The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1895-12-18
A HORRIBLE CRIME,
Prominent CITIZENS OF SOUTH
CAROLINA COMMIT IT.

The Revolving StOrV--A Negro and His
wife Whipped to Death--A Daughter
Also Beaten But Escapes.
A press dispatch from Columbia, S.
c.. says the details of an ugly lynchilg
which occurred in that state has reached
there.
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, strip,
ed of their clothing, were found, one be-
ing an old woman. They had been tax
en- out and beaten to death with new
buggy traces-the mans offense being
that he was suspected of having stolen a
Bible and some furniture from church,
and the woman's offense being that she
was supposed to know something about
it, Liquor seems Ibe the only excuse for
the deed, if excuse there can be.
The affair occurred in BroxtOn town
ship, Colleton:c ounty, at Broxton bridge
or ford, as it is frequently called.
Several months ago st. Nicholas
church, in Ba"nwell county, vas broken
open and robbed, Bible and some pull
pit furniture being taken away. A ne
gro named Isom Kearse, who disappear
ed from the neig hborhood about that
time, was suspected of being the thief.
BE had become sOmewh notorious for
thefts, and had been suspected of burn
ing store some time ago. In soma way
four Barnwell men had gotten infTma>
ton that he was at his old m0her's
home near Broxton Ford, and they went
over there on Monday night last These
men got two men from the neighboIiood
to assist them, one being Frank Hers.
They went to Isom's house. They fond
him Just coming out of the door. The
.party took the negro, put rope aropd
his neck and tied him behind their big
gv. They then drove 10 the ferry to
miles away. The poor negro kept upas
long as he could, land it is said that J.
nally he fell, and several times.was drag
gtd aloDg. On the way two of the parry
were sent back to get the Negroes ago
mother, "Old Mamma Hannah" and rs
young wife, girl about seventeen yeaE
old, who has a five-months old intan 4
At the ferry the party held up and awalP
ed the arrival Of the detail. When the
women arrived none of the three could
or would tell anything about the church
properly. Upon their refusal they were
all three stripped naked and beaten 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 beaten. The man
several times pleaded WITH lis torment
orsl 10 shoot him. The old woman
broke away and dashed into the woods
The young woman did likewise, going in
different direction. The men built
fire near the insensible negro, threw his
old coat over him and lett.
On Wednesday the body was founo
where it was left, cold in death. 1t had
been there one night and one day. About
100 yards away in the swamp, lying IN a
pool of water about kuee deep, was
found the old woman's body, cold ana
stiff. She had fallen face downward
with her hands extended.
The young woman managed to ma
her way home, and is said to be III "
critical condition. She told some OF the
negroes about it Tuesday afternoon ouO
thew seemed TO be afraid to mention IT,
Trial Justice A. c. Walker held an IN
quest yesterday. the bodies sun oel"7
where found. The jury, composed al
most entirely of good white men al inc
neighborhood, upon testimony OF HERS
who it develops, tried to prevent INC
deed, has rendered verdict Charging
directly four prominent men, one +" P"'
Sician, with the cri ne.
Mneh for Ous