The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-13
KOESTER EXONERATED.
The CASTOR Lynching was Fully lh-
vestigated-His Conduct on that
Occasion Fully Detailed TO the
President-Murray IN Succeed 10
Deas AS Division Deputy.

Occasion ruiy Deso1" W
President-Murray In Succeed Il
Deas AS Division Deputy.
Yesterdays News and Courier contained
the following dispatch from tnat paper
special Washington correspondent: ,,
.Washington, Nov. 7.-Speeial: Presiden
Roosevelt nas made full Investigation o
the allegations against Internal revenue
with n .lynching party in South Caroline
q long time ago. Various statements ON the
subjects were presented TO the president anu
although he had commissioned Mr.. hoeslel
and Lhe latter had tled his bond, the presl
'ran, Ietermiued TO make \ full investigation
of The subject in order 10 salisly nlHseil
whether disappointment of Mr.. koesler wns
justinable. There has been Sohslosraoie
,nrr.spoudep ce on he subject and Mr. hoes
ler's frank aud mnuly explanation OF ue
participation III The y nchiug has lnduced tht
president TO declare that, SO lar a. MT Noes,
Ter IL concerned, Inc incident ID closeu anu
mis- APPOINTMENT will stand.
"Erery one of the horrible details OF the
lynching referred 10, which Involved tnree
demons charged with outraglnS "nite
woman. were laid before tne pfes.aeniit: e,eiis snr. @
rounding the sick enlpg scene ana Inc pos.
siblIlty TOR the escape of the nend VINO had
conmllteed the outrage upon a,S tne %hi,. lie
wonau He related 10 what extent ne
participaled in the affair, In add tion 10 DIS
duty AS "A new spaper reporter. Fle ALSO sup
piled the president with a copy 81 the stof5
OF The affair. which ne himself naa Wr,ttsh t ,sl
cnndltions which existed at that time he con
sidered his action justified. Inc Vlctm was
apuut 10 be burned al the stake and Mr.. koes-
Ier nroposed q less violent punishment foI
the fiend. There Is not d man with drop OF
American blood In his veins VINO Woulu mol
have commended Mr.. koesters course IN lhe
circumstances and President hooSeSeiL il
satisfied that Mr.. Koester will make fearless
md capable collector OF Internal revenue lOr
the district OF South Carolina.
.In this connection II Is UNDERSTOOD thal
Mr.. Rooster IL already preparing for changes
IN hi. Iist of deputies. George Washington
Murray. a former colored congressman from
ihe Charestou district, Is being strongly
nryed by prominent Republicans outside oI
the state as one OF tne ueputes; -, Sena.o' Su,aso
has asked that some provision De mace ioi
him Ia south Carolina. II Is understood thai
Deputy Collector Deas, who pnollciy arralsn
ed Senator Hanna for designating District
ATTORNEY Capers AZ u member VI tne R.puo
Iioan national committee, Is slated fui
official decapitatiou 10 make way lot Murray
Deas not only makes himself personany an.
uoIilicaIly offensive 10 the adminlsll atlon
during the contest over the collectorship, nut
he is not In sympathy WIN Collector koes
Ier's appointment. AS Mr.. Rooster holds
bonded responsibility fol all mis- deputies hs
will select men VINO are supposed to ..
friendly 10 him and inclined 10 WORK 10 maxi
the administration Of the once successful.
Murray and Deas are from the same congre"
sionaI district aud II Is expected there Will
he a Iiyely row IN the nominating convention
n Murray is appointed 10. succeed Deas.
lust how Collector koester reiishes being
obliged To appoint cooIea deputy remains
can make some sacrifice to win the friend
ship OF 30 formidable leader as Senator
Marx Hanna, especially as IT Will only be
swapping one colored man for another
The Columbia Record says:
The above dispatch was shown to Collector
RSRnrn
and he was ASKED II II ere true. MIR. Koes-
irr replied that in It's main essentials the
above story IL correct. An Investigation war
conducted and he Freely ana lrankiy slateo
doing It, Among other thugs, as part OF hi'
defeTse he sent the president the editorial
page OF last Mondays state. ne mas knoWn
fur several days that the investigation vlnai
Nd him and that the president was satis-
fied he bad only done his duty al CASTOR anu
that the charges OF brutality made since h's
spstsined. While be knew he WAS viDdicat-
I'd he preferred that the hrst news should
come from other sources.
When asked as to The truth OF the story
that Murray would succeed Dess, Col'ecto'
Koester replied:
..Mnrrsy's appoin tment has been earnestly
requested by National Com III tteeman Capere,
and 1t will be remembered announced
week ago In an Interview that In appoint
tnent oi Republicans 10 office / would b,
largely guided by the advice OF Mr.. Caper..
who has been selected by President Roosevelt
and Senator Hanna as their representative
in this State. Murray Is also strongly Gu
dorsed by Influential and potential Rspuol'-
cans In The North. He Is good cltizen,
man of property, who has the respect ol al
white meI. VINO know him. While he has been
a consistent Ruplican, his Conduct has never
been offensive. Having ueen signally honor
ed with appointmen ent To an office never ask
ed, having been given the office without al!
attached conditions. would be unworthy OF
the confidence the president repOsed In my
fairness IT 1 gave all my appointments 10
Democrats, anu In appointing some Repuoll-
cans. feel that the best element Of the color
ed race deserves recognition and no better
recognition could be given them than ap
poluiiny ex-CongressmAn Murray, TO an o..
fice. He Is a higher example OF how our col.
ored people eau make themselves useful apo
respected citlZens Dy Industry, Thrift and
poiiteness. His appointment Will be a rebuke
to an obnoxious CLASS OF negro politicians anu
an Incentive to his race 10 live as be has lived
to win the respect of white and colored people
alike who know HIM."