The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-18
TIE coNsTABLES BLAMED.
The Finding oc Governor Tilimans sp0
cial,y Invented Military Jury to bear
the Evidence at the Coronera
Iuquest in the Darlington
Trouble

cia,,y Invented Military Jury to Hear
the Evidence at the Coroner'a
INQUEST in the Darlington
Trouble
The Columbia and Charleston news
papers print the detailed report Oh
Brieadier General Richbourg regarding
the operations at Darlington, giving
much of the correspondence between
the Governor and himself. Included
in it is the report of the military court
of enquiry appointed under Governor
Tillman's orders to sit with the jury OF
INQUEST. It is as follows:
"DARL1SeToN, S. c., April 5, 1S94.-
ssBrgadier General r. N. Richoonrg'
Commanding troops, Darlington 3 u
"The undersigned having been ap-
pointed by you to constitute mliltary
court of inquiry, under orders OF Gov
ernor Tiuman, commander-in-chief, to
sis with the jury ofinquest in session
ct the Coast Line depot, said inquest
being for the purpose of inqulrlng lnto
the cause Of death of Frank = Nor
nent, R. H. Pepper and Lewis Heo-
mond:
F.. 1--WE have the honor to report that
we attended the inquest, asking through
the coroner such questions as We
thought proper, and heard all the testl-
mony. We have reached the following
conclusions therefrom:
1.-THE sad tragedy which ended IN the
death ofthe three men above nameo
had its origin in hight between two
Young men of the town Of Darlington
Rodgers and Floyd. They met at the
DEPOT and after few words engaged
In fisticufs, in which Rodgers was
whipped. At the fight one J. d. NC
Lendon, a State constable, was the
friend and backer of Floyd, having
good deal to say to encourage the hgnt.
After the fight Rodgers went up town
and returned with several frlenos.
About the same time the chief OF ponce
of the town arrived at the depot. Rod
gers began cursipg Floyd, and at the
same time pointing to McLendon. said
that he had aided Floyd, using very
ooprobrious epithets, to which Nc
Lsndon replied in very Sorcible langu'
age. The chief of police arrested Rod
gers and Floyd and for the moment had
order restored. Mr.. Norment and one
or two other citizens pointed to NC
Lendon and said that be was RESPONSE
bic for the whole matter. Norment
called McLendon id s-n OF o..
McLen6on replied that he would not
take that and Immediately drew his
revolver aud fred at Norment. lmme-
diately some six or eight citizens drew
their pistols and the constables drew
their pistols and began firing at each
other, several Of the constabies using
Winchester rifles We firmly believe
that had McLendon not interfered, the
chief of police would have had no
trouble in preserving order and avert
ing the tragedy. We'deem it unneees-
sary to state all of the testimony, as
the copy of the same will be trans
mitted to your headquarters and to the
commander-in-c chief.
"We conclude from the evidence that
Frank E. Norment came to his death
in Darlington, S. c., on the 3oth day OF
March, 1894, from the effect of a gun
shot wound inflicted By one J. D. Nc
Lendon and that the said killing was
felonious murder, and that W. P. Gall
lard, c. B. Mcdowell, ]. c.. Murphy,
]. L. Nunnamaker, r. NJ. Gardner,
John Fielder, J. NJ. Scott, L. H. Nc
Cants, William Livingston, o. G. Cain,
&c. Black, J. W. Holloway, w. b.
Bryson, Jack Holliug and Wash Ovens
are accessories.
1--WE conclude that r. q. Pepper
came to his death at the same time and
place from the effect of gunshot
wound inflicted by one Lewis Redmond
and that the said Lewis Redmond
came to his death at the hands of 0:
G. Cain and that said killing was
felonious murder. Redmond was run
ming from the constables and Cain shot
him IN the back with Winchester
rife. All of which is respectfully sub
mitted.
81. A. Mooney,
Capt. and Chm'n Court of1nquiry.
III. J. HARVEY, Captain,
~. C. COOPER, Sergeant.
ga. D. MILsTED, Corporal.
IF. II. DANTZLER,