Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-04-27
COLUMBIA FURIOUS.
A Lynching Without Reason.
Special to Tie Green1ille News

COLUMBIA, S. c., April PA rousing
mass meeting was held here tonight to
condemn the action of Gov Tillman in
sending the negro, John Peterson, before
a frenzied mob, at Denmark, to have his
case adjudged before Judge Lynch's
court. Many prominent citizens were
present and the hall was filled with per-
sons Of all classes, many Of whom were
negroes. Among the speakers was e1-
Gov. John Peter Richardson who said he
had always believed the doctrines enun-
ciated by the Tillman administration
were of such character as must inevi-
tably lead to disregard of law. He
charged Gov. Tillman with recognizing
the validity of lynch law when he acted
the part of Sheriff in subp@naing wit
nesses and sentencing the accused to the
mob. He w.s loudly applauded when
he said: God grant that such rulers
shall cease to be in South Carolina. :"
Solicitor Jervey, of Charleston, was
called on and said that if Denmark were
in his circuit he would indict every one
who took part in the lynching, and would
name B. r. Tiilman rs an accessory be-
fore the fact; land in my argument
said he, Il would be much mistaken if l
did not show that he was more response
BILE than any Of them.' This elicted
loud applause, and some one shouted,
that's the man."
Remarks were also made by Col. John
c. Haskell and w A. Clark. The fol
lowing resolutions were unanimously
adopted
eve, citizens of Columbia, in mass
meeting assembled, do adopt the follow
ing resolutions:
Resolved, That in the lynching of
John Peterson, at Denmark, not only has
the peace and dignity of the State been
offended, but human life has been taken
withou. even satisfactory evidence of his
guilt. We therefore denounce the act as
meriting the unmeasured condemnation
of all good citizens.
''Resolved, That said John Peterson
having surrendered himself to the Gov
ernor of the State, pleading for protec-
ton. was entitled to have the strong arm
of the State raised in his defence and
that the last resource at the command
of the State, if necessary, should have
been exhausted to insure him a trial be-
fore The courts of the State.
eve would. therefore, condemn the
action of the Governor in surrendering
the accused to irresponsible, or, at least,
incompetent people, TO be taken into the
presence of an infuriated mob foc the
purpose of mob trial, whereby the State
has become particeps criminis in the mur-
der of one of its citizens.
"And we do now therefore record this,
our solemn protest, against all such acts
of .iolence as destructive of the peace OF
we'll organized society and subversive of
our Christian civilization"
WHAT GOV. TILLMAN SAYS
Gov. Tillman, in speaking Of the lynch
ing to-day. said that in the first place the
people of Barnwell had violated his con-
fidence in hanging the negro. Peterson
had told him that he was not guilty.
could prove an alibi and was willing to
face the girl. Under the circumstances
he did not think it necessary for him to
send an armed escort with the man, for
the people appeared 20 be calm and cool
and willing to weigh the evidence. In
the case Of Williams the girl identified
him almost positively, but no rash action
was taken, and when it was proven that
he was the wrong man he was released.
The Governor says he felt that if crowd
could act so with man identified, they
most certainly woald not hang man
who said he was innocent and was will
ing to meet his accusers and prove him
self innocent. That is jGst the way the
matter stands, and it is not probable that
any action will be taken at this end OF
the line.