The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-03-01
A BRUTAL MURDER.
THE KEELING OF A NEGRO NEAR GA S
TON, IN lie XINGTON.

| tho Ansir-Four Man Arrcsted.
COLUMBIA, 5. c., Feb. 2l.-Thc
State yesterday morning published q very
brief account Of the killing OF q negro 10
Lexington county, and stated that a
good many negroes from the ueigbhor.
hood had called On tho Governor about
the matter. 1t now appears, upon ia
vestigatiop, that tho affair was brutal
ana cold. bloodcd murder, aud unless the
law acts promptly sericus trouble may
occur in the neighborhood Of CASTOR.
Governor Tlllman, when asked about
tho matter yesterday, said it seemed,
from ell be could ascertain, that a most
cold d-blooded murder had been commit.
ted. Tho negro had been called out and
shot down IN his own door by party of
masked mon near CASTOR. He says the
negroes arc considerably wrought up
over the matter, and say that besldos
killing this man the masked men shot
into their houses at night. They came
to the Governor for advice. Tho Cover
nor Gays he told them shat he thought
the good white people of thAt section of
them that they had the right to defend
them. not to precipitate riot. The
trial justice for that section and Intends
and capture Of the murdcrers.
Governor Tillman concluded by max
ing public the following letter he had
just received from highly respected cit
zen in tho neightborhood of the crime:
hoo y
this Of the murder OF tho negro man,
Gage Robertson, a few miles above here
IN the Sand Hills l take tho liberty
of whiting you about the matter as far
as know, as have doubts about your
oyer getting the truth about 1t Tor scYer-
al reasons. will tell you In as plain
way as I kn ow how. have known the
negro since he was boy, and he, with
his father and brothers, arc considered
among tho best behaved and most
'shiity' negroes in this county.
Gage bought small tract Of land from
A. II. Wolfe several years ago, aud un.
fortunately for Gage, it joined West
Hawaey's place, Who is a oneleqged
white man. Last year about this ,time
lires got Out from some one and burned
a little Of HaWsey's fence. 1t seems
that he had o grudge against Gage be.
cause he got the little piece OF land near
him, and lie accused Gage OF burning his
fence. l will say here now that Gage
has al~ays been respectable boy Go
those who deserved reepecD, and ever
since, from what 1 can lean, he has been
persscuting the boy. A fow DAYS be-
tore the murderea eon Of Hawsey's rode
across Gage's wheat and ho told him rot
to ride across hs wheat, End the young
TIhWscy told him 'dalnn him, he wCuld
get him before long,
1.-The day Of the night of the murder
Hawsey had log rolling, and had aev-
cral bad fellows, so hear, helping Mm,
and that night the negro was brutally
murdered in his own home. l never
hcerd OF Il worse case, l do not think.
If you will hire detective and send him
down in the neighborhood OF IIuckabce's
Mill you will 0nd cut who 1t is, in lees
than week. Uuckabee, think, knows
all shout il; il he did not help commit
the deed. Tie people III tiat back cCun-
try are hardly civilized yet, and don't
mind killing negro any mole than they
do chicken. Something ought certain
ly to be done, and II the decent white
people DO not sec TO il, it will soon die
out. ie!t that it was my duty TO write
you this, knowing that Yoa did not ap-
provo Of such
THE MURDERERS ARRESTED
COLUMBIA, S. g., Feb. 22.--rhe
killing Of tho negro, Gage Robertson, as
mentioned yesterday Is now tie subject
OF An official investigation, and some one
may be made 20 suffer for this brutal
crlme committed near Gaston just u
week ago.
That tho investigation ordered by
fruit can be seen from the following tclc-
gram received by him m5yesterday:
LEXINGTON DEPOT, Feb. 2i.
Governor b. r. Tillman.
-Four persons arrested and lodged in
jail, charged with murder oI Gage Rob.
erson. viii eco you tomorrow IN Co.
lumbia.
Z. II. NELSON. Solicitor.
The Governor does not yet know who
the mon who have been arrested are,
but he has his ideas of their identity
from information he has received. So
licltor Nelson's coming today is, there
foro, awaited with intereet.
Tho editor Of The State yesterday re-.
celVed private letter in regard tn the
matter from q we'll known Cltizon Of
Lexington county, who can bo vouched
for Ga entirely reEponslble, but who, for
obvious reaeons, does not care to he
known in the matter. The following is
and extract from il:
VI know that ere this you have heard
OF the murder OF Gage Robertson by
some unkown parties. will tell you
what | hnye heard about 1t and you can
say in print what you think hest. Gage
is one Of Eve sons OF Abraham Rober.
son, who died few mouths ago, and
vas considered one Of tho best colored
men in this section Of the country. All
OF his BOYS have the reputation among the
decent white people OF this neighborhood
of being Good, honeat, straightforward
fellows, and The hoy Gage was an ex-
cep,ionolly good boy, with vito aad
Two children.
"Several years AGO I've bough! small
piece OF roor sandhill land from Mr.. A.
| A. Wolfe. Of this section, and built HIM
self q loo cabin on it, II adjoinCa q