The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-12-11
Hang the Perpetrators.

COLUMBIA, Decem Der 5.-The details of
an ugly lynching which occurred in this
State Last Monday night came to light to-
night. It took place In Colleton County,
near the Barnwell and Hampton lines,
and was not known generally In that
vicinity until Wednesday morning, when
the dead bodies of two of the victims
stripped of their clothing were found
one being an old woman. They had
been taken out and beaten to death with
| new buggy traces-the mans offence
being that he was suspected of having
stolen Bible and some furniture from q
church, and the woman's offence being
that she was supposed to know some-
thing of IL. Liquor seems to be the onlv
excuse for the deed, if excuse there can
be.
The affair occurred In Broxton Town
ship, Colleton County, at Broxton Bridge
or ford, as 1t is frequently called. Sew
eral months ago st. Nicholas Church, in
Barnwell County, was broken open and
robbed, Bible and some pulpit furni-
ture being taken away. A young negro
named Isom Kearse, who disappeared
from the neighborhood about that time.
was suspected of being the thief. He
had become somewhat notorious for
thefts and had been suspected of burning
a store some time ago.
In some way four Barnwell men had
gotten information that he was at his
mothers home, near Broxton Ford, and
they went over there on Monday night
last. These men got two men from the
neighborhood to assist them, one of them
being Frank HERS. Then they went to
| Isom's house. They found him just
coming out of the door. The party took
the negro, put rope around his neck
and tied him behind their buggy. Then
they drove to the ferry, two miles away,
very rapidly. The poor negro kept up as
long as he could, and 1t is said that finally
he fell and several times was dragged
along. On the way two Of the party were
sent back to get the negro's aged mother,
| sold Mauma HANNAH" and his young
wife, girl about II years of age, who
has a five-months-old infant. At the
ferry the party held up and awaited the
arrived none of the three would or could
tell anything about the church property.
| Upon their refusal they we're all stripped
naked and bDsten with new buggy
trace, which, it Is said, was almost worn
out. The man was given about $50 lashes
and fell insensible, his body being in a
terrible condition. The women were
likewise severely beaten. The man
several times pleaded with his tormen-
tors to shoot him. The old woman broke
away and dashed into the woods. The
| Young woman did likewise, going in q
different direction. The men built fire
near the insensible negro, threw his old
coat over him and left.
On Wednesday morning his body was
found where it was left, cold in death.
| It had been there one night and one day.
About one hundred yards away in the
swamp, lying in pool of water about
knee deep was found the old woman's
| body, cold and stiff. She had fallen face
downward, with her hands extended.
The young woman managed to find her
way home and is said to be IN critical
condition. She told some of the negroes
about it Tuesday afternoon, but they
seemed to be afraid to mention it.
Trial Justice A. G. Walker held an in
quest yesterday evening, the bodies still ]
being where found. The jury, composed
almost entirely Of good white men from
the neighborhood. upon the testimony OF
HERS, who, it develops, tried to prevent
the deed, and who gave all the details,
has rendered verdict charging directly
four prominent men, one physician,
with the crime.-Ne,Us and Courier.