The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-06
TWO BEATEN TO DEATH.
4 NEGRO CH9RGED WfTH STEAL
ING WAS OSEOF THE VICTIMS,
And His Mother Was the Other-Hts Vile
Also Seriously Injured Horribie
Treatment ofthe Trio.

COLUMBIA. S. G.. Dec. 5.-The details
OF an ugly lynching. which occurred in
this State last Monday night. came 10
light tonight.
Ii took place down i'm 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 founl,
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 a church, and the woman's offence
being that she was supposed 10 hho"
something OF It.
Liquor seems 10 be the only excuse Tor
the deed II excuse there can be.
The affair occurred IN Broxton town
ship, ColletOn county, at BroxtOn Bridge,
or t'ord. as Il f. frequently called.
Several months ago St Nicholas church,
in Barnwell county, was broken open ana
robbed. Bible and some pulpit furniture
being taken away
a Young negro named Isom Hearse,
who disappeared from the neiShborhood
about that time, was suspected or being
the thief lie had become somewhat no.
torious for thefts. and had been suspect
ed OF burning "A store some time ago.
In some way four Barnwell men had
gotten information that he was at MS
old mothers home, near BrONtOn Ford.
and they went over there on Monday
night last. These men got two men from
the neighborhood 10 assist them, one be-
ing Frank Hers.
DRAGGED BEHIND \ BUGGY.
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 Then they drove TO the Ter
~ two miles away, very rapidly. The
poor negro kept up as long ~ he cohn.
and IT. Is said that finally ne Tell anc
several times was dragged along. ON the
way TWO OF the party We're sent back To
get the negrO's aged mother, old Mama
Hannah" and his wife. girl about sev-
enteen years of age, who has a hNe-
mOnths'-Old infant
AT the ferry the party held up and
awaited the arrival Of the detail When
the women arrived none Of the three
would or could tell anything about the
church property. Upon their refusal they
were all three stripped naked and beaten
with a new buggy trace, winch, IL IS salu,
The man was given about fifty lashes
and fell inseusiuie. The womcA were
likewise severely beaten. The man sev-
cral times pleaded with his tormentors TO
ana dashed into the woods. The young
woman did likewise. going in different
direction. The men built d fire near the
insensible negro threw his old coat oFef
him. and left
ON Wednesday morning his body was
found where 10 was left cold IA death.
II had been there one night and one day.
About one hundred yards away, In the
swamp. lying in q pool OF water about
knee deep. was found the old woman s
body. cold and stin. She had fallen face
downward with her hands extended
The wife told some OF the negroes
about il Tuesday afternoon, but they
seemed 10 be- AFRAID 90 mention II.
Trial Justice 4. q. Walker held an in
quest yesterday evening. the bodies still
being where found. The jury, composed
almost entirely of good white men from
the ncighbOrhOOd. upon the testimony or
ffiers. who. to develops tried 10 prevent
the deed. and who gave all the details.
has rendered q verdict charging directly
four prominent men, one physician, with
the crime