The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-08-10


dar Grove on Monday last, and they did SO
with full knowledge Of the fact that
the Conservatives Of the Williamson
community had already selected Monday
as the day to hold their meeting in Will
lamston.
Cedar Grove is about 8 or 81 miles west
OF Williamson.
In considering the proceedings OF Mon
dsy bear these three facts in mind
Thst the Conservative meeting at VIII
Iiamston had been set for Monday before
the Executive Committee set the County
campaign meeting for Cedar Grove.
That the County Democratic Executive
Committee appointed the meeting at Ce-
dar Grove for Monday and invited all
candidates to be present, especially can
didates from this County.
That every citizen, regardless OF politics
or race, has q right to attend every meet
ing provided for by the Democratic Exec
utive Committee.
About as many attended the Cedar
Grove meeting as we're present at the
williamson meeting. During the morn
ing j. W. Ashley, ]. E. Tindal, Secretary
Of State, a. C. Latimer and ]. E. Brea-
aeale spoke at Cedar Grove.
at some time during the morning Maj.
j.. B. Murray, who is citizen Of this
County, q good Democrat, Q candidate on
the Conservative ticket for election to the
September Nominating Convention and 8
psacsable man, left the Williamson meet
ing goto Cedar Grove that emight meet
bis fsllow-citizens there and perhaps
speak to them. He and Mr.. J. p. Gossett
drove there in q buggy. What happened
ON their arrival is told by eye-witnesses
In substance as follows:
) On coming within $50 yards OF the
stand at Cedar Grove, several fellows
some distance from the speaking follow
ed Messrs. Murray and Gossett, jeering
and yelling at them. The crowd around
the atand hearing this rushed towards the
buggy and so blockaded the road that the
team was stopped. So much jeering and
yelling took place that 1t was deafening.
Neither Of the gentlemen in the buggy
attempted to aIy anything and only smil-
ed and nodded at friends they recognized
around them: Finally, some friend took
the bride of. the horse and made way
for them through the crowd, that they
might go nearer the stand. Mr.. Gossett,
b. agreement, remained in the buggy
waiting to see If Mr.. Murray would be al
lowed to speak.
Mr.. Murray alighted and had gone but
a few steps and was near some ladies
when the crowd around him became a
yelling, senseless mob. They seized Mr..
Murray and struck him with their fists
and punched him with umbrellas and
sticks, and forced him violently against
q tree, and some say he was jerked to the
ground and kicked. After time he was
roughly thrown into the buggy and the
peaceable men among them urged Mr..
Gossett to drive hastily away. This he
tried to do, but the wild mob was 10th to
give up their prey so soon. Some OF
them seized the buggy wheels and the
back Of the buggy and continued to
strike and beat their victim. At last the
buggy was jerked from them, and was
started rapidly towards Willismston.
Then the mob resorted to stones, and saw
agely hurled rocks at the men in the bug
~ and ran after them and threw at them
as long as they could keep in distance.
fortunately the stones did not take effect,
but number Of them hit the buggy and
made scars thereon that indicated that
they were thrown with q force that would
have cleft mans skull bad their aim
been accurate.
When Messrs. Murray and GcsseH es-
capped their tormentors it was found thai
Mr.. Murray had not received any danger
ous wounds from the cowardly rufiaps,
but he was severely and painfully bruis-
ed.
It was Of this dastard1y and cowardly
assault upon two peaceable and unarmed
vicious mob thst Mr.. Murray
spoke on his return to Williamstoa and
which excited the crowd there intensely.
While the people at Williamson were
fercely adignan4 at the treatment Of Mr..
Murray. we're advised not to resent
it and did nor empt to do go.
Besides Messrs. Ashley, Tindal. Lati-
mer and Breazeale, already menioksd,
Messrs. J. Belton Watson. s. n. Pearman,
D. II. Russell, and r. v. Acker,
and perhaps some others. all prominent
Tillmanites, witnessed the outrage per-
pet-ated against Mr.. Murray and did not
make an effort to protect hira nor speak q
word for good order and decency, SO Ear as
our informaat could tell. They are lead
ers among the Tillmanites and presumss
bly, ecnld have had great influence with
The crowd present. iWhy Gid they hold
aloof? We're they indifferent to the fact
that citizen was being shamefally mall
treated in their presence and by their
friends? Did they approve its
Be it said to the lasting credit Of many
OF those at the Cedar Grove meeting that
they LETT the place Immediately after this
They did not even stay to
eat their dinner. They left in disgust at
what they had Hztaessed. We believe
that many others of ihoso present severe
ly censure che action OF the .Epb.
The Hon. George E. Prince weBtt2 the
Cedar Grove meeting soon after the scels
Just. described ended. He was met with
scowls and threats and .wsrned not to go
towards the stand. The Chairman and
others present begged him not tedo 80 as
they believed it would preqipitste. anath-
Or scene of mobism and they could pot
protect him. He was urged to leave tho
grounds forthwith, as his presence SEEM
ed to work some of the lawless fellows
into fine frenzy and trouble was brew
ing. He consented to- leave, and we have
good authority for saying he left none too
early, and that it was with trouble that the