The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-27
URIAL OF ALLEN PENDLETON
Supervisors Report, and Correspon.
dence.

dence.
Abbevil!e, 8. c., Sept. 25, 1905.
Hon. R. A. Cooper. Laurens, s. c.
IincIose herein my report as to the buria
OF A lien Pendleton. In Justice to the peopl
OF Aboeville County, and in view Of the gros
misrepresentatlopst that have appeared In tn
newspapers, wou d be glad II you woult
have published the com municalion inc'oaet
herein, together with Mr.. Shannon's letter
and the aftidavits Of Calvert. Seawright ant
Dodson:
Yours very truly,
q. N. Nickles.
Abbevile. s. c., Sept. Is, 1905.
R: A. Cooper, Laurens, 8. C.,
Both OF your letters of recent date as L
the burial OF Allen Pendleton were duly re
ceived. I'm mmediately upon receipt OF you
first letter, | had interview over the tele
phone with Mr.. Shannon at Don maids as Il
ihe burial Of Pendleto telling him what you
had said concerning the same and asked him
to have Mr.. g. w. Calvert Foreman OF Chain
gang. who wes at work near where the body
was buried 10 proceed at once TO the grave
have the body taken up, placed In cheaE
coffin and rebuIted in some negro burial
ground. Mr.. Shannon denied emphatically
the allegations set out In your letter, and said
among other things that he had given the ne.
gro the best burial possible under the circum.
stances, that be would deliver my message To
Mr.. Calvert. but that he thought II useless
Shortly after having the conversa ion over
Shannon giving full account OF what he had
done. In the mean time got Mr.. Calvert 10
the phone aud delivered my Instructions 10
him and ASK ed him To take with him TO the
grave Two good citizens and have them to
make affidavits as TO the manner in which
the body was buried. I was satisfied after an
interview with MIR. SnAnnon that be had
done all he could and all that was necessary
fhnf hn In w h ioh
Pendleton's g body WAS buried would not re.
fleet ON Abbeville County, nor an intelligent
com mupity, but wishing 10 carry out you,
Instructions and 10 be sure that the body was
given humane and decent burial, | instruct
ed Mr.. Calvert as stated above. Inclosed
herein you will find ahidavits made by g.
w. Calvert, ]. w. Dodson and V. G. Seawright
which think Is a complete vindication OF
MIR, Shannon and his assistants, that he did
the best that could be done under the circum.
stances, and that the newspapers have gross
ly misrepresented the whole affair.
The statement that Mr.. Shannon has been
paid S25 for his services In this matter Ia
wholly without foundation no demand what
ever has been made upon me for compensa-
iion for services In this matter. and no
amount will be paid except upon presentation
ed. l understand that Mr.. Shannon paid out
about p 50 To those who assisted him. and
this account will no doubt be presented
later. These are the facts us have been able
TO ascertain t0em.
Yours very truly.
State of South Carolina,
County of Abbevllle.
DOpalds, SC.
S"ptember2l, 1905.
Capt. 6. n. Nickles,
AbbeVille, s. Z.
NV dear sir In answer 10 your phone, l
beg to say that was al the burial OF Allen
Pepdleton and gave 1t my personal supervis-
ion, The hudy was buried at least three and
one half feet deep. Decomposition had al
ready set in, realizing the necessity OF bury
ing the body at once. not having coffin nor
any means by which I could make q box In
which to pace the body. did the very best
the body by placing plank under around and
over IT. aud placing 1t In grave about three
and one hnlf feet deep. Thi was absolutely
the best could do with the time at my dis
posal aud the implements at hand. The
crowd had left, l did my best as others did
to hire negroes 10 bury Pendletou's body,
but they would not touch him for love nor
money. ! also tried to hire q wagon and
team 10 take the body 10 some graveyard
leave the body on the roadside another n ght
decomposition had set In, and bis bowels
being perforated with 2unshot wounds, made
II most unpleasant task TO stay about the
body. Every time the body was moved the
contents OF the bowels was forced out OF the
wounds and the stencil was simply unheara-
BILE. The only good that could be done by tax.
ing the body up would be 10 place II In cof
fin, as to dress, wash or even remove 1t will
be impossible owing to its state OF decompo-
sition, besides. do not think " Will be al.