The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-03-14
Expected Clash Avcrted
By Troops
At THE inquest
Militi men Cv.rawed Gang Which
Had Vowed To Avenge The Death
OF John Marion Ashley.--No Fur
ther Trouble Is Expected, Troops
Gone Home---The Testimony
(Ry AlrDuvId fiOrtOn.)

U3y MrDnvid Ilorton.)
Honeu Path. March 9.-{Speclnl.)-
This pretty, prosperous town, which
ACQUIRED unwelcome notoriety last fall
when the negro. Allen Pendleton, was
lynched after shooting one Of the Ash
ley clan, was thrust into the Emellgnt
again by the affrny Of Thursday af-
ternoon.
itSmouldering fires Of passion fiared
ffigh following the killing Of John
Marion Ashley, wac was believed to
have been the chief instigator an'l
mover in the Pendleton lynching AMI
was Josh Ashley's lieutenant in COM
mand Of the Ashley clan; an attempt
by the clansmen to find and lynch
Chief OF Police White for slaying their
klnsman roused the people OF Honea
Path, and only the timely arrival Of
thirty-nine militiumen from Anderson
with loaded Krag-Jorgensens averted
q bloody riot.
BLOODY RIOT AVERTED.
Capt. McCully was ordc" by tele-
graph to put his company at the SER
vice of Sheriff N. r. Green. Within
thirty minutes he had his men aboard
special train, which made the dis
tance OF seventeen miles to HGnca
Path in a little over twenty minutes.
Capt. McCully formed his men In
single rank at the depot and gave the
command. "Load!" Sight Of the long.
us-looking cartridges clicking into
the ma magazines-slx steel-jacketed bull
I,sfn fo1f
and considerably tanned the hostile air
OF the crowd, principally composed OF
Ashleys and Ashley sympathizers.
The soldiers had come at the critical
period. The situation was tense and
delicate in the extreme. The disturb
ing element, growing valorous with
liquor and numbers, was getting reck-
less: the townsfolk were exasperated
and incensed beyond endurance. and
had about made up their minds to
clear their streets by force Of arms
Both sides were we'll equipped with
weapons saw more Winchesters at
Honea Path today thnn I ever saw
at ono time before.
Capt. McCully, Lieutenant Craig and
Lieutenant Farmer marched the COM
. pany To the store where Chief Of Po-
:, lice White. kept concealed by his
friends, was in imminent danger OF
lynching by the mob gathered In
front. In column Of fours the militia
men walked straight through the
crowd and went on guard. Patrols
were posted up and down tne street
and Officer White brought out and
sent down III inc railway station iii
the middle Of squad of khaki-clai
young soldiers. He was placed on the
engine which had drawn the special
train, and carried for snfekeeptng to
anderson. In charge OF a deputy shsr-
if.
SOLDIERS GONE Rack.
Sheriff Green took command. and
with his influence and the moral effect
OF the business-like soldiers slowly pa
trolling the town, things began to re-
sume normal status, At $50 o'c'ock
this. morning the troops were taken
Oft the streets. but have been KEEP,
under arms In q hall on Main straet
all day. It was decided this after
noon that It would be safe to dispense
with them. and. they left Tor Ander-
son at ! O'Clock. -. ..
THE INQUEST.
Trouble was expected at the inquest
IT 1t failed to materlallze. Ashieys
began to :.ather from all directions be-
Ashley was in the midst OF them, and
was obeyed as serfs Of feudal days
obeyed their overload. He personally
retained for the prosecution Mr.. w.
P. Green. OF the Abbeville bar, and
busted himself In securing the nameS
of witnesses. He made an effort 20
secure the services OF Capt. H. H.
Watkins. OF Anderson. but Capt. Wat
!, kins had already been engaged by the
!. defense.
] The inquest was held in the small
1, building known as the mayors office.
!; Coroner Pruitt was assisted by Magis-
{ trate Wilson. First the. jury went to
!; view the body, which was laid out
in d little room over the C!tisen.s
]; Bank, so small that only the coroner.
Z: the jury, the physicians and attorneys
v and the newspaper men were admitted.
r. MARION AZ, :ILnY, VIKING. :
.8 s8t Jonn Marion Aahley--and down here
g they say Ma-re-on--was a ,modernfzed
Morse Viking fs appearance. Six feet
'Asptn height, massive, athletic, he had
Ssh square Jaw and pcotruding chin,
the forid complexion, sweeping,
Ssyellow moustache and straw colored
hair characteristic OF the family. ;. :,
|Sx Between his eyes was the bulge sig-
sIniilcant OF dangerous. temper, while
n his chin was long and eloquent! of