The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-03
LawLEssNEss IN LExISGToS.
The Lynching Bee that was Made heaoS
fnr Kinard.-SherIf Drafts had Spirited
his Prisoner to the Penitentiary
and Saved H:lo.
ISuecjsI 10 News and Courier

Especial to News and Courier.J
COLUMBIA, Aug. l.-Sherif Drafts,
Of Lexington, deserves great credit for
the manner in which he saved the life
Of George kinard, the negro who Is
charged with assault on Mrs. Robert
Addison at lrIno last week. The Lex
ington Rifles, first as individuals an0
then as o corps, have been guarding
the Jail. There has always been consider
able doubt about Kinard's guilt, except
in the minds of the people around lrmo
The determination to lynch kinard
was controlled until last night, when a
fruitless attempt was made.
The Evening Record sent Il special
representative 10 report the attempteh
lyme ing and gives this graphic story:
SUNDAY night was chosen because II
was thought that no one ~ the Court
House would suspect an attempt and
they would have no opposition. But IN
this they miscalculated, for the Rifle
and Sheriff Drafts were determined. to
protect George Kinard at the expense
of their lives if need be, and did not
hesitate to say 80. The lynchers were
we'll organized and numbered over a
hundred and fifty men, gathered as
follows: Fifty from Hollow Creek Sec
ton, fifty from Brookland and vicinity
aud sixty-tive or seventy from 1rmo
and vicinity. They wer. determined to
have Kinard if it became necessary to
kill the guard and blow the Jail up to
get him, and they carried the dynamite
with which to carry out their purpose.
They proposed, if they found the jail
guarded, to pour hot shot into it from
both ends and front with Winchester
rifles and to use their dynamite in the
rear, which they could approach with
more safety.
THAT they would have carried out
this plan OF action there is but little
doubt from all that could be gathered,
but Sheriff Drafts's discretion made it
unnecessary. Some of the wouId-be
lynchel could not control their tongues
and alta church near Lexington yester-
cay they inadvertently gave hint of
their purpose where friend Of the
sheriff heard it. He straig ghtway hast
ened to the village and notified the
sheriff, aud without much hesitancy
he determined to assume the response
bility Of bringing Kinard to Columb bia.
He accordingly got him ready and sent
him by two trusted deputies on the l
o'clock train.
"Governor Tillman was called from
his slumbers to advise what should be
done with him. He ordered him taken
to the Penitentiary for safe keeping,
and he now rests in the same quarters
with the boy Wade Haines.
ABOUT 3 o'clock Sheriff Drafts was
awakened fron his slumbers and the
Keys demanded of him. Knowing What
was wanted, be told the committee
that waited on him that the prisoner
had been removed. They doubted and
he told them that if they would select
six good men to act for them he would
show them through the Jail and let
them convince themselves Of the truth
of what he said. This was done and,
going through every cell aud the cage,
they expressed themselves as satisfied
and left. This was only an advance
guard Of about twenty-five men, &C.
cording 10 the best of Sheriff Drafts's
judgment in the dark, for they had
put the lights out, but they had the
main body stationed in the suburbs OF
the town awaiting the result of their
investigation. They went as quietly as
they came into the town, but after leav-
ing the town, they gave wild vent ts
their wrath and chargin by oatbs ana
about one hundred Shots"