The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-04-15
The Remarkable Case Of George
town Negro Murderer.
BRowNFIELD, A BLACK BARBER
Has Been Saved for Three Years
from the GaIlows, Attempted
Suicide Recently, But
Courage Failed.


John Browniield, the negro barber who
killed j. G. Scurry, 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. 81, 1900.
The case has excited widespread in
tercSt 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
his execution. Sheriff McKeithen of
that county readily aSSented to ALLOW
the prisoner to be seen i'm his cel.
The changing of the massive iron
doors as the bolts were thrown back
aroused the priOner from his dt in
his cell where he had been quetlt lcon-
vcrSing with his fellow prilSners
through the bars. He Immediately
put on his hat and stood in the open
door, apparently ready to meet any
fate that might bcfall him. Thenegro
is about % years old, tall erect and
his long confinement of nearly 81
months has reduced his weight to
about l2J pounds. In answer to the
question ii he still felt confident that
he would yet escape the gallOws, he
replied:
My chances now look pretty Slim
and | am the victim of Caucasian
prejudice. l ought not to be hanged
for at the time of the trouble was in
my barber shop when Mr.. Scurry
came i'll to collect delinquent taxes,
under an execution issued by MagiS-
trate Hucks. ScIrry told me that if
| did not pay taxes that he would ar
rest me and L told him that he could
not arrest me without a warrant.
He grabbed me in the collar and
threw pistol in my face and told me
that he would show me. Icaught the
pistol with both hands Ind tIrr.c >it
iseci p mini NON |I3ficocfi
me and | then wrenched the pistol
from his hands and shot him several
times. left the shop and ran up the
street, but was caught by policeman
and put in Jail where / have been ever
since. L 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: mo sir, | won't do
that The sheritf, who 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 1T was Snatched from his head
ana IN the top was pasted a small
mirror, in which, perhaps, he often
admired himself, for the bump of self
esteem is very prominent on his era
mum.
Johh Browntield killed j. c. Scurry
on Sept. %. 1900, and was placed i'm
jail the same afternoon. The next
night race riot at the jail was avert
ed only by the cool, decisive action of
the white citizens. The local military
companies were called out and the
governor appealed to for more troops.
one company from Sumter and two
from Charleston were sent here, for
which the legislature at its next ses-
sion had TO appropriate about So, 700.
Ihe ringleaderS were arrested and
heavily tined, one OF them serving a
sentence OF one year in the peniten-
tlary. In November OF the same wear
BrOwntield was tried before Judge
Gary and sentenced to be hanged the
next month, Dec. 27. 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, Brownfield burrowed a
hole through the brick wall OF the iail
with the foot of a stove and made his
escape, but was recaptured within an
hour. As soon as he 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.
'''' 'ANJ'illtto Ndl llCNl IllC appeal 10
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
cidcd against him. Every one thought
that Brownticld would be reScntenced
10y Judge Gage at the court OF general
sessions which adjourned at George
town last Saturday, but it seems that
the United States supreme court. ur-
der the law, has 30 days within which
to return to the State the papers i'm
the case from which they eminate,
and the allotted time will not expire
until tomorrow. Hence the negro has
a new lease on life until June 18th,
when Judge Gary, who originally
heard the case, will probably resen-
tcnce him to be hanged
Monday week ago BrOwniield Swal-
lowed large quantity of paris green
in another attempt at suicide, but be-
came frightened and sent for the
sheriff and physician, who again