The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-08-21
GOVERNOR CRITICIZED.
Open Letter From Aiken Citizens
Concerning the Governor Trip
to Greenwood

BOD DAVIS Is Greenwood county COM
mands the admiration of many people
there, at the same time the people of
Aiken county are forced to contrast
his action in this with his statement
III reply to the request of the Aiken
people For Il speedy trial of Isaac
Knight, the negro charged with an
assault upon IN aged lady near Aiken
few weeks ago.
An open letter to the governor was
drawn up and signed by several cit
liens of Aiken county. The letter,
which who'll be forwarded to the COVER
nor by mail, is as follows:
Aiken, Aug. II, 1906.
Hon. ID. G. Hayward, Governor of
South Carolina.
His EXccllency: Citizens of Aiken
county desire to hereby congratulate
YOU on the stand You took in regard to
he lymcmng al Greenwood. We re-
Spcctfully refer you to the petition
sent You by us last month in behalf
"f speedy trial Of Ike Knight, for
the prophecy of just what took place
there. In our ease You gave us to
understand you had no power to bring
about speedy trial. but in the Green
wood ease you gave your word of hon
or for a speedy trial. How is this?
Has the law been changed7 Have you
changed your mind? Wa one state
ment falseq Do you wish us to follow
IN the footsteps of the Greenwood
lynchers? Because You had our negro
safe III the penitentiary was no reason
why YOU were justified in turning your
back ON our petition. Because ours
is not the last ease of that kind to
come before our people your duty is
rs much to the future welfare of our
people as to the present welfare of
our people. Unless deep down in
your heart you approve of lynching
We cannot understand your actions.
You went to the scene of this lynch
ing; yet You had no troops there. So
far us we have been able To find ont,
the troops were never ordered there,
YET you had ample time to 60 from the
same place al which the troops were
stationed. Did you have any idea that
the people would listen to you after
the experience of the post? If so you
are Il poor judge of human nature, and
especially of the sentiments of the
people you REPRESENT. To find more
particulars of the ease of Ike Knight
we hereby extend you cordial invi-
tation to come to the October court
here and listen to the testimony and
decide for yourself whether you acted
for the best interest of the future
welfare of this county of not. While
yon are here. talk with our representa-
tive citizens and see what they think
of the whole affair. See if they don't
think you encouraged lynching
throughout our state when yon refus-
ed lis II speedy trial at the special
term Of court or refused to give us
your support for the same.
Judge Lynch asks, for the sake of
humanity, 90 in person to his trial,
but do not send your troops.
Respectfully,
(Signcn w. G.. r. Turnbull, M. D.,
and other citizens.
The Knight Case.
IL will be remembered that at the
time Knight committed the deed the
people of Aiken earnestly desised that
justice should be meted out as soon as
possible, and speedy trial was ask
ed for. The Aiken Bar association
was requested to take the matter up
through the proper channels, but the
| association saw fit to state that an
immediate trial was not necessary,
and they so reported to Governor Hey
ward. When the citizens learned of
this action a petioin asking for the i'm
mediate t rial was forwarded byspecial
messenger to Governor Hayward. In
,, response to this petition the governor
stated that he had no authority what
ever to order a special term of court.
Now, the subject Of discussion here. to-
day is, "Why could Governor Hey
ward promise a special term of court
in Greenwood county and not iii Aiken
county9" ......
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