The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-07-27
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Lynchng.

Near Ora, in this county, on Wednes-
DAY last II black brulewas taken in the
act OF violating a htIe female child,
three and a half years old, of a young
gentleman Of one of tHh best families in
the county. 1t is said hat the child es-
caped without injury. The brute was q
black negro, about tEentv years old
known as Henry GraY in the employ
ment OF the young fdmer, and the as
sault was attempted kbout the dinner
hou Al the instant IL the discovery
the father Of the yojng gentleman. q
cool, dispassionate man, accidentally
came upon the scene ald the negro was
hurried to the Court House and Jail,
Ora is eight miles North of the Coirt
House on the SpaIanburg railway,
Court was IN session, hut early Thurs.
day the Grand Jury was dismisscd,-
me country becoming aroused
Solicitor Sease early on the afternoon
OF that day quietly brought the dan
gerous situation to the attention of
Judge Buchanan, and an order was
made directing the Sheriff to CONVEX
the prisoner TO Columbia and place him
IN charge OF the Superintendent Of the
Penetentiary for sifety. Obeying the
order Deputy Sullivan, a
prudent officer carried the prisoner tn
mountVilie expecting to catch a Sea
Board Air Line train to Columbia,
but missing it, carried him on Friday in
a buggy to Clinton where also he failed
10 catch g Columbia train. 1t is said
that a dispatch was sent to Mountville
to the deputy directing him to convey
the prisoner to Greenwood, but this
dispatch did not mach him. The deputy
becoming a~pprelPnsive at Clinton, as
privately as possible took HIS prisoner
tn l,OlIuillA ;-Iro,l-, -
Columbia, where he purchased tickets
and waited for tho 2.30 train from Lau-
rens. 1t must be kept in mind that
Ora, Clinton, LTnrens, Goldvilie and
Mountville are al covered by wire and
telephone facilities and it is possible
that the mcn bert upon doiug Vengeance
were right well advised Of the move
ments OF the deputy and his man. On
this train were a determined BODY of
men and the Sheriff and Solicitor, also
aboard suspecting their intention, en-
deavored to have the Conductor to pass
Goldville, but there he was compelled
TO stop to avoid a freight train. The
lynchers disembarking immediately as
saulted the negro and Notwithstanding
the efforts OF he's Sheriff and deputy he
was taken by the lynchers and with a
wounded leg, placed in a buggy and
put upon the march towards Ora, and
about fifteen miles Northwest of
Goidville. AS the procession moved
through the country it was rumored
that the intention was to bring the man
TO the city and eXer" &c him on The
Court House Square The Mavor and
prominent citizens went into the high.
ways to prevent this but found the
roads clogged with vehicles and men on
horseback all heading towards Ora when |
thew returned RI tho r;ty
The prisoner on Saturday morning was
found suspended from the limb of a
pine and dead. Coroner NJ. II. Ferguson
summoned a Jury and held a formal in
quest but naturally without finding
witnesses to place responsibility.
The sympathy OF the country will be
deep with the parents of the proposed
victim Of the brute and notwithstand- |
ing his hellish purpose was not accom-
plished, the verdict of our people will
sustain their neighbors and friends who,
obeying the noblest impulses, took
swift vengeance upon a friend in human
form,,