The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-26
pENMARK,s LYNCHING.
The Coroner's Jury Brings in a Non
committal Verdict.

committal Verdict.
Denmark, S. c., April Everything
passed of quietly here to-day. Trial
Justice Rowell impaneled jury of in
quest composed of the following gentle
men: S. G. Ray, foreman; L. L. Cox, A.
Hand. A. D. Pearson, /. L. Kennedy, J.
D. Turner, F. H. McRee, r. c. Hard
wick. T. V. Newsom, A f. Radcliffe and
L. G. Bruce.
After careful deliberatiOn the jury rem
dered the following verdict:
We find that John Peterson, alias John
Peter Richardson, came to his
death by hanging and shot wounds
at the hands of about 500 citi-
zens, who intended to infict the pun
ishment of death upon John Peterson,
alias John Peter Richardson, for having
assaulted Miss Mamie Baxter on Friday,
April IA, 1898, with intent to commit
rape.
DR.. A. L. Izlar held the autopsy. Nearly
everybody, even the negroes, are con-
vinced that Peterson was the right man.
Gov. Tillman telegraphed Senator May
field to-day for full particulars of the
lynching, which he has forwarded by
mail The body will be buried tonight,
as it was late before the inquest was
completed
Hundreds of people visited the scene Of
the lynching to-day.
DENOUNCED AT COLUMBIA
Columbia, S c., April 25 A
rousing mass meeting was held to-
night to condemn the action of Gov. Till
man in sending the negro John Peterson,
who was lynched last night for a
crime of which he was probably
guilty, before the frenzied mob at
Denmark to have his case adjudicated
by Judge Lynch's court. Many promi-
nent citizens were present, and the hall
was filled with persons of all classes.
Among the speakers was ex-Gov. John
Peterson Richardson, who said that he
had always believed that the doctrines
enunciated by the Tillman administra-
ton were of such character as must in
evitably lead TO the disregard of
the law. He charged Gov. Tillman with
recognizing the validity of lynch law, and
concluded by saying: God grant that
such rules shall cease to be in South
Carolina Loud applause.
Solicitor Jervey said thati if he presided
over the Denmark circuit he would indict
the lynchers and would name B. r. Till
man as accessory to the act loud APP
plause 'and in my argument before the
jury am very much mistaken if | couldn't
show that he was more responsible than
any of them"
Speeches were also made by Col John
G. Haskell and w A. Clark. The follow
ing resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That in the lynchng Of John
Peterson at Denmark, not only has the peace
and dignity Of our state been offended, but
human life has been taken without even salts
factory evidence of guilt. We therefore de
nounce the act as meriting the unmeasured
condemnation Of all good citizens.
Resolved, That said John Peterson, having
surrendered himself to the governor of the
state pleading. for protection was
entitled to have the strong arm
OF the state raised in his defense
and that the last resource at the command of
the state should if necessary have been ex-
hausted to insure him trial before the
courts Of the state. We would therefore con
denim the action of the governor in
surrendering the accused to ire
sponsible, or at least, incompetent persons to
he taken into the presence of an infuristed
mob for the purpose of mock trial whereby
the state has become a particips criminis in
the murder of one of its citizens. And we do
now, therefore, record this our solemn pro
test against all such acts Of violence as de-
structlve of the peace of well organized So
ctety and subversive of our Christian civiliza-
ton.