The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-05
THE BARBARITY OF THE MOE.


THE BARBARITY OF THE MOE.
one Of the most revolving stories that
we have read for many a day IS that Of
Joseph =. NEWMAN, one of the persons
concerned in the 1ynching OF the negro
postmaster, Baker, at Lake City, S. c..
We have already printed in The Times
n synopsis Of what Newman said. His
testimony I'm fun is thus given in the
Charleston New and Courier. We quote
from the proceedings before the United
States commissioner:
NEWMAN give an account Of the plans
which were formulated to Kill Baker ana
told how the deed was done. lie said he
lived five miles from Lake city. and that
ne could neither read nor write. lie
said that there was considerable feehng
AGAINST Baker In the town, ana that
nobody wanted him in office. on the
Friday night previous 20 the killing,
which was on Monday night, NEWMAN
testified that II. l.. Whitlock called at
his house about II O'Clock and told him
10 20 back with him to Lake City. They
reached the town a short while later.
and went 20 II. S. stokes store, where
they found Lee. Epps. GODDARD and Dun
ham Singletarv While in the store
resolutions were passed TO kin Baker
and the gang agreed To meet on Monday
night TO carry out their plans Witness
said the Office would have been burned
that night. but the crowd was too small.
They wanted one hundred men or more
for the Job. The men said they did not
intend 90 have n negro in the post
Office
Il went 10 Lake City Monday said
Newham. ITO be ready for the work fixed
for that night. ] was I'm town all day.
aud at midnight / went TO Stokes store.
Stokes. Epps. Lee. GODDARD and Single
tary were there az the dime, and Nc
knight came in later. Somebody said
the crowd was too small, but we coulu
rot put tho thing off any longer. We
talked there for a short time. and then
started ont TO do the work We went by
Henry Godwins store. where we stopped
ard got "a bucket Of kerosene oil and q
big bag Of dry shavinGs. We then went
ON 10 the postOfiice. All OF the men had
arms Some had shotguns and others
had rifles. VIC got TO the place and tho
crowd wanted Lee 10 fire the house, but
he was afraid 10 60 alone, and i went
with him We took the shavings and
placed them near the chimney, and then
poured a quantity Of oil on the pile.
The OH was also scattered over the outside
of The house While this work was be-
ing done the crowd stood near the edge
Of The woods ] held the guns and Lee
set fire 10 the shaWngs. After the pile
blazed up ] ran away to the woods, and
a little later / heard screams from the
house. Then ] heard the crowd shooting
Alonzo Rogers, Epps GODDARD. Stokes.
Ward Webster, Mcknight, Charley
Joiner. Lee and myself were tho only
ones that / saw that night az the post
office. The men disappeared after the
shooting. 7 left with Rogers, Webster
and Ward"
Was there ever moro deliberate muir
der committed since the day when Cain
slew his brother? We shall not comment
upon the propriety Of the appointment
Of Baker TO office. our readers well un-
derstand what our position is on that
subject. But the negro had committed
no offence. lie was filling a position in
which he had been placed by the Presi-
dent of the United States. and for this
he was sentenced to death and deprived
of his life by mob. Note, if you please.
that the mob first met, and, after dis
GUESSING the question. passed n formal
resolution that the negro be killed. Hav-
ing thus resolved in cold blood at a con-
ycnient time to murder him, they pro-
ceeded TO execute the sentence that they
had. i'm disregard of the law, pronounced
and never was sentence more brutally
executed In the quiet Of the night time
when this man and his family had gath
cred together within their home, the mob
set fire to the building, and as the in
mates ran out to escape the flames they
were shot down. one by one, even the
babe I'm its mothers arms falling vic
tim to tho cruel bullet.
We have not tried to exaggerate, for
that were impossible. We are simply
pulling off the mask and showing up this
crime in its true light. It was murder
most foul murder premeditated, murder
with malice aforethought, murder in the
first degree, and it should be punished
as such.
In this glorious hour OF triumph, when
American liberty and American man
hood are uppermost in the thoughts Of ALL
we thus direct attention TO the infamy
of lynch law. 1t is a blot UPON our civil
zatlon. 1t is contrary to every pro-
nouncement of the Declaration OF Inde-
pendenco and the Constitution Of the
United States.