Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-28
THREE IN A WEEK.


tempted and accomplished-has been
most startling in York county during
the past week. One case Of an attempt
was reported from the York Cotton
mills few days ago; another occurred
in Fort Mill Saturday night and Ca
tawba township wars excited over
third case during Monday.
| One night last week, a stranger ap-
piled at one Of the York Cotton mill
cottages, knocked at the door and ask
ed to be allowed to stay all night. The
husband was at work in the mill and
there was nobody at home except the
wife and younger children. She re-
fused to open the door and told the WIS.,
itor he could not be entertained. He
asked to be allowed to come In and
sit awhile. This was refused. A few
minutes afterward the back window
was raised and the same man, Ne
gro, tried to get into the room. The
wife ran out Of the front door and
screamed just as the Negro caught up
with her. He threatened instant
death unless she should hush. Neigh
bors had already been alarmed by the
screaming, however, and the Negro
ran away.
In Fort Mill, last Saturday after
noon, a young lady went to the barn
to look after the cow. While she was
there a Negro drayman, named Ben
Spratt, came to deliver some cotton
seed hulls. He remarked to the young
lady, II find you here every time
come" She explained that she attend
ed and MIXED the cow. A short time
afterward, while the young lady was
milking, she was seized by the throat,
by an unseen assailant; but managed
to scream loud enough to attract at
tention in spite Of threats Of instant
death. The Negro was frightened
away. The matter caused wild excite
| ment in the town. There was nothing
definite as to the identity Of the as
sailant. The young lady had not recog-
nized him. Because of circumstances,
however, Ben Spratt and another Ne
gro were arrested &For awhile lynch
ing seemed immj hent. The governor
was notified, ana"under orders from
that official, the rifle company turned
out to guard the prisoners. Because of
the uncertainty as to whether either
was the right man, nothing was done
in the way of violence. During Sun
day, Spratt was brought to Yorkville
and he is now in Jail. The fact that
his dray horse and wagon were seen
alone without attention at about the
time of the occurrence, and certain
other circumstances, make out a pref
ty strong case of suspicion against
him.
The third case Is reported from the
vicinity Of Harmony station. A we'll
known white man who lives there
works In the cotton mill at Lando, and
is away from home a good portion of
the time. He returned Sunday. Dur
ing Monday his wife told him that on
the previous Friday night a Negro
named McClanahan had entered the
house and threatened instant death
unless she submitted to him. The hus-
band went in search Of the Negro and
shot at him twice with a revolver,
wounding MIN both times. The Negro
ran away. The neighbors Joined in
the pursuit, and on coming to the home
of a relative of the fugitive, were told
that McClanahan had been sent to
Rock Hill to surrender to the authori-
ties and have his wound dressed. The
pursuers followed. A relative Of the
man wanted was overtaken in a bug
gy; but he denied all knowledge as to
the whereabouts of the man wanted.
This relative, whose name Is also Nc
Clanahan, was locked up in Rock Hill
Monday afternoon. There was high
excitement in the city and talk Mon
day night Of taking the prisoner out of
Jail and making him tell of the where
abouts of the man wanted or take the
consequences. AS the result Of various
rumors, however. carrying confusing
stories as to the exact facts Of the
whole matter, the excitement finally
died away to large eXent, and from
such information as was obtainable
over the telephone yesterday morning,
it was thought that there was no
longer any considerable danger Of vio-
lence.
WITHIN THE TOWN.
- Superintendent Of Education Car