The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-19
Murder and Lyncbing.
News aud Courier Special.

news 6UQ SOuTfeE OpeClaA'
GsEENy1LLs, Dec. Ia most
brutal murder vas comuitted at Vii
liamstou Gus Ccmer. seep-son Of
I Augustus Williams, Of Williamson,
was literally bu,chered by Ed Sullivan,
negro boy only Is years Of age. The
murdered boy was only II years old.
On Monday morning Mr.. Williams
and his step. son wentto Pel2er. Williams
remained at Pelzer, a. he Was at work
there He sent his sou back home, a
distance Of two miles, and gave h!n an
axe to take home and sone dry goods
which he had purchased for the family.
The family at home we're not troubled
! tha, the boy did not return as it was
supposed tina, be was at Pelzer with his
father. On Tuesday Williams refurn-
ed to his home
The frs. question Mrs Williams
asked her husband was, "Where is
Gus?" The father was atonished at
the question, and told his wife that the
boz bad started home Monday with the
axe and other things which be had
purchased Mrs Williams was almost
demented. She dropped Into a chair
and exclaimed. my child is killed? y
Williams was very much attached to
the boy. and be. too, vas overcome
with the idea that the lad had come 10
harm. He rashed out Of his house and
gave the alarm, and neighbors and
friends coon collected and the whole
towu was 10 a condition Of terrible
excitement. The whole town turned
out aud searching parties we're organic
ed and at once started to hunt for the
boy
The body was no. found for some
time. yet. strange to say. it vas inside
the corporate limits Of Williamson tba:
the body Of the bny was discovered
! wi h hi- head and face split to pieces.
the wounds indicating the use Of a
sharp instrument like an axe. The
head of the boy vas literally chopped
to pieces.
LOOKING FOR THE MURDERER.
The finding Of the body acted like
fire to tow People poured out from
homes and there was quiet determine.
tion on every face to avenge the blood
of Gus Cromer. the gentle, sweet,
Iovable boy who had been cruelty
murdered. From every quarter in the
! town and from the country around men
collected. aud there was but one express
sion. death for the murderer.
The next step was to Gnd the inur-
derer. Ii he was in reach he must be
found, and the verdict was blood for
blood. There was a painful quiet iu
the search which meant that the nur-
derer must be found 1t was sooo
learned that the boy was last seen
where the body was found in company
with the negro, Ed Sullivan
This was the end of the thread aud
suspicion at once rested on Ell Sullivan
Sone OF the searching party went to
the home Of Ed Sullivan and the first
! thing they found was the cloth Will
liams had sent home by this boy. This
was enough. The evidence was salts
factory that the negro boy Sullivan had
either committed the murder or was an
accessory.
MURDERER CAUGHT AND CoNFEssEs.
! The boy Sullivan was arrested and
when charged with the murder con-
fessed. He was placed in charge ol
coDstables and the party started for
Anderson to place him in Jail. When
it vas known that the boy had been
started for Anderson the excitement
became SO great that we're was at once
determination to lynch him.
Two officers had charge of the
prisoner and in a buggy drove rapidly,
but 500 mounted men we're in pursuit,
and when only a few miles from Will
liamston the buggy vas oyertaken and
the constables and their prisoner were
overpowered aud the mob returned to
williamson.
HE MURDERER LYNCHED.