The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-10-15

help and protection; which came Dy
the hand of a messenger who rode a.
we'll blown horse that had the appear
ance of having travelled far and fast:
On Road.
Sheriff Scarborough,
Sumter, S. G.
According to information brought
me on the road, and telephone mes
sage sag - sent Maj. Noise by Mr.. C.. l..
Emanuel from: Bordens, Magistrate
Folk is organizing mob to molest me.
and to- prevent bloodshed, yes, a.
bloody riet; call upon Jon, the law
officer of the; county, to come up to-
Bordens on up train tonight and COM
mand the peace Of the county.
Geo. ". Murray.
|. The Sheriff made inquiry and hav-,
ing ascertained that the eolored ex-
congressman was laboring under mis-
apprehension or had allowed his imagi-
nation to conjure up dangers that did
not exist, did not summon posse to.
go to his relief.
Magistrate Folk, whom Murray
charged In his letter. with being the
leader Of the mob, arrived in the city;
to spend the night or the afternoon
train over the Northwestern b. r.
direct from Borden and he stated,
when. seen and asked for an explana-
tien7of Murray's charges, that he knew
nothing about the organization of a
mob and such thing had never been
suggesed or thought of and he was
surprised that such a report should
be in circulation. Under these cir
cumstances the Sheriff felt, warranted
in paying no attention to the letter
sent him by Murray.
The fact that Murray had applied to
the Sheriff for guard having become
public an effort vas made to get at
the bottom facts Of the, whole matter
for the purpose Of finding ont, if pos
sible wha5 grounds Murray had for
making the charges he did against
Magistrate Folk.
Supervisor w. Il. Scale, who lives:
near both Magistrate Folk and Murray
was in town this morning, and from
him the facts, which were about as
follows, were obtained:
On last Saturday at trial in Mag
istrate Folks court at Providence
Murray and Magistrae Folk had dis
pute during which high words passed
and difficulty then and there was
narrowly averted. Subsequently there
was more or less idle talk in the
neighborhood of the probability of
trouble between them in the future.
It is stated that Murray was seen on
Sunday afternoon armed with Win
chester rife and accompanied byEfour
or five armed neoroes in the neigh
borhood of Borden Station, but he is
not charged with any overt act against
Magistrate Folk. Yesterday Magis-
trate Folk was at Borden Station on
business and spent the greater part
of the day there. During the after
noon several young men from Gaillard
Cross Roads went up to Borden's and
while there were inquiring about the
trouble between Magistrate Folk and
Murray on Saturday. While they
were there brother Of Murray came
to the station and taking up the no
ton that mob was being organized to
attack Murray, Mastered to spread the
report among the negroes in the neigh
borhood, and also to put boy on a
horse With a message to Murray who
spent yesterday IN town. The boy met
Murray on the road and delivered.
| to him the alarming message sent by
|; his brother. Murray wrote the note to
Sheriff Scarborough and sent the boy.
on with it,. while he went on to his
home at Providence.
Mr.. Scale, who spent yesterday in,
town, did not reach home until quite
late, but towards midnight was called
I'D and Informed that a large number.
of armed negroes were collected at
Murray's house. He went to Murray's
house, accompanied by Mr. 81. ".
Bennett, who is near neighbor, and.
when they neared the house found q
dozen or more negroes armed with
rifles and guns posted around the.
house. Some of them lodged behind
trees to escape recognition, but he
cane right upon four or five, who were
lying on the ground with guns in their
hands, and spoke to them. At first
they refused to answer, but after
calling one by name he got an ans
wer. They said that Murray was not
at home and they did not know where
he was. Mr.. Scale then went up into
Murray's piazza and raped on the
door. A woman answered his CALI
for Murray saying that he was not
there. After some talk Murray him7,
self came to the window and talked
with him, Murray stated that he had
been warned that a mob was coming
to kill him and that he was armed and
his friends who were guarding his
house to protect him were armed also,
that he would protect himself and was
determined to kill the first man who
tried to enter his yard.
Mr.. Scale told him he would be full
ly justified in shooting, if his place was
attacked, but that he was in no danger
at all and that there had never been
any danger of mob. He also advised
Murray to send his guards home and
put an end to the excitement he was
creating in the neighborhood. He
assured Murray that he was in no
danger and that he would personally
guarantee his safety. Murray promised
to disperse his crowd of guards and
Mr.. Scale returned home. Nothing
more was heard Of the imaginary mob
| during the night and Mr.. Scale says