The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-17
COULDN'T AFFORD TO LISTEN

g COULDN'T AFFORD TO LISTEN
; TO FACTS. ARGUMENT, REASON.
So They deet Intelligence and Brains
with Violent and Brute Force
f The Diriiest Proceeding OF the
Whole Campaign.
Anderson Intelligeneer.
The people of this city have felt great inter-
est In the success of the Williamson meeting
on Monday. On that day a goodly number
train faced towards williamson. AT Belton
they were strongly rein forced and they land
ed about 200 strong at Williamson.
Trowbridge's band accompan led the excur-
sionls lists and discoursed excellent music dur
the day.
The Williamson meeting was Conserva-
vaties in and around that classic town. These
good people are deeply In earnest In their
support of the Conservative party, and an ele-
guests es Was done 10 her
comfort that warm-hearted hospitality could
suggest.
as Conservatives always do, accorded the
speakers most respectful hearing and pre-
served the best OF order throughout the day.
Rev. a; c. Stepp., of Honea Path. presided,
Murphy and Col. Humbert were present and
made vigorous and convincing speeches.
Nal. Murray made speech In which the
the crowd was deeply interested, for he told
OF the occurrence OF a few hours previous
which had nearly cost him his life.
THE WAY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE TRIED TO BREAK UP THE WILLIAM
| sToN MEETING.
To obtain an accurate knowledge of this al.
fair, let us go back few days 70 the nneeting
Of the County Democratic Executive Com
mIttee of a week ago Monday.
That Com miJtee determined to set times
and places for eight campaign meetings in
was appointed to make the appointments:
W. C. Pickens, w. A. Neal, T. B. Earle, T. 81.
Burriss and r. Dugan. @
This Committee set meeting for Ced4r
Grove on Monday last, and they did 80 with'a
full knowledge Of the fact that the Conserva-
tives OF the Williamson community had
already selected Monday as the day to held
Cedar Grove is about or sk miles west Of
Williamson. ...'~
| THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED.
| In considering the proceedings OF Monday
bear these three facts In mind: ..-'...
| That the Conservative meeting at Williams
ton had been set for Monday before the Exc
cutive Committee set the County campaign
meeting for Cedar Grove. -...-
That the County Democratic Executive
Committee appointed the meeting at Cedar
Grove for Monday and invited all candidates
to be present, especially candidates from this
County. H.
That every Citizen regardless Of politics or
race, has right TO attend every meeting pro-
vided for by the Democratic Executive Com.
| mittee.
SPEAKERS AT CEDAR GROVE.
About as many attended the Cedar Grove
meeting as were present at the Williamson
j. p. Tindal. Secretary of State. A. c. Latimer
and ]. E. Breazeale spoke at Cedar Grove.
MAJOR MURRAY GOES TO CEDAR GROVE.
At some time during the morning Maj. E
good Democrat. q candidate on the Conserva-
live ticket for election to the September Nom
mating Convention and peaceable man.
Grove that he might meet his fellow. citize' g
there and perhaps speak TO them. He and
Mr.. j. P. Gossott drove there in buggy.
What happened on their arrival Is told by
witnesses In substance as follows:
THE ASSAULT ON MAJOR MURRAY.
On coming within 25O yards OF the stand at
Cedar Grove, several fellows some distance
from the speaking followed Messrs. Murray
and Gossett, jeering and yelling at them.
The crowd around the stand hearing this
rushed towards the buggy and so blockaded
road that the team 1os was Stopped SO
was beafening. Neither Of the gentlemen In
the buggy attempted to say anything and on
" smiled and nodded at friends they recogniz-
the bride Of the horse and made way for
| them through the crowd, that they might 60
nearer the stand. Mr.. Gossett, by agreement,
nr1aS Wopd 1n hs Be pSy aoSWed to speaf Mr.
| Mr.. Murray alighted and had gone but
few steps and was near some ladies when the
eeSwn iess mob St They seized Mr. Murray and struck
him with their fists and punched him with
umbrellas and sticks, and forced him violent.
ly against tree, and some say he was Jerked
| to the ground and kicked. After a time he
was roughly thrown into the buggy and the
peaceable men among them urged Mr.. Cos
set to drive hastily away. This he tried. to
| prey 80 soon. Some of them seized the bug
~ wheels and the back OF the buggy and con-
| tinued to strike and beat their victim. At
was started rapidly towards Williamson.
| Then the mob resorted 10 stones, and savage
| ly hurled rocks at the men In the buggy and
ran after them and threw at them as long as
the stones did not tax effect, but a number
OF them hit the buggy and made scars there
on tnat indicated that they were thrown with
force that would have cleft mans skull
| had their aim been accurate.
| When Messrs. Murray and Gossett escaped
their tormentors 1t was found that Mr.. Mur-
/
| from the cowardly ruffians, but he was Sc
| yerely and painfully bruised.
| II was OF this dastardly and cowardly as
sault upon two peaceable and unarmed citi-
| zens by q vicious mob that Mr.. Murray spoke
on his return to Williamson and which ex-
cited the crowd there intensely:
| While the people at WILLIAMSON were
| hercely indignant at the treatment OF MIR.
| Murray they were advised not to resent II and
did not attempt TO do so.
| THE MEN WHO DID NOT PROTEST AGAINST
/ THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS ACT OF THE CAM
PAIGN.
Besides Messrs. Ashley, Tndal, Latimer
and BreaZeale. already mentioned, Messrs. j.
Belton Watson, s. n. Pearman, d. H. Russell
and X. V. Acker. and perhaps some others,
all prominent TIllmanites. witnessed the out.
i rage perpetsated against Mr.. Murray and did
not make an effort to protect him nor speak
a word for good order and decency, so far as
our Informant could tell. They are leaders
among the TiIlmanites and presumably
could have had great influence with the
crowd present. Why did they hold aloof?
zen was being shaInetuly maltreated In their
presence and by their friends? Did they ap-
; proven?
CEDAR GROVE PEOPLE INDIGNANT.
Be It said to the lasting credit OF many OF
those at the Cedar Grove meeting that they
Jeff the place Immediately after this occur
renee. They did not even stay to eat their
dinners They left In disgust at what they
had Witnessed We believe that many others
OF those present severely censure The action
of the mob.
: HON. GEORGE f. PRINCE NOT ALLOWED TO
SPEAK.
The Hon. George +. Prince went 10 the Ce-
. d,r Grove meeting soon after the scene Just
described ended. He was met with scowls