The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-09
AARON WILLIAMS FREE.
Kershaw Negro Once Convicted is
Now Discharged-Woman Re-
fused to Testify.

Camden, August 3.-IaSt year the
county, especially the portion Of Ker-
shaw county bordering Sumter coun-
ty, was thrown into great excitement
on account Of a reported case OF
rape, which was said to have been
committed upon a Mrs. Langley,
white. by one Aaron Williams, a ne
gro, of the pure African type. Very
peculiar circumstances surrounded
the case The citizens became indig-
nant and threatened lynching, ana
Aaron Williams under protection of
law was escorted to the penitentiary
for safe keeping. The husband Of
Mrs. Langley committed suicide.
Aaron Williams at the February
term of court was brought back here
and placed on trial for the offense.
He was without counsel, and by ap-
pointment of the court, Hon. W. B.
Trantham, of this bar, conducted his
defense. The jury convicted him
upon the testimony of Mrs.
Langley, and he was SEN
fenced to be hanged. From the tes-
timony developed in the case and the
circumstances connected with the af-
fair, many of the very. best white peo-
pie Of the county believed in the in
noeence Of Aaron Williams, and a pc
tition was gotten up and submitted to
Gov. Hayward asking for a reprieve
until satisfactory proof could be pro-
cured. which would establish the fact
that Aaron Williams was not guilty Of
the charge.
Aaron Williams was without money,
but he was not without friends and
their efforts in his behalf succeeded in
having the execution of the death SEN
tence stayed, and the case came up
before Judge Prince at the April term
of court at this point for new trial
on after discovered evidence. Judge
Prince from the showing made very
promptly granted Aaron new trial,
and his case was placed on the docket
for trial last week. When the case
was called for trial the witnesses for
the prosecution were not present,
Mrs. Langley, it is claimed, having alb
solutely refused to appear any more
in court to testify against him. She
now resides outside Of the State. 1t
was impossible to secure conviction
in the case without the testimony of
Mrs. Langley, and as she is now be-
yond the Jurisdiction Of the court, and
could not be brought here against her
will, and she having sent word that
she would not come, it has resulted
practically in the acquittal Of Aaron
Williams, for he has been discharged
without bond from the custody of the
sheriff. He is now free man to go
wheresoever he may desire.
After AaSon's conviction, the white
people of this community who be-
lieved in his innocence had the law
firm of Clark & Won Tresckow to look
after the accused negro's interests.
When the case was called for trial
on the sessions side of court last week
Messrs. Clark & Won Tresckow de-
manded a trial for their client, and
the State not being in position to try
it because of the absence and refusal
Of Mrs. Langley to come here, the at
torneys had spread uponn the minutes
of court their demand for immediate
trial and this under the statute en-
titled Williams either to trial or his
| discharge, as he has been confined in
Jail over three terms of court.
Judge Ernest Gary this afternoon
signed an order which Hberates Aaron
Williams from Jail on his own rec
|
ogniZance under the section Of the
statutes above referred to.
This ends the case which created so
much discussion at the time in the
newspapers, and the man who has
been living in the shadow Of the gal
| lows for nearly a year is now free
This case is one Of the best exempli-
fication and justification of the moral
plea Of letting the law take its course
that has ever come under the obser-
vatior, knowledge or information of
your correspondent. AT the time OF
the alleged commission of the assault
Aaron Williams came very near be-
ing the victim of mob, and a few
weeks later he stood up in court
pleaded for mercy and heard the
death sentence pronounced upon him