The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-09

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Mr.. Bellinger was preceded by Mr.
Carroll Simms Of Barnwell, who is ,
candidate for Solicitor against him
Mr.. Simms was cordially received and
some one ycllcd out "Anything tt
beat Bellingcr.' 1t then became yer,
evident that the crowd didn't want tC
hea' much If anything from tho solici-
tor. Mr.. Slmms, however, said in the
course Of his speech that he was run.
ming on his merits as q lawyer. He
exclaimed that he would not havo the
0fficc IL he had to get it on factional
lines.
promonition OF the impending
storm was shown when some one from
the crowd asked Mr.. Simms whether
he believed twelve men in Colleton
County could rcnder a just verdict, the
alluslon being to an alleged remark OF
Solicitor Bellinger to that effect Mr..
Slmms said in reply that he would not
disgrace himself by saying such IL thing,
but he said he didn't want 20 be elected
that if any man in the crowd intended
to vote for him expecting that he would
be shown any partially from him
(Simms) as u prosecuting officer, he
would beg for Gods sake not to vote for
him. If elected Solicitor the fact that
man had voted for him would not pre-
| vent him from carrying out his whole
duty and prosecuting him If it became
| necessary. That sentiment was loudly
applauded and Mr.. Simms had the au-
dience with him, especially as it was
intensely opposed to Bellinger.
Mr. G. G.. Tracy, who had announced
himself for the solicitorship, spoke
next and simpl " announced that for
| reasons satisfactory to himself he had
decided not to be candidate and
| thanked those of his personal and po-
| litical friends who had insisted on him
entering the race.
Chairm IN Nj. II. Cooper then Intro
duccd Solicitor Bcllingcr. No sooner
did he appear than the crowd began to
nowi and yell like pandemonium, max
| ing it impossible for him to speak. a
man in the audience started the row
by calling to Mr.. Bellingor: "Tcll us
about Hannah Walker" Hannah was
one Of the negroes killed at Broxton
Bridge. Mr.. Bellingcr calmly and
quietly faced the audience which was
yelling itself hoarsc in trying to pre-
vent him speaking. From all parts of
the crowd there we're yells: "Don't let
him talk " Are there twelve honest
men in Colleton ?" "Pull him or :" A
majority OF the crowd were very much
wrought up and they were Surging back
and forth in their demonstrations OF
anger as if they intended to pull Mr.
Bellingcr down. Mr.. Bellinger stood
before them unmovcG and seemed to be
quietly awaiting until the hubbub was
over. MIR. Tracy and Chairman Coop
or both arose and called upon the crowd
to keep quiet and give MIR. Bcllinger u
hearing. That gentleman, however,
was as cool and collected as possible
and remarked !: 81 would just as lici
let them talk ten minutes as not"
Some fellow asked MIR. Bclinpel
whether he was white man, the re
mark being intended to sting him fol
prosecuting white men for killing ne
groes. Mr.. Bcllingcr lost his tempe,
naturally and replied with evident feel
ing. and much indignation 81 am
!, white man, and white mems man."
UP to this time Bellinger had not
been able to more than start his speech
Whenever he did get an opening he
had to quit by reason OF the yclls of the
crowd. He said: "By the eternal
COO I'm going to stand here my time
out and make my speech. You cannot
convince mo that the honest men of
Colleton won't hear me in my defense
when ne upon lie has been hcapcd up
on me-"
A voice "Ycs. But YOU said Collie
ton Juries we're not honest"
! MIR. Bellinger : ."Whocvcr SAYS that
| said so is q liar"
1t looked az il Mr. Bcllinger would
be able to speak at this time. His cool
courage III the face of an angry crowd
had made him friends even amongst
his enemies. But he never got very far
in his argument before he was so inter
ruptcd and yelled at and insultcd that
he had to lose the thread Of his argu-
ment and reply to the taunts hurled at
him. MIR. Bellinger remained remark
ably cool under the circumstances and
1T was TO this moro than anything else
that riot did not result. Mr. Bellin-
ger had friends in the crowd too. and
they were standing up for him and but
a word or the slightest act would have
precipitatcd fight. When Mr.. Bel
lingcr got chance to say anything he
began by speaking Of the fact that an
officer charged with the execution of
laws was clothed with high and holy
office.
The crowd began to howl again and
several people yelled eve don't want
to hear you. Sit down." Mr.. Bellin-
gers time was up and Chairman Coop
Cr so announced to him. Mr.. Belingor
asked whether it was fair that the time
given him should be taken up by tho
audience. a revulsion OF feeling seem
cd to have come over the crowd at this
time and numbers Of them insisted that
Mr.. Bcllingcr should be heard and
that he should continue. There wa
quiet for a minute and Mr.. Bcllingcr
proceeded with his speech, appealing
to the crowd in the name OF their rcli.
gion and his to give him hearing.
A voice: We don't care about rcli-
gion Sit down" This was the open
ing for pandemonum again and it
came. Bellinger's enemies in front
and behind and on the stand renewed
their yelling and such remarks as
What about twelve honest mon in Col
Teton :" and so on were put at him.
An auditor asked: "Didn't YOU say
that the State could not have q fair
trial In Colleton Mr.. Bcllingcr re.
piled that in the state OF feeling then
existing a fair trial could not be had
ana along that line said he was not
responsible for the expense that had
been incurred in transferring the case
to Aiken. He did not make out the
bill OF expenses, but that was done u,