The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-04-26

importused to give up the prisoner,
aud, finally, in order to avoid an as
sau.s on the Jail and possible blcodshed,
| he turned the wretch over to the wait
ing crowd. A procession was quickly
formed and toe doomed negro was
] marched at its head through several
streets of toe town. Soon the public
equare was reached.
AN APPEAL MADE.
Here they formed aed Ex-Gov. At
kinsou, Of Georgia, who lives 10 New
nan came hurriedly upon the scene,
and, standing up in a buggy, lmpor-
tuned the crowd to LEI the law take It's
course. Governor Atkinson said
"My fellow citizens and friends L
beseeoh you to les this affair 60 no
further. Yoa are hurrying this negro
lou to death without an Identification.
Mrs. Crawford, whom be is said to have
assaulted ADD whose hnsbasd ne is
said to have killed, is eick 10 bed aud
unable to be here 20 say whether this is
her assailans. Let this negro be return
ed to the Jail. The law will take its
course aud | promise you it will do so
quickly aod effectively. Do not stain
the hoaor Of the state with crime
such as you are about to perform.
Judge A. D freeman. also of
Newuan. spoke 10 similar strain and
Iimplcred the mob to return the prisoner
10 the custody of the sheriff aud 60
home. The assembiage heard the
words Of the two speakers in silence.
but the instant their voices bad died
away, shouts Of '.Oa to Palmetto. .
Burn him." think of his cr;ne''
arose, aud the march was resumed.
IDENTIFIED
Mrs. Cranford's mother and sister
are. residents of Newman. The
mob headed in the direction of their
houses and in short time reached
the McElroy home. The negro was
marched in the gate and Mrs McElroy
called to the front door She identif-
ed the African, and her verdict was
agreed to by her daughter, who had
often seen Hose around the Crawford
place ..To the stake" was again the
CRY, aud several men wanted to burn
him in Mrs. McErloy's yard To this
she objected strenuously, and the mob,
complying with her wish, started
for Palmetto.
Just as they were leaving Newman
word was brought that the ! O'Clock
train from Atlanta was bringing l..
900 people TO Palmetto This was
thought to be regiment of militia.
aud the mob decided to burn the
prisoner at the first favorable place
rather than be compelled to Shoot him
when the militia put into sight.
Leaving the town whose Sunday
had been so rudely disturbed, the
mob, which now numbered nearly
1 500 people, started on the road to
Palmetto in line of buggies and
vehicles of all kinds, their drivers
fighting for position in line, following
the procession at the head of which,
closely guarded. marched the negro:
CONFESsEs THF CRIME.
One and g half miles out of Newman
place believed to be favorable for
the burning was reached. 4 little to
the side of the road stood strong
pine tree Up to this the negro was
marched, has back placed to
the tree and his face to the
crowd, which jostled closely
about him. Here for the first time
he was allowed to talk He said Z:
.I am Sam Hose I killed Alfred
Crawford, but l was paid to do it.
Lige Strickland, the negro preacher
at Palmetto, gave me $l2 to kill
him "
At this roar went up from the
crowd as the intelligence impaired by
the wretch was spread among them,
"Let him go on; tell all you know
about it," came from the crowd The
negro shivering like leaf, continued
his recital "I did not outrage
Mrs. Crawford Somebody else did
that can identify them. Give me
time for that
THE HORROR BEGINS.
The mob would hear no more
The clothes were torn from the
wretch in an instant A heavy
chain was produced and wound
around the body of the terrified
wretch cIasped by new lock, which
daugled at Hoses neck. He said
not a word to this proceeding, but at
the sight of three or four knives
flashing in the hands of several mem.
bers of the crowd about him, which
seemed to forecast the terrible ordeal