Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-07-27
SOLICITOR MAKES REPORT
Tells the Governor That He Has suAl.
cient Information,

Tells the Governor That He Has suf
cient information,
Saturday evening Governor He.
wards office received the report {
Solicitor Hildebrand on the matter {
tue alleged "lynching" at Eutawvillt
Mr.. Hildebrand mentions no name:
but it is plain from his statement tha
he has Information sufficient to prc
coed upon at the proper time. Ono
again "lynchers" are to be prosecute,
in South Carolina.
| The solicitors report is as follows
Hon. D. G. Hayward, Governor, Col
umbia, S. c.:
Dear. Sir: Pursuant to your tele
graphic order, proceeded to Holly
Hill on last Tuesday and spent the
day there, within seven miles oi
where the lynching Of Kilt Bookhard
took place, and also drove several
miles in the country in order to spend
the night previous to attending the
inquest at Eutawville, which was held
On Wednesday last. had two reas.
ons for proceeding in this manner,
enc Of which was the railroad connec-
tions, and the other and controlling
reason was, a belief that might find
out something of how the tragedy
took place, and at whose hands this
unfortunate man met his death.
On Wednesday 1 proceed to Eutaw
vile and met Magistrate Virgins,
who seems in entirely accord with
yourself and with all of the good peo.
pie, in his efforts to bring to justice
the perpetrators of this fearful crime.
Upon arriving at Eutawville, about
$3.50 a. M, and after consulting with
the magistrate, acting coroner, we
began to take testimony at 9 o'clock,
in the town hall. AS matter of eau
ton had twelve persons sworn in
as special constables to keep the
peace, and included in that number
several colored men. There were a
large number Of colored persons and
white people present. The crowo was
variously estimated, but no estimate
tnat | heard was less than 1000. The
behavior on the part Of the people q,
a whole was entirely satisfactory, or.
derly, and thought, very commenda-
BILE.
The jury of inquest had been pre-.
vlously organized, but answered to
their names upon the call, after some
lelay. Upon the jury of inquest were
Two very respectable looking colored !
men, and the foreman Of the Jury was |
!. Ar::tR: c. Causey, whom L am inform.
ed As the county Demo ocratic chairman
# Berkeley county, and whom I know
most EXCEL lentF citizen: After.
e ,snllas:gtfte mag gistrate charged the-:iury.l
tcss; and then the pro oc1amatto was
made sass required by slaw, afor ell per-
ons here present knowing anything
# the manner in which tie deceased
lad met his death, to come forward
md let their names be known, and let
heir testimony be taken. In re-
,ponse to this proclamation, after
some difficulty, some names were as
and proceeded to take tes-
imony. The testimony has been
published mostly in the newspapers,
.o-wit: The State and the News and
Courier, but of course you must un'
lerstand that that testimony does not
one-tenth Of what was said
,r done; and, indeed, we did not de-
sire that all the testimony should be
reduced to writing or published, be-
cause some of the details were too
horrible to appear in the columns OF
any respectable newspaper. I think
it is hardly necessary that should
rehearse to you the testimony, after
Its publication already stated, al
though the testimony of all the wit
nesses has not been published. will
say here that have the able assist
ance of Messrs. Raysor & Summers,
a law firm of Orangeburg, than whom
know Of no more able counsel, and
we are satisfied; I think the acting
coroner is satisfied, and indeed
think every citizen VINO heard the
testimony is satisfied as to the per-
sonnel of the guilty parties. We think
the perpetrators Of this crime number
ed not exceeding six. All of the wit
nesses who offered their names were
carefully examined and everything
was done that would shed light upon
the transaction, so far as could see.
The coroner's jury seemed to be
composed of lot of conscientious and
upright men, willing to ascertain the
truth, and were willing to make pre-
sentiment as to certain parties, but af-
ter advice and consultation, it was
decided to Lave the finding of the
verdict open until some future day,
upon additional testimony, for the
reason that we want no innocent man
punished and no guilty man to es-
cape. l will say here tt at so far as
I could ascertain, public sentiment IN
no community regards 1t as a most
heinous offense, and one that certainly
ought to be met with the most con-
dign punishment The good people
are outspoken in their denunciation,
and i am sure they will lend my Office
and my associates every possible aid
in ferretting out and bringing to JUS
tice these culprits. Awaiting your
further instructions, I am your obedi-
ent servant,
p. T. HILDEBRAND, Solicitor.
Governor Hayward is out of the
city and no action will be taken on