The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-04
RECORD OF THE PAST WEEK
IN SUMTER.

On last Wednesday just before going to
press the Sumter Light Infantry received an
order from Gov. Tillman directing the COM
pany to hold itself in readiness to go to OAR
Iiugton to keep the peace. The order was
countermanded, but on Thursday the COM
pany was ordered to Darlington on account
Of The situation there, the particulars OF
which gre narrated elsewhere in this paper.
The company, City strong went over on a
special over the C. S.. l. N. R.. R., leaving
here about 3 80 p. m. The Sumter Light In
fantry was met at the depot by the Darlington
Guards and escorted to their armory, where
the Sumter boys were most Hospitality enter
tanned.
The writer went over with the company,
and there was not the slightest disturbance,
nor had there been any occurrence warrant
ing the calling out Of the militia by Gov.
TiIlman. The City of Darlington was at
peace and the Mayor declared himself fully
able, and determined to keep the peace.
There being no necessity Of the company
remaining 10 Darlington, and Gov. Tillmao
being satisfied, he ordered Capt. Phelps to
return With his command to Sumter on FRI
day morning.
On Friday evening, when no one antici-
pated any trouble, the dispensary spies by
their bloody .reckIessness, brought on a riot
and killed Norment and Redmond, as de.
scribed 10 the report of the trouble in OAR
ling,on.
When the telegram announcing the killing
was received here, and with. the news, a, re-
quest that the people Of Sumter meet the G.
S. l. N. train and arrest the spies, who were
49, 49, w. cd Nan
armed themselves aud a large crowd FASTENED
to the depot. In the crowd there were thir-
teen or eighteen men armed with rifles and
shot guns. There would have been a larger
posse, but there was not time to hunt up
guns, aud an attempt to secure the S. l.. l.
rifles was defeated by Capt. Phelps.
An effort was made to obtain warrants fer
the arrest of the spies from Trial Justice MaB-
ming, but he had 90 authority to issue war
rants as the crime had been committed in
another county. Neither did Deputy Sheriff
]. E. Gaillard (Sheriff Sanders was ahseut)
have power to make the arrests. Mayor
Pierson was called on, but he declared him.
self powerless to make the arrests. Several
lawyers declared, however, that it was lawful
for any citizen or body of citizens to arrest q
felon fleeing from justice, and as the telegram
from Darlington conveyed the information
that two men had been killed by the spies,
who were fleeing, it was determined TO arrest
them aud hold them until the officers could
arrive from Darlington.
When the train arrived it was searched,
but no spies were found, aud the crowd was
informed that the four who had been on
board bad gotieo off at Oswego. 1t was also
learned that these men, Chief Constable, 7.
S. Gaillard, Swar, Neekens and Drennon
had had no part in the row.
The crowd then repaired to the Court
House aud organized oy electing Mic.
Ingram, Chairman and Mr.. II. G. Osteen,
Secretary. Col. John j. Dargan, by request
stated the object of the meeting. he said the
people should organize to resist oppression
and the subversion Of their rights. He read
the resolutions adopted 10 Darlington on the
preceding day by a meeting participated in
by citizens of Darlington, Florence and
Sumter. The resolutions we're drafted by q
committee of six, two from each place, Capt.
K. A. Brand and Mr.. Josh j. Hardy repre-
senting Sumter on the committee. The reso-
lutions had been unanimously adopted by the
Darlington meeting, and Col Dargan sug-
gested that the meeting also adopt them. The
resolutions were adopted without a dissent
ing vote. The resolutions are as follows:
First. That a mans house is his cas-
tie, and that he is expected to defend the
sa me against all unreasonable searches.
Second. That in the counties of Darling
ton, Florence and Sumter search of private
residences, private rooms and private apart
men,s, used by their owners as dwellings and
not as places of trade, shall be neither
tolerated nor permitted. We hereby pledge
ourselves to resist all such unlawful depre-
datious.
Third. That the citizens of Darlington
Florence and Sumter hereby mutually
pledge themselves to support each other in
resistance to all such unlawful acts, and we
invite The cooperation Of all other law
abiding and liherty-loving citizens.
A call was then made for those who desired
to pledge themselves individually to support
the principles set forth in the resolutions.
Seveuty-eight names we're enrolled 10 a few
minutes. The permanent organization was
then perfected by the election OF Col. ID.
Dargau, President Mr.. /. G. Ingram. Vice
President; MIR. q. G. Osteen, Secretary; Maj.
Marion Noise, Treasurer, and Mr.. J. j. Hardy,
Chairman of the Executive Committee, which
consists of the above named officers.
The meeting then adjourned and a large
crowd.went to the A. C. L. depot to search
the $50 train for spies in accordance with
the request from Darlington. None were
found.
The meeting was then called together in
the Court House, and Mr.. English DesCbamps,
who came from Darlington on the $50 train,
gave an account of the situation and the cir
cumstances of the killing of Norment, Red
mond, Constable Pepper and the wounding
of others. Then Mr.. w. H. Commander, who
had come over from Darlington on the $50
c S. l. N. train (the one on which the spies
were expected) told about the Darlington
crowd shooting into tie train. 1t was de-
veloped that all the spies bad not left the
train at Oswego, but that one of them
Drennon-had been taken charge of by Mr,
Commander and had gone to Columbia on
the $50 train. When this came out the ex-
element was intense and the expression of
feeling against Mr.. Commander was extreme
" bitter. His reasons for protecting Dren-
nop-principally because he had nothing to
do with the shooting-were explained and the
excitement subsidized.
Chief of Police Weeks was appointed to