sheriff as many rides
and as much ammunition rs he may
need for his posse till court convenes.
Send itemized statement Of expenses
to this office, and check will be sent
you. Relying on your caution and good
Judgment to uphold the civil law, l am,
very respectfully,
INSTRUCTIONS TO Sheriff ROWAN.
CoLUMB a, Sept. 80.
S. w. Rowan, Sherif f Eichland County.
SIR: You are hereby ordered to take
the prisoner, John Williams, either in
person or by trusted deputy, TO Spar
anburg, via Camden and Blacksburg
tomorrow Crhursday), and deliver him
to the Sheriff of said county Tor safe
keeping. Respectfully.
B.. T LLMAN,
Governor.
sHERIFFS MUST DEFEND PRISONERS.
Gov. Tillman further commenting OF
the return of the prisoner said:
yesterday morning before leaving
here I gave instructions t. Sheriff
Rowan IS to what be should do.
ut NAV as we'll he understood once
for all in South Carolina that the law
must be enforced and that Sherifs, in
stead of dodging real oc imaginary
mobs, must defend their prisoners with
their lives if necessary.
eff an officer Of the law cannot pro
tect a prisoner then he bas no business
to arrest him, and the prisoner once ar
rested must be safe from molestatlon OF
any authority except that ofthe court"
THE ARRIVAL AT sPARTANCUCG.
SpARrANBURG, S. c., Oct. John
Williams, the slayer of Mayor Henne-
man, was brought from Columbia to-
day by a special constable. He was
taken on the Three Cs to E]acksburg
and from there on the Air Line to this
place. At Clifton the Morgan Rifles,
under the command Of Maj. J. 6.
Wardlaw, Acting Capt. Mai. w. q.
Smith. Acting First Lieut. and Second
Lieut.. NJ. L. Michel, boarded the train
and accompanied the prisoner to this
city. 1t was feared that an attempt
would be made to lynch Williams, so
the governor ordered tbc company to
protect him. There was large crowd
at the depot but no demonstration was
made, and Williams is now safely
lodged under Sheriff Nicholl's care.
The comoany returned tonight to
Clifton. .be Jail is heavily guarded
and it is safe to say that no attempt
will be made to take the pl.sooer.