The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-08-25
An Attempted Outrage-Slieriff Protects
the IrisOner--N0 Mob Appeared.

the t'rISOner--N0 MOD Appeared.
On Tuesday night of last week about one
and half miles south of Foreston an at
tempt was made to outrage Mrs. Ellen
Richbourg, the wife of Mr.. George Rich
bourc. The lady was out in her yard at
nine o'clock. when she was approached
from behind and grabbed at the throat,
t, ,rown down and dragged some distance
down a cane row.
The tends grip upon her throat was so
tight she could make no outcry, and by a
fortunate accident which occurred in the
struggle, the would-be rapiSt fell down and
Mrs Richbourg liberated herself and go.
away. She Immediately informed her hus.
band and the alarm was given. Tracks
were followed to a considerable distance,
but the object Of the search could not be
found Some time on the morning of the
same day Mrs. Richbourg saw at the door
OF an clubhouse d strange black man; he
were n cap 4 telegram containing de-
scription of the man she saw came to the
town authorities on Wednesday. and in Il
short while man answering the descrip-
ton was placed in the jail to await identif-
cation.
Friday afternoon, before Magistrate
held. Solicitor Wilson was present and
hronght out the testimony for the State
Much interest was manifested, both coored
and white filed the court room and while
there Was no apparent excitement, it conld
be seen that things We're not altogether
healthy for the prisoner.
Mrs. Richbourg in her testimony said
tie prisoner WAS the same man she saw on
her premises at the door of the outhouse,
and then went Gil and told where she was
and what happened; that the party did not
succeed in his attempt was due 10 her
struggles aud his fortunate fall. She was
positive the prisoner was the same man
she saw in tue daytime and he was about
the same size man that seized her. The
prisoner was allowed to ask her questI ons
which had to be interpreted on account Of
the fellows nasal organ being eaten ont by
some filthy disease. Mr. Rchbourg, the
lady's husband, WAS examined and he told
about his wife's return to the house and
the condition of her throat. the finger
prints and her frightened condition, about
his search CT tracks and getting word to
neighborS, etc
Mr.. E. I. Richbourg. gave the most crin-
mating evidence. After the fellow was ar
rested his shoes were taken from him and
sent down to Foreston; the tracks were the
size of the shoes, and all the marks from
the WORKOUT soles were to be seen in the
tracks. Other witnesses were also exam
ined and Magistrate Dickson sent the case
up for the court of general sessions.
The prisoner claims to be from MllleGge.
Vile, Ga, and gave his name rs Charles
Harper. He was put back in Jail Shortly
after his Incarceration. all sorts OF rumorS
began to fly about that a lynchiug bee was
imminent. the Sheriff, however, had assur-
ances that nothing Of tho kind would be
attempted.
Saturday all day men We're seen holding
whispered conversations and report
started that large crowd from the Forrs-
ton section would be in Manning that
night to lynch the prisoner. This report
reach ed the Sheriff and he properly set
about to protect the Jail and to see that his
prisoner was not molested.
Everything was perfectly quiet;it being
Saturday night good many men, white
and co!ored, were on the streets or IN the
stores, because heavy rain was falling at
! the time. All at once the cry of Murder"
! came from the prisoner in the Jail and in o
few minutes the bell of the colored church
rang, a large crowd of colored people, some
of whom were much excited, responded to
the bell, they stayed about the Jail long
time to prevent lynching. The Sheriff
had already fixed his guards inside and
outside Of the jail, taking every precaution
possible to protect his prisoner.
The prisoners cry of murder WAS because
of an attempt made by the Sheriff and
guards to spirit the prisoner away, aud
| when they went up to take him out he re-
fused and set up the Cry, thinking, Of
course, they were the lyncting party.
\ suppressed excitement was kept up to
late hour, no mob put in al appearance,
but the colored folks scattered themselves
into hiding and kept up a constant watch.
About midnight a report reached The
ZINES editor that few men had congre-
gated and thinking they might do some
rash act, lie Went to them, ou reaching
then he sonna thap hava nu ldew of attack
lEg the Jail, but il Sc the |, r.y-.:a -eo."e
from the neighborhood of the crime, as was
reported, and the lynching of the prisoner
Was going to bring on q riot they We're 60
ing to protect the property OF the town
The men that congieGated Oh the outskirts
OF tie town tia; night, had they the least
idea Of lyuchiug the prisoner, would have
attempted it, regardless of consequences,
but such was not their purpose and, OF
course, they made 70 such attempt
! he Sheriff did his full duty when he
had the jail guarded. as the life of the pris-
oner Was entrusted to him. The main
object of the few who went outside CT town
Was t" protect tueir property in Csc of q
riot, for II is known fact. that lawiess
characters take advantage Of great excite
ment 10 commit robbcries and other crimes
The writer. after everything got quiet
and everybody was satisfied The lyncning
alar:n was fake, retired about two o'clock
Sunday morning
S"uday morning Sheriff Bralham sent
th" prisoner away 10 u safer Jail. not caring
to keep the fellow here and give senSatlon
makers another opportunity to create any
moro excitement and false .,iarms.
SlC9 REWARD Sl0O