The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-12-19
MURDER AND LYNCHING.
Two Horrible Tragedies at Williamson
Special to Greenuille Ne,Ds.

Two Horrible Tragedies at WiIllamston
Special to Grcenville Ne,Us.
WILLIAMSON, s. c., Dec. 12.-One
of the most brutal murders ever COM
mitted in this State was the butcher
ing of Gus Cromer, step-son of Au-
gustus Williams, Of Williamson, last
Monday afternoon by Ed Sullivan,
Negro boy about IS years Of age.
Last Monday morning Mr.. Williams
and his step-son, aged IL years, went
to Pelzer. Williams remained there,
where he worked, but started his son
back to Williamson with new axe,
three yards Of jeans cloth and a bas-
ket, not knowing that the boy had not
returned home until yesterday after
noon when Williams came home him
self. His wife informed him that
Gus had never yet returned. Then
the alarm was given and an immediate
search was made but without effect
until this morning when right inside
the corporate limits of our generally
quiet town the body of poor little Gus
was found with his head and face
split to pieces, showing the force the
blows with the edge Of sharp axe
had been driven. Either of the
wounds would have produced death
instantly. After finding the body
large crowd gathered. A jury was
empaneled, and search was at once
made for the demon who committed
the foul deed. It was soon ascertain
ed that when last seen Gus Williams
was near where he was killed, going in
company with Negro boy, who proved
to be Ed Sullivan, in the direction Of
a piece of woods. A party suspecting
Ed Sullivan of being the murderer,
went at once to his mothers house
and there found the cloth Gus Will
liams had started from Pelzer with.
They then arrested Ed Sullivan, who
confessed the deed.
LATER.-9.30 p. m.-The consta
bles have started for Anderson jail
with the prisoner and are being pur-
sued by five hundred armed and in
furiated men who say they will lynch
Sullivan or die.
LATER.-11.4 .45 p. m.-MayorG G. W.
Sullivan and other citizens of Will
liamston have been at work faith
fully trying to protect the life Of Ed
Sullivan, the murderer, and allow the
law to take its course and to this end
they started the prisoner with two
officers in buggy toward Anderson;
but after driving about five miles in
that direction they were overtaken by
a large crowd of armed men. Sulli-
van was taken from them by violence
and brought back to Williamson, and
just outside the incorporation his
body was swung to limb of hickory
tree and then riddled with bullets.
This act will be greatly deplored by
most of our citizens. The party con-
sisted of about five hundred grown
men.
Governor Evans hearing of the trou
BILE telegraphed A. NJ. Guyton's s mill
tary company to come at once, but the
telegrs n was not received until ~
o'clock tonight, one hour after the
lynching.
Trial Justice Roberts, who held the
inquest over Cromer's body and who
had official charge Of the prisoner,
evidently did all in his power to pre-
vent the lynching. 1t was impossible
for him to communicate with Ander-
son but he telegraphed the facts to
Governor Evans.
A. B. Williams, Of the Greenville
News, learning the facts by telegraph
from Williamson and by telephone
from Pelzer, sent an urgent message
to the Governor stating the facts at
more length and adding that plenty of
help could be secured in Greenville to
prevent the lynching Of the boy.
The Governor acted promptly. just
before midnight he telegraphed Capt.
W. P. Conyers, Of the Greenville
Guards, as follows:
"Order out your company and pro-
ceed at once to Williamson. Protect
the prisoner threatened to be lynched.
You have full power to use every
means necessary to prevent the lynch
ing" JOHN GARY EVANS,
Governor.
At 1890 a. M, just thirty-fve min
utes after the receipt of this message
in Greenville, the Greenville Guards
were at their armory in uniform and
under arms ready to move.
Considering that the men we're all
at their homes, scattered in different
parts of the city, and in bed, the
promptness with which they reported
was astonishing.
Meanwhile, The lynching had taken
place and when Captain Conyers re-
ported to the Governor that the
Guards were under arms and awaiting
orders he received an answer to the
effect that there was no need for his
services and that he might dismiss his
men.
Later last night the following came
from Pelzer by telephone and was sent
to Columbia on the loop in the
Greenville News office:
PELzER, S. c., December 13.
GOVERNOR JOHN GARY EVANS
COLUMBIA, S. c.: The party lynched
is probably only an accessory in the
murder. I expect to arrest the prin-
cipal tonight. Will need protection
at inquest in morning. The train
leaves Greenvill at 1915 a. m. If
you decide to send Greenville Guards
they will need notice tonight.
L. B. ROBERTS, T. j.
About 2 o'clock this morning the
following was received here from Co.
lumbia
COLUMBIA, S. c., December, IL.
CAPT. W. P. CoNYERs, GREENvILLE,
S. c.: Proceed to Williamson with
your company on the 1918 train
Thursday morning and report to L. B.
Roberts, trial justice there, at inquest
and protect any person arrested.
JOHN GARY EVANS, Governor.
Unless orders are received to the
contrary the Greenville Guards will,
therefore, leave here this morning for
Williamson and will act under the
orders Of Trial Justice Roberts to pre-