Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-12-01
A NEGRO LYNCHED.
The Third Party Managers In
cited Him to His Crimes.


cited Him to His Crimes.
CHARLOTTE N. c., Nov. 49,
special.-Last Tuesday Deputy
Sheriff Melvin Livingston, of Rich
mond county, accompanied by Mr..
McGrit, left Laurinburg armed
with warrants for the arrest Of
Duncan and Arch. McPhatter,
two negro men charged with rails
ing q disturbance aud fighting at
the polls on election day for the
purpose of having the vote of .
certain precinct in Spring Hill
township thrown out when the
returns were made. This scheme
was cozcocted by a Third party
leader by the name of Cooley, and
it is said he prevailed on these.
two negroes to do the dirty work.
When Livingston and McGfit
reached McPhatter's, Duncan Nc
Phatter appeared at the door with
a gun in his hand. McGrit coy-
cred the nego with a pistol, and
Livingston proceeded to read the
warrant. While Livingston was
reading the paper McGrit saw
Arch. McPhatter draw q Win
chester rife and point it at Liv-
ingston's head. McGrit turned to
shoot Arch. McPhatter, and as he
did Duncan McPhatter struck Liv-
ingston with the butt of his gun
and knocked him senseless to the
ground. Arch. McPhatter turned
to where Livingston lay, and poin-
ting the barrel of the gun athis neck
fired. The ball took effect in Liy-
ingston's neck, and death quickly
followed. Both of the negroes
then opened fire upon McGrit, but
without effect. Mr.. McGrit ran
to his buggy, after smptying his.
pistol, to get a gun, when the ne
groes ran and made their escape.
AS soon as the news Of the tragedy
reached Laurinburg, Sheriff Smith.
of Richmond county, with aposse
of fifteen men, started in pur-
suit of the murderers. They went
to McPhatter's house and sur.
rounded the cabin, and as they did
so Duncan McPhatter jumped
through a window and ran. About
thirty shots s5Hera fred lat shim sbnt
he escaped unhurt into a swamp
nearby. At night the same posse
went,to Arch McPhatter's house
and found him concealed in a bed.
When the negro rose from the
bed he began firing and sprang
through the door. It is thought
that Arch McPhatterr was shot
twice, but he made good his escape.
Richmond county has been in
an intense state of excitement
since the murder, and up to yes
terday moon all trace of the men
was lost sight of. The posse, how
ever, did not give up, but kept
roaming through the woods and in
awamps in pursuit of them. About
I3 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
when they all had become tired
and worn out, shot was heard to
ring out in a swamp that was
surrounded by the men in pursuit,
and a voice was heard to say:
"Don't shoot, I will give up, come
and, take me. The band of men
at once went to the spot and found
Duncan McPhatter lying on the
ground wounded in the leg and
arm. The negro was taken at once
to Laurinburg and placed in the
lookup, and guard of forty aimed
men surrounded the caeaboose.
At 12:45 this morning q quiet,
determined crowd of at least two
hundred men boarded Captain
w. J. Halls train at Laurinburg
with McPhatter, with the intention
of carrying the prisoner to Rocking
ham to be jailed. Captain Hall
says that there was not a drunken
man in the crowd: that all was
quite, and that the ladies in the
car did not know that the mob
was on board. When the train
reached Laurel Hill, the :leader
i
said that he thought it best to
make quick work of the murderer,
and suggested that they stop at
Laurel Hill and swing him to a
limb. The suggestion was received
with general satisfaction, and the