The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-16

Witnesses.
PERSONALLY appeared.
and made oath that the above
is correct.
is correct.
Nov Sth. 1898.

Etheredge demanded of Tolbert his
right to carry on such side election,
being closely followed he Cheatham and
several young men. Tolbert struck
Etheredge in the face, and at about the
same time some one dealt him horrl-
BILE blow with an iron rod. Almost at
the same instance a pistol was fired,
and Etheredge fell dead with a bullet
hole in the centre of his forehead. Then
there was excitement and fury amount
ing to distraction, and rapid and seerl-
ingly indiscriminate firing commenced.
By the time the men upstairs at the
boxes got down, Tolbert and all the
Negroes present scattered and got away.
Those who did the firing were mainly
young men, and their aim was bad.
Tolbert was the only man, 1t seems
who was seriously hurt. Several Ne
groes were hit, but the wounds were
not sufficient to stop the fight Of any
one.
Twenty-Five men had been refused
the privilege Of voting when the killing
took place, two being white Demo
Gratis. Eighteen Negroes had deposited
in Tolbert's box, the certificate being
copied.
The news was quickly telephoued to
Greenwood .and all other points IN reach.
Armed men Immediately started for
Phoenix. Over 100 fully armed men,
embracing many Of the level-headed
and best citizens of the city, went down.
At4 p. NJ, they were still gathering at
Greenwood, Ninety-Six, kirksey, Brad
ley and the entire country side, lncIud-
ing the upper part Of Edgeheld county.
Among those gathered at Phoenix
there was little passion expressed, but
there was that tense expression that
means vengeance.
Bose Etheredge, as the slain man
was known, was one OF the best cltl-
zens Of that section. He was a brave,
calm, public-spirted citizen, as was
shown on more than one trying occasion.
He was favorite with all the people,
an industrious farmer. member OF the
Baptist church, school truestee and IN
every way identified with the best IN
terests of the community. He was 81
years old.
Your correspondent was with the
men at Phoenix until $50 and talked
to the eye-witnesses Of the tragedy and
to manv representative citizens. The
talk of the crowd was surprisingly dis
passionate but there was no disguise Of
the fact that it was intended that the
slayers of Etheredge and the authors OF
the mischief, two white men should Gle
whenever caught, whenever guilt was
fixed
From the evidence taken by Coroner
Dean at the inquest Tuesday afternoon,
the following facts appear concerning
the killing:
Tom P. Tolbert, Jr., who is rela-
tive of R. R. Tolbert, the Republican
candidate for congress in the Third
district, had for several days past been
posting the Negroes as to voting.
When hs apl cared at tie
Watson store with his protest box he
was closely followed by very tall,
black Negro, said to be Joe Circuit,
who resides several miles from Phoenix
About 9.l5 EtheredGe appeared te
make his remonstrance, no threat be-
ing heard. Tolbert rose from seat
and made a quick blow at Etheredge
striking him in the face. 1t seems the
blow was not returned. Then the dead
" blow With the iron, itself sutlcle3t
to cause death, followed by the immedl
ate discharge ola pistol. One or two
witnesses say R. G. Cheatham was shot
at. but he was not hurt. Then followed
the shooting probably 100 shots-anc