Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-08-15
JUDGE LONG SEVERE.
Condemns Lynching in Strong
Language
HE CALLS THEM "GUT.THoATS"
Judge Long Scores the Lynchers,
Characterizihg the Mob as Band
Of Cut-Throats and MrrdererB Ad-
monishes the Grand Jury to Do It's
Full Duty.

Long and Solicitor Hammer have done
all in their power to bring the leaders
If the mob that lynched the three ne
groes on Monday night to justice.
Four arrests have been made. Judge
Long was very severe in his denunci-
alton Of the crime. In his charge to
the grand jury he said, among other
things:
"Gentlemcn il has been said that
In the carly hours OF the night, there
was an unlawful assembly over
there" pointing 10 the Jail, "and that
the court and others went and tried
to dissuade the members Of it from
further crime and to disperse them.
His Position Misunderstood.
"But there has been miseoncep-
tion Of my position then. Not while
{ am a judge will I ever go and beg
a criminal not to do an unlawful act.
But [ did as a judicial officer go to
that Jail and warn th"t mob and tell
them that they and their people
would suffer for their deed, not
through me, but through the law, and
Z
[ told them to disperse. They made
as if 10 disperse, but this was only
for the purpose Of reinforcement.
And. even after that Jail yard had
been lighted with electricity. so that
it was almost as bright as day,
band Of ruliians, lawles men, warned
as they had been by my charge TO You
on Monday morning and evening and
my words to themselves at the jail
overpowcred the officers and took
three prisoners i'll the jail-these
very brave men!-and carried them
over here near The town Of Salisbury
after they had put out the lights,
thereby disclosing the fact that they
hanged and shot and mutilated
these prisoners. It-is reported that a
near kinsman of the people whose
lives had been taken pleaded with
the mob to let the investigation go
on.
"If Immediately after the Lyerly
murder had been committed mob
had lynched the murdercrs, some al
lowancc must hove been made fol
the passions Of The moment and The
Judgment Of the country would moi
nave been harsh. But no such al
lowancc can be made in This case.
A Band of Cut-Throats.
''iIhis was. hand of cut-tllroats
and murderers. There is no escaping
this: that The men who did that deed
are guilty of murder i'll the first de-
gree; that every man who aided and
abctted that mob, by his presence,
his acts or. his words is guilty of
murder in lhe first degree. And YOU
men have sworn to do your dniy."
He asked The clerk 10 read to The
jury the oatl. it had taken. When
tic reading was finished, the judge
resumed:
"Thc question is whether You will
hew TO the line re any Of you know
any man who assisted in that lynch.
Ing. by word or act, il is your duty
10 report him 10 the court. and il the
solicitor furnishes you with evidence
as to who composed that mob. it is
your duty to find bills against them.
"This, gentleman, is an extraordi-
nary lynching. Ordinarily when a
lynching occurs it is Immediately
after the act which provoles it OF
before The court convenes to try the
charge. But ltere in defiance of the
cpua't and Of the authority with
which the law clothes You and the
other officers here, these mon have
broken into the Jail and murdered
these prisoners, right under the nose
Of the court, the caves Of this court
honse; so that the question has gone
forth to ihe ends of tic earth wheth.
er or not our laws can be enforced
by the court or must be enforced by
the mob.
"Are YOU for the mob, or for the
court7 Take your stand gentlemen.
"If You sift this things 10 The bot
tom, as / demand of you, you ,Nill find
that the men who participated in this
mob and led it are not mcn of good
reputation or Of any standing IL Row.
all comfy, bur men who ought to be
behind The bars. | bring You tacc to
face with your duty, gentlemen. ]
am going to do mine, before God and
man without far m, {o,,or ;,