The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-05-03
DENMARK,s ANSWER.
Tho Iynohfns of Peterson Avowsd aid
Justified.


DENMARK, S. O., April ga mass
meeting of the citizens OF Denmark was
held in the store of j. E. Steadman, az
$50 D. m. About 500 were present,
Captain J. E. Steadman was csued 10
the chair and J. D. Milhouse acted as sec
retary. .,u..
the meeting was called to denounce the
course of certain newspapers and the
course of Editor Gonzales in particular.
s. s, Laffitte offered the following reso-
lutions:
Whereas negro fiend assaulted Miss
Mamie Baxter, the l4-year-old daughter
Of Mr.. J. d. Baxter, on the morning OF
April IA, while she was Oh her way to
school, attacking her brutally and with
drswn knife threatening her life, and
after choking her to insensibillty ana
dragging her down an embankment OF
the South Carolina Railway, and then
attempting to rape her, and
Whereas the citizens of Denmark, acting
with the citizens of Barnwell County ana
those of the adjoining Counties, hunted
diligently for the rapist, and having
caught one John Peterson, whom the
citizens believed TO be guilty OF the crime,
and whom the girl said looked like the
man, "except his eyes and nose," and OF
whom she subsequently, said, che Is the
mani and against whom we have abun-
dant and sufficient proof that he was the
man who assaulted Miss Mamie Baxter,
and said John Peterson was hung and
shot to death on the spot where he made
the brutal assault; and
Whereas the editor of the State, N. It.
Gonzales, has by every means known to
himself sought to besmirch and befoul
the people of this community, and by his
editorials sought TO arouse the passions OF
the negro race against the white people
and incite the negro men to attack and
rape white women to avenge the punish
ment Of John Peterson now, therefore,
we. the citizens OF Denmark, In mass
meeting assembled,
First. Do reg gret that such an outrageous
attack was made on an innocent and un-
suspecting girl by the brute, and further
tender to the unhappy and griet-strlcken
Second. That we fully commend the
act of those citizens who inflicted the
punishment of death upon John Peterson,
believing him to be the guilty wretch,
and we say to the world that we believe
John Peterson guilty and have proof to
support our position.
Third, That we condemn the editorials
Of N. G. Gonzales, who for political pur-
poses has seized upon this occasion and
the punishment of Peterson for pretext
to vent his hostility to Governor Till
man that we especially condemn his
editorial. in which by covert words he
seeks to excite negro men to attack and
rape white women, when unprotected, as
being unworthy the pen of a pure jour-
nalist, and emanating only from the heart
Of one blaoker than the wretch who
assaulted Miss Baxter and deserving the
same fate of John Peterson.
Fourth. That we condemn the State as
9 paper which seeks to array the negro
race against the white race, and thus re-
turn to the days Of Moses, and Chamber
lain.
Fifth. That we commend the course of
Governor Tillman for sending John
Peterson to 2arnwell, for he would not
have been harmed unless guilty, and if
guilty he deserved death.
Sixth. We commend the course Of the
colored people ofthe County, who realize
that John Peterson was given fair hear
ing and a just punishment; and we fur
ther declare that we believe that all peo-
pie who would protect the virtue of their
women should hold aloof from a man so
destitute of virtue and truth as is N. G.
Gonzales.
/, Adopted In mass meeting.