Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-06
AN UGLY LYNCHING STORY Three Negroes Are Unmercif0IIy
 Beaten by a Mob FOR STEALING FROM CHURCH The Old fkrher and Her Son Died From the
 injuries. TIE lJsGwIFE IHAcRITIcAL CONDITION A Fry, Composed of Best Citizens. Has
 .endered Verdict duplicating Four s Prominent Men, Including Physician.
FOR STEALING FROM CHURCH
HE lcJNG WIFE lNACRITIcAL CONDITION

Columbia, S. C., Dec. 1.-The details of an ugly lynching, which occurred in this state last Monday night, came to light tonight. It took place down in Coletton 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 vic tims, 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 offense being that he was suspected of having stolen Bible and some furniture from church, and the woman's offense being that she was supposed to know something about it. Liquor seems to be the only excuse for the deed, if excuse can be made.
 Several months ago St. Nicholas church. in Barnwell county, was broken open and robbed, a Bible and some pulpit furniture being taken away. A young negro named Isom KearSe who disap- peared from the neighborhood about that time, was suspected of being the thief He had become 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 old mothers home neal. .Broxton Ford and they went over there on Monday night last These men got two men from the neighborhood to assist them, one being Frank Hiers They then went to Isom's house. They found him just coming out of the door. The party took the negro, put a rope around his neck and tied him behind their buggy. They then drove to the fer ry, two miles away. 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, "Old Mamma Hannah" and his young wife, a girl about r years old, who has months old infant. At the ferry the party held up and awaited the arrival of the detail. When the women arrived nohe of the three would tell anything about the church property. 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 150 lash es and fell insensble, his body being in terrible condition; the women were like wise severely beaten. The man several times pleaded with his tormentors to shoot him. The old woman broke away and dashed into the woods. The young woman did likewise, going in a different direction. The men built a fire near the insensible negro, threw his old coat over him and left.
 On Wednesday the body was found where 1t was left, cold in death. It had been there one night and one day About l00 yards away in the swamp, lying in a 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 a crit ical condition. She told some of tbe ne- groes about it Tuesday evening. but thev seemed to be afraid to mention it.
 Justice A. c. Walker held an inquest yesterday, the bodies still being where found. The jury. composed almost en- | tirely of good white men in the neigh pornooa upon the testimony of Hiers. who, 1t develops, tried to prevent tbe deed. has rendered a verdict charging directly four prominent men, one a phy. Sician, with the crime P'