The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-11-10
CONVICTED MURDERER AT LIBERTY.


Extraordinary Case of r. A. Adams in Colleton
County-He is Said to be at Home.
There has never been in South Caro-
lima more extraordinary case than that
of Adams, the Colleton man who after
being convicted of murder escaped Jail
and has never been recaptured, although |
he has never left the county. And not
the least remarkable part of the story is
that the sheriff responsible for this lasco
was renominated in the recent Democrat
ic primary over six or eight competitors.
The Colleton News in its last issue gives
the following, editorially, in reference to
the case under the headlines, "Where is
Adams?"
Gall Colletonians remember the trial
and conviction of R. A. Adams. All re-
member that the death sentence was pass
ed and that Adams was remanded to jail
to await execution. 1t is still fresh in
our minds how Colleton county congrat-
ulated itself upon the excellence of its
courts and upon its inevitable and speedy
execution of justice. We have not yet
forgotten the shock the county expert
enced when the news went out that Ad-
ans, the murderer, had mysteriously
spirited himself between the iron bars of
the Jail and had gone back to the swamps
and forest glades of his childhood. We
remember how, even then, the people
trusted, how they kept faith in their Of
fcers of justice and calmly, Loyalty, pa
tiently, waited for justice to be done.
"Rumors went out that Adams was at
home, that this outlaw was quietly work
ing on his farm. Again and again these
reports were confirmed. 1t is said that
Adams had been seen shooting birds,
fighting his brothers, and in various other
peaceable (?) ways was amusing himself,
with all the recklessness of Dick Turpin
or Robin Hood.
Even then, though the law had been
defed, though the gauntlet of highway
man had been hurled in the face of our
courts, though our county has been dis.
graced and our citizens dishonored, yet
the law-loving Colletonians waited and
trusted, and generous hearts quelled sus.
picion against the high and mighty
"Since then rumors have multiplied,
facts have come to light. 1t is now no
longer a question to be debated, but a
fact that can't be denied. Adams is still
in. our county. Adams, the murderer, is
within few miles of our Jail.
what is wrong? Who is to blame?
Where does the fault lie? It is not with
the court-Adams was tried. Not with
the jury-Adams was convicted. Where
is it? Why is the sentence of the law not
executed?
pMinisters preach against lynching;
editors denounce lawlessness; good men
would purify the masses. For heav-
ems sake, first let US purify our system of
Justice. Let the law take its course; let
the penalty follow in the footsteps OF the
crime, and lawlessness will cease and
lynchings will no longer stain the escutch-
con of our State.
1T is time that Colleton should wake up.
It is time for its officers to throw off their
lethargy; it is time. high time, that JUS
tice be done.
1--WE do not lay the blame at anybody's
door. We do not say to anyone, Thou
art the man. But we do say that if our
executive officers cannot perform a duty
which the law requires, then let them step
down and out and let men with grit and
nerve step in and execute the laws.
"When condemned criminals are allow
ed to remain at large and defy the State,
then premium is placed on crime; then
our good citizens will be murdered, our
women will be in danger, lynchings will
continue, political chaos will take the
place of law and order and the pur-
poses of justice will be defeated,
lit is now up to Colleton to either burn
up its law books, erase its statutes
and tear down its court house, or to rise
up and demand of her officers that her
criminals be apprehended, that her SEN
tences be enforced and that her laws be
executed"
The annual report of the clerk OF court
of Richland county shows that out OF 81
convictions only were white.
William Woodsome, negro, has been
arrested at Roanoke, Va, for the murder
of Thomas Lenore at Newberry.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
O...., .il,, Hoodur%od ExetIrSion World's Fair