Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1906-08-23
Governor Heyward's Fruitiess
Effort to Stop Lynching
NEGRO RAPlST SHOT TO PIECES
In Broad Daylight and Almost Within
Sight of the Chief Executive of
South Carolina, Bob Davis, Who
Assaulted and Nearly Killed Green
wood Girl is Literally Riddled With
Bullets.

Columbia. S. c., Spccial.-Within
the shadow Of the home of his victim.
Miss Jehnie Brooks, afte- having been
identified by her, and after Governor
ID. c. Hayward. who went 10 the
scene of the trouble had addressed
the mob in vain, Bob Davis, the negro
who on Monday murderously attacked
Miss Brooks with intent TO commit
assault and who afterwards outraged
negro girl IA years old. was lynched
about I.30 o o'clock Friday evening.
Governor Heyward reached the
scene shortly ;fter the negro had
been captured Il platform was erect
ed Ill a fence corner o. the premises
OF the victim 5 father from which
Governor Hayward addl ,ssed the mob
n an effort to prevent the lynching
The Governor beseeched the mob not
10 lynch Davis. but in vain. AT the
conclusion of his speech the Governor
was vociferously cheered The mob
then 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 gthered at the scene and
for two days had been In pursuit of
the tiend, but it is certain that hum
dreds of bullets were sent through
his body
The militia III that section Of the
State is now encamped at Chicka-
nauga 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 it the presence of soldiers
could have prevented the lynching.
Mob Furnished Platform.
The mob erected 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 Carolina. His words
were cheered Justify and when he
had finished the mob took their pris-
oner a few hundred yards away and
shot HIM to death. Governor Hey
ward viewed the horrible spectacle
from q 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.
Doys, before we take him 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 blaze, his blear
eyes rolling from right to left.
That 5 the scroundrel," she said.
II 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. 81 know" he said
thar 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. '.I come
here alone he continued, "not
bringing any troops; only two news
| paper men came with me. and they as
well as | are South Carolinians, lust
as You are, with like feelings. You
are my friends. Here / am not alone
as your Governor, but as your friend.
But 1t is my duty to enforce the
laws of South Carolina. Don't cheer.
men, tins is solemn occasion aud |
am very much in earnest, and besides
| understand it excites the ladies and
tins Is consideration that appeals to
all South Carolinians. (The residence
was but forty feet away. / come
TO appeal to your manhood. The
question is, Shall the people be al
lowed to be ruled by their passions
and prejudices or shall the supremacy
and the majesty of the law be upheld?
! promise you on my honor that as
speedy trial as the law allows shall
be held. Would not object to cutting
the rope to lang that scoundred pro-
vided the Lave says so."