The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-04-29
A BLUNDER OF THE LAW.
ONE MAN HANGED FOR ANOTHER
MANS CRIME.

On his Deathbed Bird Confssses that he
Killed Hawkins, for the Murder of
whom White was Hanged In Spartan
burg.
AsHv1LLE, y. c., April l6.-The
hanging Of Tom White, white man, IN
Spartanburg about twelve years ago for
the murder of Pet Hawkins, colored
man. will always be remembered as
remarkable execution. 1t happened just
at a Time when the white and colored
races were decidedly at daggers' points,
but which had no influence or bearing
on the case. The idea Of white man
being hung for the killing Of negro was
rather repulsive to a great many people
who had suffered under negro domlna-
ton and misrule, but the law took its
course and the man was executed in the
co UNITY Jail. But he suffered the penal
ty of a crime with the commission OF
which he had nothing to do, and which
was laid to his account by the man who
did the killiny.
The facts Of the case were about as
follows: Pet Hawkins and Tom White,
both of whom were under the influence
of whiskey, had quarrel, which result
ed in a row. This was quieted, how
ever, but the two antagonists were sui
angry. White was of a rather wander
Inc disposition, possessing nothing but
an abundance OF ''shreds and patches, /"
and lived around the bar-rooms. Pet
Hawkins, the colored man, was OF SIM
liar disposition. For some reason an
other white man, named Dick Bird, be-
came involved in the quarrel, and, as
will be seen later, played a prominent
part in it. Shortly after the first row
the two white men went into bar room,
which then stood in Church street, and
afterw ards Pet Hawkins and crowd OF
colored satellites came into the same bar
room. Tom White was rather drunk.
perhaps in that peculiar condition when
whlskey has the effect Of deadenlng the
senses, although the man can still stand
up and fight.
It's believed that White was too drunk
to know anything when the shooting oc-
Cured. Hawkins and the white men got
into a row, and during the melee Haw-
kins was shot and killed. A pistol was
found in Whites hand, and he was ar
rested as the murderer. When the trial
came on Bird was the principal witness
against White. The circumstantial evil
dence was 80 strong that White was
found guilty, and was sentenced TO be
hanged.
All along White professed his lnno-
cence, and declared that he mad not
killed Hawkins. When the execution
took place. just before the cap was put
over his face, White said: Il am an IN
nocent man. and I am now to suffer
death for another mans deed" He was
executed, and there was good deal OF
talk about his last words; but nothing
was ever done to ferret out the other
of whom White poke on the scafold.
Dick Bird soon afterwards left Spar
tanburg and went over to Polk County,
in this State. where he got into some
trouble and then went over into Nc
Dowell County. Last year he si;kened
and died. While on his deathbed he
made a fell confession of his crime in
permitting Tom White to be banged for
the murder of fPet Hawkins. Bird went
on to say that he killed Hawkins, but
put the blame on White; that the evi-
dence, taken altogether, was against
White and that he had permitted him to
be hanged tor the murder, although he
had nothing to do with it.
This will startle some people in Spar
tanburg, perhaps, but there are some
who heard of the confession some time
ago. Whether the confession was writ
ten out have not been able to learn,
but the facts above were obtained
from an excellent source. My inform
ant is one Of the best known men in
Polk, in this State, and Spartanburg and
Greenville counties in South Carolina.
He IS e detective and knew Bird and
White, well, and is sure of his facts
News and Courier.
I