The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-13
RIOT AT PROVIDENCE.
Violent Negroes Resist Officers Of
the Law---Serious Trouble Ap-
pretended.

A telephone message vas received bs Sheriff
Pierson ~nout clock Friday, stating that
riot was apprehecded in the Providence
negh6orhood and asking that Deputy Sheriff
Gaillerd be sent up there to arrest the leaders
in the dsturbo nee. The message was seat
by Magistrate W H Scales, aod brief
statement IN reference to the origin OF the
trouble was obtained from him.
Magistrate Scales constable was sent that
morning to seize the crop of q negro renter,
and the negro refused to yield possession OF
the crop to the constable and row resulted
The negroes began to gather and make
threats, and it was feared that a cobtilct
would result, therefore Magistrate Scales
called oo the Sheriff to send lis deputy to
aia in quelling tie impending riot. %agls-
trate Scales said that he did Dot need assist
ance as he bad a sufficient number OF men
whom be could sppoiu; as special constaoles
to put down any riot that might occur.
Deputy Sheriff j. E Gaillard returned
yesterday from Gaillards K Roads. bringing
Aotbony Singleton, the leader of the riot,
with him.
The riot, fortunately was suppressed for the
time without any serious results, but more
trouble may occur.
The events that precipitated the riot were
related about as follows:
Anthony Singleton and Moses Erwin re-
sisted arrest by Mr ". C. Folk, the Con-
stable of Magistrate Scales and threatened to
kill anyone who made any further effort to
arrest them. Several other negroes came to
their aid and de6antlv declared that they
would not permit the arrests to be made If
they had to kill the officers TO preveat 1t.
This was the situation on Monday
afternoon when Deputy Sheriff Gail
lard arrived: the negroes were at liberty
and defying the officers A posse was organ
lied by Mr. Geillard aad they proceeded 10
Anibony Singietoo's house, but he had fed to
The nearby woods for copceslment. The
posse began search OF the woods, and ir q
short while Sngletop broke from cover direc-
,ly in front of Mr. Gaillard, who was on
borse back When commanded TO halt
Sinsletoa ran at the Top Of his speed for q
swamp and The posse opened fre on him,
but uone of The bullets bit the fleeing man.
he wac, however, finally ran down by the
:nounted members Of the posss aod captured
by main force Singieton resisted to the las,
and bad to be held until be could be hand
cuff.d.
Moses Erwin, the other leader of the oriei-
nal row, Was found without much trouble and
as soon as he was ordered 10 throw up his
hands be did so, after taking one glance into
the muzzle of shot gun.
The prisoners were taken before Magistrate
Scales and preliminary held Noses ErTin
tur.ed states evidence and after giving oood
was get free kuihony Singleton Was bound
over for trial at the uext term Of cot
When the preliminary was cooclude. dars-
ness bad .allen, and the crowd dispersed at
once, all going in the directions Of their
homes except those wto lived at Gaillard's
Z ROADS, where the trial WAS held A few
moments af;er Magistrate Sea'es left Mr. A.
J Moses store. two pistol shots were beard
in the direction ne had gone, which eScited
the suspicious OF Deputy Sheriff Gai'lard, and
he in company with his son, dr ] E Gail
lard, Jr, ran down the road as quickly as
possible, but could see 90 one. Aloost
directly Mr.. Scales came driving
back and hailed them He. said that
SINE ooe had shot at him twice from ambush
on the road side, his horse had taken fright
and ran some distance before he could con-
troll it. One bullet passed through his coal,
slightly grazing his shoulder, the other went
wide of the mark.
No positive clue as TO the identity Il the
would be assassin could tie obtained, tut srspi-
cion fails Oh Elias Richardson, who made
threats yesterday end attempted to go ahead
of the posse whec searching for Erviu aud
Singleton He will be arrested and required
to give an account Of his Whereabouts last
night. -