Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-08-22
He PLEAD IN Vain
Governor Heyward's FruitIess
Effort to Stop Lynching
NEGRO RApIST SHOT TO PIECES
In Broad Daylight and Almost Within
Sight of the Chief Executive of
South Carolina, BeB Davis, Who
Assaulted and Nearly Killed Green
wood Girl is Literally Riadled With
Bullets:

Columbia; S. &; special:-Within
the shadow of the home Of his victim,
Miss Jennie Brooks, afte: having been
identified by her, and after Governor
D. C. Hayward; who went to the
scene If the tf0ublg lad addressed
the mob IN vain; Bob Davis, the negro
who OIL Monday inurderously attacked
Miss Brooks with intent to commit
assault and who afterwards outraged
negro girl IA years old, was lynched
about 7.3O 'clock Friday evening.
Governor Hayward reached the
scene shortly :fter the negro had
been captured. A platform was erect
ed in fence corner o.. the premises
of the victims father from which
Governor HeyWard addl assed the mob
an effort to prevent the lynching.
The Governor beseeched the mob not
to lynch Davis, but III vain. At the
conclusion of his speech the Governor
was vociferously cheered: The mob
nen removed the prisoner from the
| view Of the Governor and within a
| short distance of the home of his vic
tim the negro was riddled with bull
lets. 1t is impossible to estimate the
crowd, as the citizens from several
counties had gthcred at the scene and
for two days had been in pursuit of
The fend. but it is certain that hun
dreds Of bullets were sent through
his body.
The militia in that section Of the
State is now encamped at Chicka-
mauga and there were no nearby
troops to be called upon. The Gov
ernor's Guards and the Richland Vol
unteers of this city had been ordered
to hold themselves in readiness in the
event their services were needed,
but the mob was determined and it is
doubtful if the presence of soldiers
could have prevented the lynching.
Mob Furnished Platform.
The mob erected a platform near
the home of Miss Brooks for the Gov
ernor to address them. He pleaded
with the mob not to stain the fair
name Of Greenwood county and the
State Of South Carol ina His ordsi
were eheered ltlstl when Re
|shad finished the mob TOO oks their pris-
soner a few hundred yards away and
shot; him to death. Governor Hey
ward viewed the horrible spectacle
from a distance.
The negro was. captured in a creek.
tied hand and foot and brought to
the home Of his victim. for identifi-
cation. When they arrived at the gate
Of the Brooks home a great crowd
gathered there. "Lets wash his face,
boys, before we take hlm to the
house," said some one, but the crowd
was too impatient. Four men were
delegated to escort him to the house.
The young lady was lying on her bed
with deep cash in her throat, turned
her eyes toward the negro as he stood
there between his captors, his hands
tightly bound with a rope, his jet
black face all in a blaze, his blear
eyes rolling from right to left.
s'That's the scroundrel," she said.
''I know him by his eyes,. -
Governors Appeal.
The negro was removed outside the
house, where the platform had been
erected for the Governor. "Hear the
Governor" said some one, and he be-
gan in his clear voice a most impas-
stoned appeal, ~ know" he said
"that nothing could take place that
could keep you from hearing the
Governor Of South Carolina" The
crowd cheered Justify and clapped
their hands in admiration. sI come
here alone" he continued, "not
bringing any troops; only two news
paper men came with me, and they as
we'll as I are South Carolinians, just
as you are, with like feelings. You
are my friends. Here 1 am not alone
as your Governor, but as your friend.
"But it is my dirty to enforce the
laws of Snutb Coro,,no non,+ .boor