The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-07-22

O0 8lNSU dC HIS Slo'oA ouO eoDN
Tom, who easily got out of it.
There was one riotous scene I'll
never forget, nor the "Ransy Snltfie"
who I always thought was the cause
of it. 1 was standing, with Sam
Carr on the high steps of the old
Guv. Thompson shoe store, facing
the brick hotel. A wild, boisterous
crowd was surging from Stuart cor.
ner over Main street. Ramsey Suit
fe" had got in his work, and Henry
Burton and Wash Floyd were en-
gagged in fierce battle; they were
men of wealth, intelligence and great
energy. During the combat "Ran-
sey" was keeping off the good men
who were trying to separate them.
''Ransey" was contemplate fellow
and always locked to me ike a cross
between big bull frog and six
pound catfish. The excitement WAS
intense. have heard it said that
seven fights were going on at the
same time. Standing where I was I
saw Ap. Wells and Stiller Jimmie
Caldwell collide; Stiller jimmie
struck out like q mule kicking with
the regularity and force of a trip
hammer. Jimmie used to cut sticks
and with them bring down as many
SQUIRRELS as man with a gun. 1t
was not surprising that he soon made
AID. sick. While I was talking to
Carr along came one of the young
Sheppards and in twinkling they
were on the ground. I retreated IN
good order. That was, the first and
only case in which I was a witness
before grand jury. Floyd was a
man of strong, energetic character.
Burton a jovial fellow. When in
town he could be located by his loud,
hilarious laugh. 1t was unfortunate
that two such prominent and infu-
ential men should have been en-
gagged in such combat. But "Ran.
sey" got in his work. I knew him
we'll; he never was in a personal COL
lision himself, nor fred a gun in the
civil war.
Meeting Mrs. Welch and Mrs.
Robertson called forcibly to my mind
their grandfather, Rev. Herman Aull.
There were three preachers in New
berry that always excited my deep
est reverence, viz: Herman Aull,
Mark NJ. Boyd and Daniel Mangum,
all men of limited education, but
taught by the Holy Ghost, were led
into all truth. Eternity can only
tell the saving influence of these
Christ like men on Newberry. In
their love of God and their fellow
men, their devotion to duty and
pleading with sinners they were won
derfnlly alike. 1t is good to have
known them. They could only say,
when called up higher
'sFor tho from out our bourne of time
and place
The flood may bear us far,
We will see our Pilot face to face
When we have crossed the bar
''This earth hath borne no simpler, no
bier men,"
Now for a Texas court scene in
reconstruction dsys-trial of negro
for the murder of another. A venire
of his peers (negroes) appears; ne
groes excited, clamoring for blood; I
appointed to defend; just 10 or II
on examination, showed desire to
hang defendant. At last a solid old
fellow said he would give him fair
trial; the rest caught on and answered
as he did; jury im2anelled; proof
strong. How could I save defend
ants neck, by arguing facts? No,
I tried ghost stories OF them. Told
them if they hanged defendant his
ghost with protruding google eyes
and lolling tongue would always
haunt them, by day and by night,
that they would hear him groaning
and crying haunt and hunt him."
He would lie with them in their beds,
with them at their meals, when hunt
ing, and as a tree was cut down, they
went to look for a possum they would
find his ghost glaring at them, when
thov wont to kiss their wives and
ou.oo4hnnrtc his nlouinn aves and