The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-03-11
GREAT EXCITEMENT
In FLORENCE COUNTY.
NEGRO MOST BRUTALIY ASSAULTS
WHITE WOMAN.
Criminal Captured by sherif-Who Pre-
vented Lynching by Promiping SPEEDY
Trial at Special Term OF Court.
Especial to The State.)

Especial to The State.)
Florence, March 6.-Near Hy-
mans, in the lower part of Florence
county late yesterday afternoon, Mrs.
K. R. Haynes, we'll known and re-
spected white woman, was ravished
by negro brute, Julius Gibbes.
Evidently aware that the husband
was away from home, the negro
called at the house on pretence of
business. Mrs. Haynes came to the
door with 8 baby IN her arms. After
few minutes conversation, Gibbs
rushed mp the steps and overpowered
the lady, snatchlng the child from
her arms and throwing it aside. Mrs.
Haynes never lost consciousness, and
when she was released ran to a neigh
boris house and gave the alarm. In
the meantime the negro had fed. A
large crowd soon gathered and Sheriff
Burch reached the scene from
Florence about 8 o'clock. Gibbs
was found at his home, about mile
distant from where ne committed the
crime. It was all Sheriff Bureh
could do to prevent the angry men
from siezing the negro and swinging
him up, but reason prevailed and a
lynching avoided. Influential men
in the community, among whom were
the husband and brother-in-law of
the victim, aided the sheriff in sooth-
ing the intense excitement. On con-
dition that a special term of court
would be convened for immediate
trial the men desisted from violence
and allowed the negro to be brought
safely to the Florence Jail.
To night everything seems to be
perfectly quiet, and there is no fear
of lynching.
an APPEAL TO GOVERNOR WILL ORDER
SPECIAL TERM IF SOLICITOR MAKES
REQUEST, AS THE LAW PRO-
vIDEs.
Rather remarkable and unusual
case was called to the governors at
tention yesterday. This time mob
agrees not to lynch if the State will
see that speedy trial is had. This
is the first time such q case has de-
veloped in South Carolina.
The governor heard OF the case
yesterday morning from the sheriff
of Florence county, the telegram be-
ing Incorporated in the following
message sent the circuit solicitor:
March 6, 1902.
Solicitor John S. Wilson, Manning,
sc:
Have Just received the following
telegram: "Florence, S. G. M. b.
McSweeney, Governor, Columbia, S.
c.: Negro raped white woman yes
terday lower part county, large party
present when arrested and desisted
from lynch law on condition special
term court convene to try at once.
/ promised and have negro in Jail.
Make good my promise, otherwise
may be trouble. Everything quiet
awaiting your sction.-Thomss s.
Burch, Sheriff"
We must not have any lynching
in this State. Have wired the Sher-
iff that the request fox special term
of court under act Of 1900 must come
through you and / will act favora-
bly, upon petition.
NJ. B. McSweeney,
~ Governor.
This message was sent the sheriff;
March 6, 1902.
Mr.. Thomas S. Burch, Sheriff, Flor
ence, s. c.:
Under the act of 1900 providing
for special term of court such apPll-
cation must come through solicitor,
and can only come through him IN
der the statute. If the matter is
presented to the solicitor by your
people 1 have no doubt that he will
ask for the special term OF court you
indicate. This is a requirement OF
law. Personally [ favor a prompt
trial, but under the statute can only