The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-10-27
Solicitor SPEAKS PLAINLY
Asked Many Pertinent Questions ct
Prominent People-Even Preachers
Figurativeiy Say Amen

sixth circuit, last week submitted TO
Gov. Hayward report on the Ker-
shaw lynching. Mr.. Henry is very
Outspoken in his condemnation of the
double killing and calls attention to
a state Of affairs in kershaw which
he says makes it almost impossible
Tcr the State to get any evidence.
In view OF the attention which has
been attracted to the case as well
as to the strong statements in the
letter itself. Mr.. Henry's official COM
mrnication to the Governor will be
very interesting reading:
Chester. s. c., Oct. l2, 1904.
Gov. D. G. Hayward,
Columbia, S. c.
Sir: In obedience to your request
arrived at Kershaw, S. c., at noon
on Monday, October 3. to investigate
the lynching of John T. Morrison for
the killing Of William Floyd on tho
Saturday previous. After comforting
with the sheriff Of Lancaster, John p.
Hunter, Esq. who had preceded me
that morning. conferred with and
interviewed the mayor, some of the
aldermen, the town marshal. several
of the citizens, the wife and son OF
Morrison and two Of Morrison's neigh
bors. From these I learned that the
attitude Of the entire town and sur.
rounding country was, by hand or
heart, His blood be upon US and our
children" Not a single man among
them but what deplored lynching and
excused this one, ''if one was ever
excusable." Everyone with whom I
:oorversed seemed to labor to impress
me with the fact that this was the
most orderly. quiet and sober lynching
that ever occurred-a real pious
lynching, with the preachers In the
background, almost audibly saying
amen" did not get to see any OF
the local preachers; but several spoke
to me after leaving Kershaw, on the
sub ect of this lynching. and to my
entire establishment. they voiced the
sentiment, IF there ever was an ex.
cusable lynching this was it." Where
are we going to end up-these horrl-
BILE midnight murders by lynch law
on all hands and public sentiment
fast heading the same way? A sense
OF paralysis came upon me with the
darkness Of Monday night
On Tuesday morning | called a
special meeting OF the town council.
Every member, with the town mar
shall, met us (Sheriff Hunter and n.y.
self in a special meeting. l explain.
ed that the Governor had sent me to
investigate the lynching; they were
sworn officers, like myself; l wanted
their help; Morrison had been taken
from their custody: they were some
what responsible or this account; /
wanted them to deal with me in a
perfectly honest and straightforward
manner: | would try to do the same
with them: there was no use in my
wasting effcrt if they were in SYM
pathy with the lynching or would OBJ
struct or refuse TO help me in the
investigation. My appeal for help
was in the interest Of law, and the
name of the State and cur Maker.
After this l asked each and every
one Of them the following questions:
l. Are you in sympathy with. the
iynching?
2. Will you help the States officers
in ferreting cut and bringing to trial
these lynchers, honestly?
8. Was this lvnchiIg done by town
forks or from the surrounding coun
try?
To 'hese three questions have yer
be tim answers on file. Two aldermen
answered that they were Indifferent to
the lyaching and would net help to
ferret cut tie lynchers. The mayor
and one alderman answered that they
were not in sympathy with the lynch
ing and would help the State officers,
provided it did not interfere with
their business (both of these had
much pusiness.) One alderman had
done all he could to prevent the
lvnching end would do nothing more.
The clerk was in sympathy with the
iynchers and would net help to ferret
II out and would cover up, evidence II
he knew Of any.
The town marshal was net in SYM
pathv with the lynching. did all he
could to prevent it and would help all
he could to ferret it out, but he was
busy collecting taxes.
AS to the third question, the opinion
Ol IuISS VI tIooS piS1S.AS "eS SA~S ~1A~
lynching was done by country people.
and Of four that the crowd that did
1t was mixed; but bv four that the
country people predominated, because
nobody could be missed from the
town after Morrison was taken from
the guard mouse. This last IS the
opinion Of the great majority Of the
townspaople to whom talked. After
interviewing the town officers, l re-
Quested the town marshal to go to ev'
cry business place and announce that
I would remain at the council cham-
Der until p. m, (taking 80 minutes
for dinner) and wanted to confer with
any one who would give me any as.
sistance. I urged the marshal not
to pass by O single man. If possible.
AS a result six persons called on me.
one Of them a member Of the inquest
jury on the lynching Of Morrison.
This member Of that jury had taken
a hand in a lynching bee to the ex-
tent of voting to hang the culprit;
hut this was for the usual(?) crime.
OF all six none knew anything except