The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-08-11
CRUEL LYNCH LAW,
WHERE IT l3 LEADING US TO-frS IN
EViTABLE RESULT.

Sheriff Drafts Discretion Narrowly
Averts II Bloody Battle In Lexington
George Kinard, Irmo's Kapist, Lodged
In tho Penitsntiarv to Avert LynohipR.
COLUMBIA, S. g., Aug. l.-George
klnard, the rape iiend of Irmo, was
spirited away from Lexington ja;l last
night and lodged in the peniten tiary
along with Wade Haines to prevent his
being lynched, as he surely would have
been had he remained in Lexington iail.
There will be many grateful hearts in
/ Lexington, when it becomes thoroughly
known how near more than one father
or brother came to being sacrificed to a
.alse conception of speedy justice by
outraged decency appealing to passion
and lawlessness. But such was the case
at Lexington Court House last night.
Every since George Klnard was arrested
at lrmo for rape on last Sunday after
noon week ago it has been feared
that an attempt would be made to lynch
HIM. This sheriff Drafts determined
should not be if 1t was in his power to
prevent it, and he has succeeded.
The Lexington Rifles were called on
to guard the Jail, but this they could not
do without orders from the Governor.
and he was out of reach for the time, so
they volunteered as private citizens to
protect the good name of their county
until orders were received to act as s.
military guard. This determination was
strengthened IN them by two copsldera-
tion--lirsL they held that the people OF
lrmo, ifthey were convinced of Kinard's
guilt should not have brought him to
jail after having him in charge for
twentY-four hours; second great doubts
had been brought to them Of Kinard's
guilt, and they were not willing to see
an innocent man lynched. So on Monday
night they guarded the jail as private
citizens and after that they were placed
under the orders Of the Sheriff a a mill.
tary company and have guarded the jlil
ever since.
fhe people of Irmo on the other hand
say that they have no shadow OF doubt
OF hls guilt and it seems were determined
to lynch hun, but only waited the exc.
cution O! Julius Wise before disturbing
the peace OF that quiet little village,
Sunday night was chosen because it was
thought Tint no one at the court house
would suspect an attempt and they
would have no opposition. But in this
they miscalculated, for the Rifles and
sheriff Drafts were determined to pro.
tcct Georges kiuard at the expense OF
their lives if need be and did not hesitate
so say SO. The lynchcrs were well
organized and numbered over a hundred
and fifty men, gathered rs follows: Fifty
from Hollow Creek section. fifty from
Brookiand and vicinity and sixty.1ive or
seventy from Irmo and vicinity.
They were determined to have Kinard
Il II became necessary to Kill the guard
and blow the Jail up TO get him aud they
carried the dynamite with which to
carry out their purpose. They proposed
II they found the jail guarded to pour
hot shot INTO it from both ends and front
with Winchester rifles and to use the
dynamite in the rear, which they could
approach with more safety. That they
would have carried out this plan OF &C :
ton there is but little doubt, from all
that could be gathered, but Sheriff
Drafts discretion made il unnecessary.
Some OF the would-be lanchers could not
control their tongues and at a church
near Lexington yesterday they inadvert
emily let hint Of their purpose drop
where friend of the Sheriff heard it.
lie straightway hasteu cd TO the village
and notified the Sheriff, and, without
much hesitancy, he determined to as
sume the responsibility of bringing
klnard TO Columbia. lie accordingly
got him ready and sent him by two
trusted deputies on the II o'clock train.
Gov. Tillman was called from his slum.
bers to advise what should be done with
him. He ordered him taken to the
penitentialy for safe keeping, and he
now rests in the same quarters with the
boy, Wade Haines.
About 2 O'Clock Sheriff Drafts was
awakened from his slumbers and the
keys demanded of him. Kowning what
was wanted he told the committee that
waited on him that the prisoner had
been removed. They doubted, and he
told them that if they would select Blk
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 after
going through every cell and the cage
they expressed themselves satisfied aud
left.-Rccord.
Inv nlh