The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-03
Col. Rhame's Statement.
MAGNOLIA. S. C. jan y Is;

MAGNOLIA, S. C, Jan % 1897
Editor Item: ! am still confined To my
room where have been, a part of the lime
decidedly sick, sicce the 10th instsnt. aud
have for several days been putting off evers-
thug that could be deferred Referring, Mr.
Editor, to your reply to that poriion OF sny
article, published on the 18th instant, rela ing
to incidents which occurred on the 7th
have to say that my 'memory serves noe cor
rectly," as think, and enables me to recall
several incidents, among them the following ::
While the iuquest was being conducted By
the coroner, at the Wilson residence, several
vehicles arrived with party of men who
were DOT of Sumter County Some of these
men inquired where certain mau could be
found and stated distinctly that they h.d
come by his house, in Magnolia, aud could
not End himA 10 a few minutes sitter this.
one Of these men came directly up to where
yon and were standing and made a distinct
proposition to lynch" the man referre1 to,
in nresponse to which you said ''I'll be one TO
go.n
You have said that yoa did cot understand
->the proposition was to "lyuch," aPd | do
not say that you knew it was, bet the propo-
sition to "lynch" was made, and the re-
sponse, as stated.
With reference to some other Incidents, as
you recollect them, must state that | did
not ''6rst suggest the Magnolia negroes
the party cf men referred to baviog previous
~ visited the house of the man in Magnolia
whom they wanted. made 90 proposition
to '.hendle'' any body. | never referred 10
any s.,hree other negroes at Magnolia who
were just as bad as Cooper"-for have
heard of no other negro murderer and raw
isher Of female virtue one-tenth so like
'sdevil incarnate with tigerish lust for
blood y
You ask, Mr. Editor, eff TO hang and
mut;late (shoot) this negro when he was
helpless was so honorable and praiseworth!,
as Col Rhames remarks would lead one 10
believe, why do not these who participated
In it declare themselves and have their Eames
placed on record" just as though you had
ever heard Of lynchng, or legal oeck-
breaking conducted 10 such way that the
s:victim" was rot rendered first perfectly
s'belpess,' and where the criminal would
not have been shot down, had be tried TO
fight or escape, and then hanged by the neck
until dead-pistol and razor being left out of
1.-The question. have yet to learn that there
is anything. specially desirable, OF particular
ly honorable, in the duties OF sheriff when
it comes to placine the ''black cap" OYER the
head and face, and adjusting the rope around
the neck of shackled and helpless man
doomed to die-possibly for burning few
hundred dollars worth of property But is
duty be owes his ..couD,ry, under existing
circumstances, when be does it-and so 1t
was with those who took the last breath from
tL, oto hoto nd cc
Carolina.
There are other proper reasons, doubtless,
which reflect no discredit upon the psrtci-
pants 10 the killing of Simen the. Butcher
and Ravisher, which proper reasons need not
be repeated to any man who is not blind
So, I feel sure ycs, Mr. Editor, see then.
Now Mr. Editor, the pnblic-s'reasonabl
and thinking men" surely know where you
stand, and possibly have some idea where the
writer and some few others stand, on the
subject of Simon Cooper's crimes, his last
ailnen. and decesse. Therefore, join you
in saying, SIC. Clerk, let the jury have the
records. Respectfully,
j. A RHAME.
There is no necessity for further discussion
of this suhjacs, and for that reason will not
criticise the above article. Col. Rhame has
bis opinioo and toe editor of this paper en-
tertains another. The writer is satisfied that
the statements be made on previous occasions
are absolutely correct; Col. Rhame is doubt
less as firmly welded to bis opinion, and
neither of us is likely TO recede. 1t is pos
sible that both may be partly right and part
ly wrong, but speaking for oursele, we Can
not admit tba. any statement heretofore made
by ns is Inaccurate, for we believe that every
statement we made in reference 10 this matter
was the exact truth. We agree With Col.
Rhame that enough has been said, especially
in refels.ce TO extraneous matters that are
not even remotely connected With the priuci-
pie involved 10 the major subjact.-ED.