The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-03
THE DENMARK LYSCHING.
What Induced the Governor to Let Peter
son Go-Those Present at the Inter-
view Give an Account OF What
Occurred.
1Specla} to Reyister, 9th. |

/ IN connection Win lne PETERSON case
was right, yet he evinces every desire
to let the public know why he acted as
he did, as he has been so severely criti-
cised.
Much interest has been taken in what
Peterson had to say to the Governor,
and with view ofmaking it all public
the Governor yesterday addressed the
following letter:
"CoLUMBIA, April 26th, 1888.
"Messrs. w. A. Neal and A. w.
Clayton.
"GENTLEA1EN: Please give me state.
ment of what you know in regard to
my conversation with John Peterson
at the Executive Mansion on Saturday
afternoon last.
II ask it for publication, to give the
public the whole truth and leave peo'
pie at home and abroad to judge the
case fairly. Respectfully,
"B. r. TILLMAN, Governor"
In response to the above Mr.. Clayton,
who is a reporter for the Journal, makes
the following statement:
John Peterson, accompanied by an
other negro, Wade Wylie, approached
me on last Saturday afternoon to know
where Mr.. Tillman (meaning the Gov
ernor) was. A few questions elected
the fact that was being addressed by
John Peterson, whom 7 knew to be
wanted at Denmark as suspect of the
outrage upon Miss Mamie Baxter. I
accompanied him to the Executive
Mansion and told the Governor who
he was and what be wanted.
Governor Tillman, addressing Peter
son, asked him if be was John Peter
son, and he replied that he was, and
that be wanted to surrender himself to
him for protection, as he had heard
that they were hunting him for the
crime committed upon Miss Baxter,
and he feared that if he was caught he
would be lynched.
The Governor: "Are you guilty?"
Peterson: mo; sir"
The Governor: ".Where were you on
Friday q week ago."
Peterson: II was at North's."
The Governor: "Can you prove that
and by white people?"
Peterson: "Yes, sir"
The Governor: Are you willing to
90 back there aud let the young lady
see you?n -'-l.. *
Peterson: Eyes, sir.'''
The Governor then turned to me and
said that he had no right to hold man
who was simply suspected of a crime,
but that if he, Peterson, wanted protec-
ton I had better take him TO the Chief
of Police and get him to investigate the
case. This I did. After having him
locked up by his own request, started
out to find Mr.. l.. B. Jenkins and Con-
stable Lambert, the latter of whom
knew. was then looking for Peterson
with a warrant for bis arrest, to see if
they would identify him, as he did not
appear to suis'the description given me
of him. s -.
They were found and Mr.. jenkins
began the questioning of Peterson,
which has already been mentioned, be-
lieving at the start that Peterson was
guilty of the crime, hut at the finish
that he was innocent. Peterson was
then locked up, and after being re-
turned to his cell, Mr.. Jenkins asked
him if he would be willing to return to
Denmark and let the. young lady look
at him. He replied promptly that he
would. He said that he was innocent
and did not fear any recognition by
her.
Upon leaving the guard house Mr..
Jenkins and I determined that there
was at least grave doubt of bis guilt
and that if he was taken back there by
Mr.. Lambert on Sunday morning be-
lieving as we did that he would be
lvnched, we determined to go to Gov
ernor Tillman and ask him to have him
held here until he could get bis wit
nesses together to prove his alibi,
which he confidently claimed that he
could do. We went, and after hearing
us Governor Tillman agreed to hold
! him under condition that I would 80
and try to get his witnesses together
for him, which did. He then wrote
an order to Sheriff Cathcart, which l
delivered to him, ordering him to take
Peterson from the guard house and
lodge him in Jail until further orders.
went to North's the next day and
worked all day hunting up bis wit
nesses for him. That evening I wired
the Governor that they would all be
on hand on Monday, and that they
corroborated bis statement.
A. W.. CLAYTON.
II heard the conversation between
| Governor Tillman and John Peterson