The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-06
Suspected Of Stealing a Bible and Church
Furniture. a Negro Is Beaten to Death.
HIS AGED MOTHER ALSO A VICTIM.
a Young Wife, of ~, Stripped and
hcntcn-Is Now In IL Critical Con-
Citizens Render "a verdict Cilur-
EinG Four Wen with the Crime.

Columbia, S. c., Dec. 5.-The details
of an ugly lynching, which occurred In
this state last Monday night came TO
light tonight 1t took place down III
Colleton county, near l3arnwell and
Hampton lines, and was not generally
known In that vicinity until Wednesday
morning, when the bodies of two of tire
victims, stripped of their clothing, were
found-one being an old woman. They
been taken out and beaten to death
with new buggy traces-thc mans Of
fense being that he was suspected of
having stolen Bible and some fur
niture from a church. and the wo-
mans offensc being that she was sup
posed TO know something about tit.
Liquor seems to be the only excuse for
the deed. if excuse there can be.
The affair occurred in BroXton town
ship Colleton county, at Broxton
bridge or ford as. II Is frequently call
ed. Several months ago ST. Nicholas
Church, In Tnrnwell county. was bro
ken open and robbed. a Bible and
some pulpit furniture being taken
away. \ young negro named lsom
Kcrse, who disappeared from the neigh
borhnod 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 Barnwcll men had
gotten Information that he was ut his
old mothers home, near BroStorford
and they went over there on Monday
last These men got two men from the
noishborhood to assist them. one being
Frank llicrs. They then went TO Isom's
house. They found him just coming
out Of the door. The party toNll tn"
negro, put rape 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 bnck to get the negro's
aged mother. "old Mama Hannah" and
his young wife. a girl about seventeen
wears of ngc. who has n fivc-months-old
infant. AT the ferry the party help
UP, and awaited the arrival Of the de-
tail. When the women arrived none OF
the three would. or could. tell anything
about the church propertv. Upon tlieir
REFUSAL they were all three stripped
naked and beaten with a new buggy
trace which. II is said. was almost worn
ont. The man was given about lao
iashes ana fell insensible. his body be-
ing in terrible condition. The women
were likcwiSt severely beaten
The man several times pleaded with
his tormen,ors TO shoot him. The old
woman broke away and dashed into the
woods. The young woman did likewise
going I'm 'diff4.ent direction. The
men built q fire near the insensible
negro, threw his old coat over him and
left
On Wednesday morning his body was
round where it was left, cold In death
IL had been there one night and one
day.
About 100 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 I'm a
critical condition She told some of the
negroes about IL Tuesday afternoon. but
they seemed to be afraid to mention IT,
Trial Justice y. g. Walker held an
inquest yesterday evening the bodies
still being whefc they were found The
jury, composed almost entirely Of good
white men from the neighbohond uDon
the testimony OF Hers, who. ii devel-
ops, tried to prevent the deed. and who
gave all the details has rendered a yc,-
dict charging directly four prominent
men, one physician. with the crime.