The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-05
THE vAUGIANVILLET TROUBLE.
A Riot Was Feared as tho Result OF tho Ar
rest Negro Doctof-Indignant
Citizens Allow the Law to
Take l's Courae.

wy lVop, lSSCiNCu Nv otcIll
ford from Vaughunvillc, the Sheriff,
Col. George Johnstouc, Mr.. S. N. No
land and this reporter left about nine
o'clock for that place.
On arriving ut Vaughanvillc we
found things much Quictcr than the
telegram which had been received had
led us to expect; however, there was
considerable excitement and many in
dignant and cnragcd citizcns-in fact
every white man We met in or near that
community expressed himself to the cf-
feet that certain demonstrations on the
part Of the negroes, their aidors, ubct-
tors and hackers would have to cease,
and that pretty soon, and some were
most emphatic in making these asscr.
ticns.
The trouble seems to have grown out
of the fact that colorcd doctor had
sometime since been imported into that
community, it is claimed, for the pur-
pose .: eventually running the present
white practicing physician out of that
scction-that is by taking all the negro
practice from him, and injuring his
business to that extent.
We wore informed that ut first the
negro doctor was very polite to every
one, but soon the medicine he was ad-
ministcring to some of his patients be-
gan to have q bad effect, and the negro
appeared ipsolcnt. Tho citizens at
Vaughanvillc claim that he told some
of the negroes that they were working
too hard and would have to stop during
&hc summer months or they would kill
themselves working for white people.
This put the citizens Of the commu-
nifty to Investigating, ana they soon
found that the negro doctor had no H.
ccnsc to practice medicine and was vio-
lating State law.
n warrant was sworn ont and the ne
gro doctor was arrested ut Cross Hill,
in Laurcns County, on Friday, June
2lth. The negro asked the constable
to carry him to Mr.. Phil Rooms store
ut Vaughanvillc and he would produce
the license, which the constable did.
On arriving at the store, the negro
was allowed to alight, as did the con-
stable. The constable, Mr.. Jack Spear
man, was called aside by Magistrate
Day for II conversation, when the doe
tor, accompanied ny another negro with
a shotgun, got in his buggy and drove
or.
II is stated by the constable that
within Il very short time twenty-five
or thirty negroes appeared on the scene
armed and ready to protect the negro
doctor. The constable seeing that he
was ovcrpowercd left the scene and
placed tho warrant in the hands of the
Sheriff of Laurcns County.
On Tuesday of last week Sheriff Nc
Gravy, of Laurcns, with posse Of eight
men, went to Vaughanvillc to search
for the negro doctor and arrest him,
but he could not be found.
In the meantime, we were informed
by reliable persons, that the negroes
could be seen assembling in the woods
with their guns and pistols, and the
community was full Of threats and ru-
mors-cnough to cause excitement and
trouble.
On Friday last II meeting Of the citi-
zcns Of that section was called to sec
what steps should be taken, for trouble
seemed to be brewing. This meeting
was attended by between so and 60
mcn-somc of the best and most inilu-
cntial men of that section Of the county.
The meeting was presided over by
Mr.. w. G.. Peterson. Several present
made statements as to what they knew
and had heard and as to what they
thought was best to be done. Some
few thought that they should act and
act at once in very positive and de-
cidcd manner, but the majority Of the
older and cooler headed citizens ad-
viscd that the law be allowed to take
its course and they do nothing rash.
Sheriff Buford advised that whatever
was done let it be lawful. That il was
always best to let the law take its
course.
Hon. George tombstone, who was
present, was called on several times tO
give his Interpretation of the law in
certain emergencies, which he did
plainly and pointcdly and to the salts.
faction of all. He also made IL short
talk advising that the law be allowed
to take its course and that they dc
nothing that would be unlawful, which
was favorably received
A motion was made and adopted au
thori2ing the chairman Of the meeting
and Mir. NJ. ID. Smith to swear ont war
rants and have arrested and prosecuted
the negroes who aided and assisted tho
| negro doctor in escaping from the con
stable while under arrest.
The meeting then adjourned ant
| everybody left for their homes in ;
pcaccablc manner.
The negro doctor has left the commu
ni.y, and it is safe to say that he vii
| not return.