The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-15
WILL SOON HANG.
The Remarkable Case Of 3 George
town Negro Murderer.
BROWNFIELD, a BLACK BARBER

from the Gallows, ATTEMPTED
Suicide Recently, But
Courage Failed.
One Of the most unique cases in the
annals OF crime exists in Georgetown.
John Browntield, the negro barber who
killed J. C. Scurry, a white man, on
Sept, %, 1900, is still alive and con-
fined in the county jail, although once
tried. convicted and sentenced to be
hanged on Dec. p, 1900.
The case has excited widespread in
terest and at various times occupied
the attention of every court from the
humble magistrates to the United
States supreme court at Washington
and. although the verdict of every tri-
bunal has been against the negro, yet
he is still living and no date set for
uis execution. Sheriff Mct.eithen Of
that county readily assented to allow
the prisoner to be seen in his cell.
The Changing of the massive iron
doors as the bolts were thrown back
aroused the prioner from his cot in
his cell where he had been quietly con-
verSing with his fellow prisoners
through the bars. He Immediately
put on his hat and stood in the open
door. apparently ready to meet any
fate that might befall him. The negro
is about % years old, tall erect and
his long confinement Of nearly 81
months has reduced his weight to
about 125 pounds. In answer to the
question if he still felt confident that
he would yet escape the gallows, he
replied:
My chances now look pretty slim,
and I am the victim Of Caucasian
prejudice. I ought not to be hanged,
for at the time of the trouble I was in
my barber shop when Mr. Scurry
came in to collect delinquent taxes,
under an execution issued by Magis-
trate Hucks. Scarry told me that if
| did not pay taxes that he would ar
rest me and told him that he could
not arrest me without a warrant.
''He grabbed me in the collar and
threw a pistol in my face and told me
that he would show me. 1caught the
pistol with both hands and turned it
to one side to keep him from shooting
me and I then wrenched the pistol
from his hands and shot him. several
times. l left the shop and ran up the
street, but was caught by Il policeman
and put in jail where have been ever
since. I was not responsible for any
thing else that happened. My attor-
ney Mr.. Mite. ella Charleston negro
lawyer-has written me saying that a
petition to the governor is circulated
asking him to commute my sentence
to life imprisonment -
This is about the substance Of his
story. Noticing that he kept his hat
pulled down over his eyes, he was
asked to take it off, but he drew him
self up and said: No sir, won't do
that" The sheriff, VINO was standing
near, was appealed to and he ordered
the negro to take off his hat. He
made the same reply to him, but in
stantly it was snatched from his head
and in the top was pasted a small
mirror, in which, perhaps, be often
admired himself, for the bump of self
esteem is very prominent on his era
mum.
Johh Brownfeld killed j. c. Scurry
on Sept. 30. 1900, and was placed in
jail the same afternoon. The next
night a race riot at the Jail was avert
ed only by the cool, decisive action of
the white citizens. The local military
companies were called cut and the
governor appealed to for more troops.
One company from Sumter and two
from Charleston were sent here, for
which the legislature at it's next ses-
sion had to appropriate about $1,000.
The ringleaderS were arrested and
heavily fined, one Of them serving
sentence Of one year in the peniten-
tiary. In November of the same year
Brownfeld was tried before Judge
Gary and sentenced to be hanged the
next month, Dec. 277. His negro at
torneys appealed to the State supreme
court, who several months afterwards
confirmed the verdict of the circuit
court. While the case was pending in
the supreme court, little more than
two years ago, Browntield burrowed a
hole through the brick wall OF the jail
with the foot Of stove and made bis
escape, but was recaptured within an
hour. AS soon as be learned that the
State supreme court had decided
against him he attempted to end his
miserable existence by taking an over
dose Of laudanum, but prompt medi-
cal aid saved his life.
His attorneys carried the appeal TIC
the United States supreme court on
the plea that there were no negroes on
the jury which convicted him, but
this court, within the last month, de-
cided against him. Every one thought
that Brownfeld would be resentencec
by Judge Gage at the court OF genera.
sessions which adjourned at George
town last Saturday, but it seems that
the United States supreme court. ur-
der the law, has 80 days within which
to return to the State the papers II
the case from which they emlnate
and the allotted time will not expire
until tomorrow Hence the negro has
IL new lease on life until jane 18th
when Judge Gary, who original.
heard the case, will probably resen
tence him to be hanged.
Monday week ago Brownheld swal
lowed a large quantity CT paris greer
in another attempt at suicide, but be,
came frightened and sent for thu
sheriff and a physician, who agair
saved his life. When asked why he
made the attempt he replied: Any
kind of death is preferable to the dis