The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-05-05


: Ssala1js~ss sstss4ssARta-sy-------
negro, Wade wyiie, approached me on last
Saturday afternoon to know where Mr..
T,llman (mcaniag the Governor) was.
few 9ue>tions elicitsd the fact that | was
being addressed by John Peterson, whom j
knew to be wanted at Denmark as o suspect
OF the outrage ulou Miss Mamie Baxter.
1 accompanied him TO the Executive Man.
sion and told the Governor who he was and
what he wanted.
Governor Tiiimsn addressing Peterson,
asked him if he was John Peterson and he
replied that he was, ard that he wanted to
surrender himse'f to him for protection, as
he had heard that they wero hunting him
for the crime committed upol Miss Baxter,
and he feared that If he was caught he
would be lynched.
The Governor 'Are you guiltyy'
Peterson "No, Sir"
The Governor: where were you on
Friday = week ngo?'
Peterson: IL was at North's."
The Governor: Can you prove that and
by white people p
Petersou "fes, SIR
The Governor: Are you willing H. 40
back there and let the young lady s'e you p
Peterson: AYES. sir."
The Governor then turned TO me and
said iha. he had no right t. hold man
who was simply suspected Of crime, but
that IL Peterson wanted protection | had
better take him to the Chief of Police and
get him 10 investigate The case. This |
did. After having him Licked up by his
own request, | sarted ont to find MIR. l..
jenkins aui Constable Lamberi, the latter
Of whom, l knew, WAS then looking for
Peterson with warrant for h's arrest, 10
see if they would identify him, ~ lie did
not appear tp suit the description given me
Of him.
They were found and Mr.. jenkins began
the questioning Of Peterson, which has al
ready been mentione !, believing at the
start thnt Peterson was guilty. Of tic crime,
but at the finish that he was innocent.
Peterson was then licked up. and after
asked HIN II he would be willing to return
TO Denmark and let The young lady look nt
him. lie replied promptly that he would.
Ite sal ihnt he was Innocent ari lid not
fenr any recognition by her.
Upon leaving The guardh'usc Mr.. jenkins
AMI ] determined that there was at least
grave doubt Of his guilt and thai if he was
taken bnck there by Mr.. Lambert 0, Sun
any morning. Believing as we d,d that no
would be lynched, ws determined to 90 to
Governor Tillman and ask him to have him
held here until he could get his witnesses
together to prove his alibi, which he con
tidently Gained that he could do. We
went, aud after hearing W Governor Till
man agreed TO hold him under condition
that would go AMI try to get his witnesses
together for him, which | did. lie then
wrote an order to Sheriff Cathcart, which
delivered TO him, ordering him to take
Peterson from the guardhouse and lodge
him in Jail until further orders.
| went tu Noriha ba nav IL, ,J ,,,,.l
ed all dny hunting up his witnesses for him.
That evening l wired the Governor tha.
they would al be on hand Monday, and
that they corrodorated his statement
A. w. CLAYTON.
81 hen'a V'U vvn'rroatlun between Gov
ernor fl Imam and John Peterson at the
Governor $ Mansion last Saturday aftsru oou
~ stated above. W. A. NEAL,
SuperintcndcntiR.:pi,e emtiary.