The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-29
DIR, RYDER LYNCHED.
Continuance OF n Georgia Case Leads
to Lynching--Caused by a Law
yers Absence

Continuance OF n Georgia Case Leads
to a Lynching--Caused by a Law
yer's Absence.
DR.. w. l.. Ryder, tho murderer Of
Miss Sallie Emma Owen, who WAS
arraigned for the second trial for the
crime, was lynched by mob at the
" Willis Place, six miles from Waver
ly Hall, Georgia, Monday night,
Colonel Worrcll, Of Columbus, the
leading counsel for Ryder, could not
be present, due to sickness continued
the case until the regular term in
September.
Dr.. Ryder, the prisoner, was to haye
been returned to Muscogee Jail on the
9:20 p. m. train and was taken to
Waveriy Hall, the nearest station from
Talbotton, for that purpose. In few
minutes after the deputies arrived
with their prisoner at tho station the
fUrco frc:n the officers, returned with
him to a point just across the county
line, and there lynched him. His
body was found hanging from limb at
an early hour. His tongue was out
and his face was horribly blackcncd.
The mob, while returning with
Ryder from Waverly Hail. 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 ider tity. 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 that at that time Ryder was
suspended from a limb Of tree whore
hiS ronainS 6isnnvora6 ,lo,+
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 ali 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. The
murder of Miss Owen was committed
on the evening Of the 18th OF April,
1896, Is months ago, and though Judge
Butt, in less than q week afterwards,
called a special term Of the court to
try the case, the execution of the law
had been deferred, though good
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 Colum-
bus bar, who was the leading
counsel for the defense, was unable to
attend the court, he being i'll at his
homo in Columbus. AS legal pro.
position, it is claimed, Judge Hart
acted right, under the evidence, in
granting q continuance.
When the special term OF court, con-
vened on tho fourth Monday in May
following the homicide, Dr.. Ryd .r,
who was then confined in the Macon
case was 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 desperate
legal battle, lasting week, DR.. Ryder
was convicted and sentenced to hang.
A motion for a new trial was made and
promptly over-rulcd, but the supreme
court sustained the motion, and the
now trial was granted. The motion
was sustained on dozen errors, but
principally on the ground that one OF
the jurors that convicted Ryder was
a 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
walt for the regular September torn,
but callod 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 truo at the trial last Scptem-
ber, the courthouse was crowded whom
the case was called People from
every section OF the county were pre-
sent, all f whom, from the time Of the
commission of the crime, have taken O
deep interest in the case. Ryder was
represented by five prominent lawyers
ana At the special court all were pre-
sent but Colonel Worrell and his un-
iVoidable abs. nee was the chief basis |
Tor the motion for continuance. L.
was represented that Colonel WOrrell