Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-30
A WHlTEcAP FOR LIFE.

A WHITEcAP FOR LIFE.
Five Men For SO Years Each and An
other For 25 years.
Judge Wilkinson passed sentenced
on the Lincoln county whitecappers re-
Gently, sending one man to prison Tor
life, five others were given fifty years
each. and another twenty-five years.
Other Offenders were given lighter
punishment.
This action is the most drastic ever
applied In this section In the punish
ment Of race rioters, and has created
CONSERVATION among the whites ac-
cused Of harassing negroes. Judge
wilkerson says he proposes to put an
end to the reign Of terror In this state
Those convicted are members Of the
Farmers League. The following were
sentenced: /.
Oscar Franklin, life imprisonment for
the murder of Eli Wilson, negro.
William Franklin, fifty years In
prison for manslaughter, for killing
Henry List. a negro.
Elbert Gill, fifty years in prison for
killing Henry List, q negro.
John McNulty, negro. convicted Of
murder: life sentence.
David Posey, found guilty Of killing
Ben Bayless, a negro. twenty-five
years in prison.
Sam Posey, ten years for highway
robbery and FIVE years each on two
whitecapping charges-a total OF
twenty years In prison.
D. w. Smith, fifty years In prison
for manslaughter in killing Henry
List, a negro.
Elias Smith, fifty years In prison for
killing Henry List, a negro.
R. L. Smith, fifty years In prison for
killing Henry List, a negro.
John Smith, negro, convicted Of
murder; life sentence.
j. A. P. Troy, negro. convicted Of
burglary, one year in prison.
Starts a Reign Of Terror.
The Farmers League" some months
ago inaugurated reign Of terror
throughout the country. Negro homes
were burned, many negroes were kill
ed or wounded or whipped. Notices
were posted In many places through
out the county warning the negroes to
leave.
Judge M. A. Wilkinson ordered a
grand jury to take up the case, and
as result the grand jury at the pres
ent term, Of court returned sixty-two
true bills of indictment. Seven OF these
were for murder. twenty-one for other
felonies, and the rest for various other
forms Of misdemeanor. Three hun
dred men were accused Of conspiracy.
Whiteapping Must Stop.
In announcing to the three hundred
men accused of conspiracy that they
would not have to stand trial. Judge
Wilkinson said:
"As a representative Of the law, and
not with any intent to threaten, nor
with any braggadocio. but as a fact,
I say to you who have been concerned
in this thing that you have got to quit.
Not Will you quit" Please quit but
you have got to quit!' This experience
is just little chastisement as you
would correct refractory child with
a straw, but the next time we are go
ing tc bust the hide'-you will get the
full penalty Of the law, even IL 1t takes
every man in Lincoln county and
makes every woman widow. The
law must be enforced; it's your law.
Here are two boys, who, out Of the
goodness OF heart Of the people who
have stood cheek by jowl and shoulder
to shoulder with the court in ferreting
out crime, are to be given their lib
erty. Over there are seven boys who
are going to the penitentiary for one
of the foulest crimes that ever black
ened the name Of your county.
Calls For Backbone.
How do you know whose would be
the next house to be shot into II some
people had not organized to put down
lawlessness? Instead OF telling lies
about them, you ought to sing the
praise of the men of Brookhaven who
had backbone enough and gift enough
to organize for the purpose. You
ought to thank the witnesses for tes-
tifying before the grand jury, who
have sought to be better to you than
you have to yourselves. II asked to
Join anything investigate 1t first. II
not satisfied, take the matter to your
preacher. your family physician, the
county officers or other good citizens.
ITO you colored people let me say
that you are entitled to the protection
of the law. But don't mistake! This
does not mean anything but that you
must be negroes. Work, pay your
debts, do not be saucy or mpudent
mind your own business, and then you
will merit the respect Of your neigh
bors. Do not get bigoty because we
are sending some white men to the
peitentiary for killing negro.
Lynehers Worse Than Victim.
1.-The bad effect Of this whitecap
business is on the lives Of those who
join. If you should take a negro out
and shoot or hang him; If you should
take a white man out and hang him,
it would not make much difference II
It stopped there. The negro who Is
hung or shot is in a heap better FIX
than the man who does the deed.
Death Is soon over, so far as the NOR
tai part is concerned, but the perpe-