The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-14
A Blow to Law and Order.
Escape Of Macon Lesesne Con-
tlnues Decided Mystery.
Sneeia, 10 TIE State.

t1uQ0o AcOCiAOSk mySsoA
Special TO TIE State.
Kiugstree. Nov. 7-The where
abouts and mysterious disappearance
of Mason Lesesne. the negro rapls:,
remains ss unsatisfactory to the peo
pie of this community IS ever The
people have. confidence in Mr J. .
Daniels. who has been sheriff for
eight years. and none believe be
could be guilty of an improper act,
but the best men err iu judgment
sometimes, end while would not
question Sheriff Daniels good inteu-
ticns, l believe it 10 his duty now to
come out and make some statement
to the public about this matter,
There is evidently some mlsunder
standing shout the whole affair
Surely the white men Of Williams
burg county are not going to let this
man Lasesne escape after having
committed the greatest crime The
people in aud around Greeleyville
certainly acted in very strange
manner abou, this whole matter. !
am informed that Mrs. Mltchcm ls a
poor woman but of unblemlshec
character and is respectable. This
being the case she is as much entitled
to our. protection as any white
woman in the land
A little more than two months ago
a case similar to this occurred III the
neighboring- county OF Florence,
which caused that community to be
shaken FROM centre TO circumference
Searching parties were sent out IN
svery direction aud business men left
their work to join 10 the chase.
Officers and men in Williamsburg aud
Marion counties volunteered their
services and did not relax their efforts
until the fagisives we're captured.
A great many people 10 this county
do not believe that this negro rapist
is a. large If Sheriff Daniels has
him in charge. no matter how or
where. let him say 50 and satisfy the
public mind, and If NOT let hin come
quickly to the front ana tell tne people
plainly that he has escaped and con
vince them of it SO they nay hunt
him down.
Il nav be that the Villain ;s al
ready inside the walls of the peniten
tiary for safekeeping, and if so let 1t
be so, bat this is no time for foolish
ness or child's play.
The County Record viii! say to-
morrow: s'The escape of Macon
Lesesne turned loose Upon us fresh
from his crime. the perpetrator of
deed the most revolving in the cate
CORY of crime We are by 30 means
an 81 advocate of lyncbing or mob VIC
lence aud have invariably. when the
occasion demanded. deprecated this
particular kiod of law breaking.
When the would be cavlsher. hank
son McGiil was captured. there was
a healthy sentiment that the law be
given chance, and. as was expected,
bis convetioo and punishment quick
" followed. The course. OF action
pursued was departure from the
ueu.l method OF dealing with crimi
nails of ,ais type AID the law respect
;ng people Of The county hoped that
the day Of lyoching bees was past
Tie escape Of Macon Lesesne Mon
day night. uader the circumstances,
was TO pus it mildly, most unfor.
snna,e. Those who we're most
anxious that The law be respected
DOW openly express regret that the
negro bad not been given short
shift; at ropes end, and # re should
be captured it is extremely likely
that such will be his fate.
I'VE can sympathiae with and
appreciate the feeling that our peole
have been poorly rewarded for their
forbearance Il COW looks as it tbe
prisoner had 6aa!'y escaped Search
for him outside OF the authorities hes
been abaadoaed We do GOT know
what the sheriff is do,ng but We hope
and believe that he will! use every
means in his power TO effect recap
ture.''