The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-28
negro FOUND DEAD
WITH HIS HANDS TIED.
Quiet Lynching in Greenwood
County. Had Attempted AS
sault in Laureas County.
Special to TIE State.

Special to Tie State.
Greenwood, Sept. 24.-James Cal
vert Stuart, a negro about p years
old, was lynched by Laorens county
citizens shortly after midnight last
night after being brought just across
the river into Greenwood county.
The crime for which Stuart was
lynched was the usual one, in attempt
ing a criminal assault upon the a.
year-old daughter of. Mr.. Doc Hughes,
a we'll known white farmer who lives
in the Cork" between Saluda and
Reedy rivers.
n The first news of the lynching was
brought here this morning by gen.
tleman who was making the trip from
Greenville to Greenwood by private
conveyance through the country. He
reported that just after crossing
Smiths bridge over Saluda river he
came upon the dead body of negro
lying on the side of the road. The
negro's hands were tied behind his
back and be was lying with bis face
uptu1ned and with his knees bent un-
der him, a position indicating to the
gentleman that he bad been shot while
in a kneeling posture. When the body
was examined at the coroner's inquest
it was found that only one bullet
wound had been inflicted upon the ne
gro. This was a pistol ball which en-
tered the body under the left arm.
The body was turned over to the
negro's father.
From reliable reports it appears that
the dead negro James Stuart, had
been living with Mr.. Hughes about
two years, his release from the Lau-
rens county changing having been
secured by Mr.. Hughes; the negro
had ever since been making his home
On his place.
Friday afternoon, the negro, in
company with another negro, was
picking cotton near the house, Mr..
Hughes left home to 90 to the ginnery
of Mr. Robert Anderson, not very far
away. While be was away Mrs.
Hughes also left home to visit a sick
neighbor. This left their two daugh-
tiers alone. They, too, were picking
cotton very close to the house. The
negro who attempted the assault knew
that they were alone and going up to
the yard he entered the cotton house
and there secreted himself When
the younger girl entered the house to
empty her sack of cotton the brute
grabbed her and threw her down.
She struggled up and he again threw
her down.
While struggling the girl had
screamed at the top of her voice and
this brought her sister to the rescue.
Her appearance made the negro
desist and he left the younger girl
alone without accomplishing his pur-
pose. He left tbs house going towards
the field where he was at work.
Before going he told both girls II they
told what be had done he would kill
them. AS soon as their parents arriv-
ed the girls told the story. Two young
kinsmen who were there went to the
field where the negro was at work.
He was picking cotton right along as
iSnothing had been done and his sus-
picions were allayed by the indiffer-
ent manner of the two young men.
They did not appear with guns. as
they knew that he would run. They
rode on the wagon Of cotton with him
uut1l lN0 "dSUu CdmC 4Heo elio y oAN
and as the negro jumped out on the
ground he was grabbed. He admitted
his guilt and said he did not know
why he did it. He said be knew the
penalty was death.
1t was reported here today that
there were about 80 men cf the COM
mu1ity present and some were for
carrying him to Laureus to be put in
jail but majority were for lyncbing
him. This was decided on after mid
night and he was carried to Smiths
bridge over the Saluda river and after
going about a mile into Greenwood
county the fatal shot was fired.
Greenwood's coroner went up after
being notified and held the inquest, as
the 5oGy was on Greenwood county
SOIL
The sheriff of Laurens county was
there. He had been notified that a
lynching was imminent aud had come
as soon as possible, he said. Finding
that the negro had been carried Just
across the river. be thcaght he would
cross over and see him.