The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-05
A SURPRISE FOR JERVEY.
Gov. Tillman Gives Him a Chance 10
Make Good His Boast.

The Solicitor Of the BarnwelI Circuit
Asks to be Relieved From Prosecut-
ing the Denmark Lynohers- -Jervey
Designated to Act in His Plaee-Jer-
vsy Has Boasted That He Would
Make the Fur Fly.
Columbia, S. c., May 4.-The after.
math of the Denmark lynching grows
interesting. To-day's developments ara
racy, and those Of the near future will
probably be more so. From the published
utterances Of Gov, Tillman on the subject
the general impression has been that he
would take no action against the lynch-
ers. But he took the preliminary steps
to-day, and in way that is unexpectedly
bold and startling AT the mass meeting
of citizens in this city recently to express
themselves on Gov. Tillman's course in
sending the negro Peterson before the
lynchers Solicitor Jervey of Charleston
happened to be present, and on being
called upon to speak made use of these
remarks; "lf | were the solicitor in
Barnwell county ! should indict every
man who took part in that murder, and I
should name as accessory before the act
b. Il. 1illman loud applausel, and in my
1
mistaken If would not show that he was
more responsible than any Of them.p
Loud applause,
JERyEY MAY HAVE CHANCE.
To-day the governor mado public a
letter written to him yesterday by
Solicitor BellmFer of the Barnwell cir
cult, in which he says. II desire
to call your attention Officially 10
the recent lynching at Denmark I'm con-
nection with the following statement:
so far no warrant has been sworn out by
any one against any person supposed to
be connected with the affair and the pro-
ceedings and verdict of the Jury
of inquest give no information
upon which the prosecution can be be-
gun. Under these circumstances If the
case is 10 receive that investigation which
its gravity seems 10 require, it becomes
the duty OF the executive officer to insti-
tute proceeding in the premises In fas
much as the violation OF the law was
committed in community in which I
have many relations and connections, IL
Is not impro obablc that some of them were
implicated, especially when ID is stated
that tho entire community was engaged
in the enterprise. Such being the case,
any effort on my part to bring the perpe-
t1tors TO Justice would be embarrassing
to me and probably lay me open to the
Il
would therefore respectfully request that
your excellency would charge the solic-
itor Of one Of the adjoining circuits TO
take charge Of the case, and would sug-
gest Solicitor Jervcy, whose circuit adj
joins this county, and who probably bet
ter understands the situation and could
give the matter satisfactory attention.
Herein comes the interesting part Of
this story. To-day Gov. Tillman wrote
letter to Solicitor Jervcy in which henoti-
fed him Of Solicitor Bclinger's letter and
says: II therefore direct you to proceed
to Denmark at your earliest convenience
for the purpose Of thOroughlyin
the outbreak and the necessary steps to
vindicate the law and punish the lynch-
ers." The conclusion Of the governors
letter illustrates the very refinement Of
sarcasm. He says 81 comply with Mr..
Bellinger's request, the more readily be-
cause your well-known Jealous and legal
ability give assurance that you will do
your duty.
Mr.. Bellinger will, of course, take
your place in any work in your own cir.
cult which may interfere with your COM
pliance with this order,r