The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-06-09
LAURENS ALLEGED LYNCHING.
Details of Dave shaws's Spiriting Away.
Looking for Shaw.

COLUMBIA, S. c., June 2.-The re-
ported lynching Of the negro, charged
only with larceny, in Laurens, county
created considerable talk yesterday in
the city, and much interest was mani.
tested IN the matter ia the State depart
ment.
During the forenoon Governor Till
man received q reply to his message to
Solicitor Schumpert, stating that he
would leave by the Dext train for the
scene of the trouble and make thorough
investigation of the affair as instructed.
Until his report arrives tho Governor
Will take no further action IN regard to
the matter. ..~-.. -
by. the down traaittiye trr all yesterday the Gov
! Gii'nOr received the following letter
which clears the trial justice in charge
Of the district in which the crime Oc-
C Trcd from any charge Of neglect of
duty, and gives the fullest details yet
received. IL is dated from Dorrah, S.
c., May 80, is and signed by John II.
1Iellams, trial justice OF Dial's town.
ship, Laurens county:
Dear Sir: There was an unlawful act
OF lynching, occurring in Laurens coun.
ty on Friday night, the 9th INST. The
circumstances were as follows:
On the 9th inst, one j. II. Hopkins
came before me and swore out war.
rant against Dave Shaw, colored, for
burglary and grand larceny, for entering
his fathers store by means Of false keys
and taking thcrcfrom goods to the
amount of $50, belonging to himself and
his father, w. i. Hopkins. l sent my
constable, j. NJ. Abercrombie, for the
defendant, Dave Shaw. He, III COM
pany OF j. II. Hopkins and w. l.. Abcr-
cromble, went and arrested Dave Shaw,
tied him, and were bringing him to my
office to stand the preliminary eNamina-
tlon. In crossing the bottoms Of South
Rubourns' creek theY were accosted by
body OF men who were in ambush and
called on "to hands up;" the con stable
reports that he was covered with pis-
tolls, and fired into, aud ordered to take
the road back. OTHERS grabbed hold of
hum and forced the line by which he
held the prisoner from him. lie says
that it was then good dark, and he could
not recognize any one among the out.
laws. l have been on the scene and
tried to investigate the matte, as tar as
l was able. l found where they had
carried the prisoner in the thlckets and
hung him to limb, either TO whip or
otherwise punish him. l found a pool
of blood there and from the signs there
must havo been considerable body of
men. MY constable says there were
fifty or seyenty.iive.
The prisoner has not been heard OF
since the lynching. have had the
creek and mill pond searched for his
body but have made no discovery of
him. 1t is the general opinion that he
was murdered, and concealed. 1t may
be that he was ordered to skip the coun-
try.
The facts leading to the lynching are
these: Ii was generally conceded that
Dave Shaw did the stealing, and the
evidences leading TO proof were circum-
stantial, aud would not probably convict
him. 1t is known that he was running
Il one horse farm without any visible
means of support that corn cribs were
being entered by means Of false keys
and corn taken thereirom. This lyn-
ching is dcplOrcd by our best citizens.
If any further facts come up will notl-
~ you. The negroes are still search
ing Tor Dave.-State.