The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-07-27
DIR, RYDER
Continuance of IA Georgia Case Leads
to u Lynching-Causcd by Il Law
ycr's Absence.

Continuance of "a Georgia Case Leads
to n Lynching-Causcd by u Law
ycr's Absence.
DR.. w. L. Ryder, the murderer OF
Miss Sullie Emma Owen, who was
arraigned for the second trial for the
crime, was lynched by II mob at the
Willis Place" six miles from Waiver
ly Hall, Georgia, Monday night.
Judge Hart, on the evidence that
Colonel Worrell, Of Columbus, the
leading counsel for Ryder, could not
be present, due to sickness continued
the case until the regular term in
September.
DIR. Ryder, the prisoner, was to have
been returned to MuscOgee jail on the
500 p. m. train and was taken to
Waveriy Hall, the nearest station from
Talbotton, for that purpose. In a few
minutes after the deputies arrived
with their prisoner at the station the
mob drove up and took the prisoner by
force from the officers. returned with
him to a point just across the county
line, and there lynched him. His
body was found hanging from u limb at
an early hour. His tongue was out
and his face was horribly blackened.
The mob, while returning with
Ryder from Waverly Hall, was met by
Sheriff Richards and his party, but
owing to the darkness of the night he
could not distinguish the persons, nor
gain any clue to their idertity. He
was informed by the men who had
Ryder in charge that he was too late,
so Richards pushed on to Waverly
Hall, only to find that he had been mis-
led and hat at that time Ryder was
suspended from Il limb Of a tree where
hi, ,a,A,in, ,ra,,A fA, NOD - l>t
while afterwards.
The reason assigned for the action
of the mob is that the people were
tired OF the case being continued, but
should the facts be known the friends
Of the prosecution had given up all hope
Of ever bringing Ryder to the gallows
by reason of his being totally insane.
The special term of the Talbot county
superior court was called for the one
purpose of trying Dr.. Ryder. TIE
murder OF Miss Owen was committed
on the evening Of the 10Th OF April,
1896, ID months ago, and though Judge
Butt, in less than a week afterwards,
called q special term of the court t.
try the case, the execution of the law
had been deferred, though good
legal grounds, from time to time, and
the meeting Of justice to the accused
vas again delay by the continuance
granted by Judge Hart. The con-
%tinuance was granted, on the ground
that Colonel Worrell, of the Column
bus bar, who was the leading
counsel for the defense, was unable to
attend the court, he being i'll at his
home in Columbus. As a legal pro.
position, it is claimed, Judge Hart
acted right, under the evidence, in
granting a continuance.
kthnn tha sr,pi,1 ta,ro ~, o,. -.
vened on the fourth Monday in Nav
following the homicide, DR.. Ryd r,
who was then confined in the Macon
jail, was too i'll to be present and the
case vas continued until the regular
term in September. At that term an
extraordinary motion for continuance
was made, but Judge Butt, who was
presiding, over-ruled the motion and
the trial proceeded. After a desperate
legal battle, lasting a week, DR.. Ryder
was convicted and sentenced to hang.
A motion for a new trial was made and
promptly over-ruled, but the supreme
court sustained the motion, and the
new trial was granted. The motion
was sustained on a dozen errors, but
principally on the ground hat one of
the jurors that convicted Ryder was
q relative OF the guardian of Miss
Owen, Who was Dr.. Ryder's victim.
Judge Butt evidently saw the neces.
sity of another early trial and did not
wait for the regular September term,
but called an extra term OF the court
for July 10Th, to try the case. Judge
John Hart agreed to hear the case for
Judge Butt, who was unable to be pre-
ent.
AS was true at the trial last Septem.
Der, the courthouse was crowded when
the case was called. People from
every section Of the county were pre-
sent, all. I whom, from the time Of the
commission OF the crime, have taken a
deep interest in the case. Ryder was
represented by five prominent lawyers
and at the special court all were pre-
sent but Colonel Worrell and his un-
avoidable absence was the chief basis
Tor the motion for a continuance. 1t
was represented that Colonel Worrell
was detained by illness and the allega-
ton was s~ubstantiated by dispositions
from reliable physicians of Columbus.
1T was also alleged that several i'm
portant witnesses for the defense were
uDavoidably absent. Judge Hart cen
tinued the case until the regular term
OF Talbot court in September, one wear
from the date Of Ityder's last trial and
conviction.
Ryder shot Miss Sallie Emma oven
with a shotgun on the night of April
10, 1896. He was crazed by his love
for her and while shu was sitting "a a
friends parlor talking to a young mar
who was a rival Of Ryder's, the murder
er crept to the door and fred the shot
that killed Miss oven and wounded
her frierd. Ryder's defense claimed
that he was suffering from affections
OF both eyes and ears that at times
rendered him q crazy man and utterly
irresponsible for his actions. The first
trial failed to hang Ryder and the
friends OF the murdered girl have been
chatting at the long delay. The con-
tinuance caused the lynching.