The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-08-07
A JUDGE PLEADS IN VAIN.
Two Women and a Man Lynched
for Brutal Murder,

for Brutal Murder.
RT Taliaferro and wife, Of Carrolltou
county, Miss, were found dead in bed
Wednesday with their heads split open.
1t is thought the murder was commit.
ted by negroes out of revenge for the
recent killing Of negro man who at
tempted to poison the family. A dis
patch from Carrollton says the muir
der of Mr.. and Mrs. Taliaferro Gull
minated Thursday night in the lynch
Ing OF Betsie McCray, her SON Bslfield
McCrsy, and daughter Ida McCrsy, all
colored. The mob was composed of
about 800 white citizens Of Oarrollton
county, who marched to the jail in or
der, demanded the keys from Jailer
Duke, proceeded to the cells of the un-
fortunate negroes, bound them by the
neck and hands and carried them to
the corporate limits Of tho town, where
they hung them to tree by the public
roadside and riddled their bodies with
bullets.
Tho mob resisted the earnest appeals
of Judge w. +. Stephens and Hon. w.
>. Hill, who stood on the steps of the
jail and appealed to the mob in the
name OF law and order. They even fol-
lowed the mob to the cell doors with
their arms around the neeks of the
leaders, pleading TO let the law take
Its course, but with no effect. Ida
McCrsy confessed to the knowledge Of
the murder, and stated that her mother
Betsie and brother Belfeld helped com.
nit the murder. She further impll-
Gated others who will probably meet a
like fate. Bstsie McCray refused to
make any statement. Gov. A. FL.
Longino arrived on the scene by spec
lal train from Jackson just few min.
utes after the hanging.
Judge SteN MS and Mr.. Hill went to
the j'll early in the day to ex.mine
and yestigste the Tallsiferro killing
and report to the people in the court
bouse before the jury of inquest should
proceed with their work. This they
we're doing In a met and successful
manner when II was learned that
ABOUT 10 mon, growing impatient ut
the delay, had organized themselves
into mob and were to come to the
jail and take the suspects out. The
committee Immediately went to the
court house and called the people to-
gether. Mr.. Hill, MIR. L. M. South
worth AID Senator George addressed
them and told them what they were
trying to do. They seemld d fairly we'll
satisfied when they were assured that
the negroes would not hs spirited
away, and that the final investigation
would be had in public in the court
house.
The peace committee proceeded to
the Jail TO complete it's work. They
worked until 3 o'clock, when an ar
Journment was had to report progress
ana Tor dinner. The mob continued
impatient and restless. Ia the m can
time, Gov. Longino had telephoned
Judge Stevens thst he would leave
Jackson for Carrollton on the 2 o'clock
train. The committee being apprised
OF this, did oheir best TO kill time so
that the governor might arrive and use
his influence. However, they deemed
1t necessary at about / o'clock to make
another report to the people. Icy
proceeded 10 the court house where Mr..
Hill reported that the committee had
oonciuaed, after q faithful and thor
ough examination that while Bslford
aud Betsy MoCray knew that the
Ialiaferros were to be killed and had
aosented themselves from homo so
that they might prove an alibi, the
ones who had actually committed the
deed had not yet been caught, but that
they believed that these would finally
dlvulge the whole plot. MIR. Hill left
1t to the crowd as to whether the com.
mittee should proceed with the investi-
CATION or drop it and have the jury of
inquest proceed. The crowd was unani.
nous In instruoting them to proceed
with the investigation.
However, as the crowd was dispsrs.
ing from the court house they met
about 90 men, armed with shot guns
and rifles, and who had not been in the
court house to hear the last report.
These men proceeded to the Jail where
the deputy sheriff promptly opened
the door tor them. Three men went
upi stairs and brought out Belford,
Betsy and Ids McUray. Judge Stevens,
Messrs. Hlll and George and other citi-
zens begged and pleaded with them as
did Lynn Taliaferro, the son of the
murdered couple, not to kill these me-
groes as they would thereby thwart
the ends of justice. But it was all to
no purpose. Tne mob took the negroes
under the hill about a quarter of q
mile from town Snd hanged the thrse,
firing at least 500 shots into their
bodies, The governor arrived just is
the mob was returning. Hs went to
the court house and addressed a large
and ssddened crowd. 1t is believed
II ne could have gotten there in time
he might have prevented the lynching