The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-08-29
RIOT OCCURS In COURT ROOM.
At Trial of Negro Rapist Guns Are
Brought Into Play-one Killed
And Two Wounded.

a SpeCldl W lue luS OlA WlaShoin
Age-Herald from Ashville, Ala, says
that one man was killed and another
probably fatally wounded In a battle
In that town Thursday to save the ne
gro, Jim Brown, from the vengeance Of
a mob, after he had been tried and
sentenced to be hanged on September
goth for the most heinous crime known
in the criminal law Of any state.
Walter Blankenship was killed,
while Arthur Blankenship and a small
boy, the son of James Hanley, were
wounded In the melee.
The Blankenships were brothers,
and It is said had been in town since
Monday trying to stir up the trouble.
Walter died within two hours after
being shot, and Arthur is in preca-
rious condition. %.
The attempt of the mob to gain pos
session Of the negro followed one OF
the swiftest and fairest trials ever
held. It was a battle Of witnesses
with the Judge and court officials on
the defensive to suppress the fast ris'
ing anger Of the crowd, as detail after
detail of the fiend's work was told by
the witnesses for the state. There was
no evidence for the defense. AS the
brute said afterwards in his COMES.
sion there was nothing the witnesses
he had summoned could say In his be-
half.
The clash came in half an hour af
ter Judge Pelham had pronounced the
sentence. By ruse the court room
was cleared of half Of its angry oc-
.cupants. The remaining half was
surly and seemed bent on mischief.
At the request Of Judge Pelham, j..
L. Garrett, father of the girl outraged
by Brown, mounted a table and spoke.
counselling peace. He had hardly ad-
dressed the assembly as his friends
and neighbors before he broke down
in tears. In concluding his appeal, he
said:
"Jf you have any respect for my
feelings, II can have any weight M
your hearts, let me urge you as good
citizens tc go home and obey the law
and will never cease to thank you
from the bottom of my heart from this
day to the day Of my death"
Fired Into Windows.
The first sign of an outbreak came
when one man from the outside with
a pistol In his hand started to MOUNT
the stairway. He was followed By two
or three others. Several shots were
exchanged and the mob leaders re-
treated to the outside when two ;aem-
bers began firing into the windows.
Arthur Blankenship was hit first and
his brother was shot while empty'as
his revolver in the direction OF the
windows above.
A hard rain was falling. The bodies
of the wounded were removed and the
crowd scattered about in front OF the
stores across the street. The officers
took advantage Of this lull and spirited
the negro away in charge Of two spe'
cial deputies. He was gotten safely
aboard fraight train for Birmingham.
The Negroes Crime.
The crime for which Brown will
hang was committed on May 7th, near
springyille, within a quarter Of milo
of the home of the CARROTS. He wss
working in a field near where Miss
Garrett, who Is a school teacher, had
to pass tn returning home late in the
afternoon. He followed her for some
distance and finally assaulted her near
a creek. He dragged the girl into the
water, threatening to drown her.
Abandoning this last thought OF ending
his heinous crime by murder, he pulled
of his clothes and put on another suit
In the presence Of the young woman,
throwing his shoes into the water. He
was with her for three-quarters OF an
hour Miss Garrett remained uncon-
scious for some time, and then made
her way to the house and gave the
alarm.
Brown left the vicinity at once, first
going to Birmingham, then to Annis-
ton, Atlanta, and finally to Charleston.
S. c.. where he was captured. In the
meantime another negro had been shot
to death because he was mistaken for
Brown. The real Brown attempted
suicide by cutting his thoat with a
piece Of glass shortly after his cap
turs.