The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-22


now. The State is prospering and
there is but one cloud on the horizon,
and that is that such crowds as this
take the law too often in their own
hands. I does you and it does the
State HARM
Refers to Phoenix Riot.
The Governor referred to the Phoe-
nix riot in this county, and said that
the effects Of that We're bad and the
good people here ought to consider
such matters. It makes no difference
how we feel about such cases, it ought
to be remembered that there are am
pie laws in the land, and that each
such. irnpulsiye action, each such in
fraction of the law did harm not only
to those engaged in it, but to the
State as a whole.
Governor Heyward told the audi
ence that he realized his weakness 20
do anything, and that was all the
more reason why he begged them to
let the law take its course.
"In Gods name" he implored, do
not put another stain on the name Of
your State. beg you, let this man
have a legal trial. The case can be
tried in two weeks time, and your
own jurors will try him and no ore
| will interfere with the verdict OF
your jury
Governor Hayward saw how hard
| his task was, and he appealed to the
pride Of the people before him and
asked them to rise to the occasion
they 1ad before them, and show the
| world how great they could be, and
how they could let negro under
such circumstances go to trial and be
legally convicted Finally Governor
Howard asked the crowd to reason
together as Carolinians and see the
wrong that was about to be done by
L
| he was circumstanced, and how he
had alwoys felt that there was some
| thing higher and nobler than ven-
gance on a brute Of a negro devil and
| that was the. vidication Of the law,
gentlemen, after you have killed
| this poor negro, as you may do, you
will not enjoy it. Let there be legal
trial and you will feel better,
Some one in the crowd: Governor,
we appreciate what you say; but we
are not going to do it,
| Governor Hayward was pleading
earnestly and eloquently. He was
! fighting a rising tfde,r but-he kept
on begging for a trial for the negro
Finally tagged out and hopeless, he
was taken from the stand. Some one
in the crowd, an old man with
! beard. asked when there could be
trial. Governor Hayward thought he
saw a ray OF hope and he jumped on
a carriage, and said that he had tele-
| graphed for Solicitor Cooper and that
he could certainly promise a special
term of Court in two weeks. He SAID
the laws required two weeks for the
drawing of jury, and that the trial
could be held at that time.
Crowd Take Negro Away.
| Over in the other corner Of the
| fence the crowd with the negro, was
getting impatient, and while Gov
| ernor Heyward was talking they
drove away with their victim. Gov
| ernor Hayward begged that the peo-
pie turn the negro over to Capt. Evans
in whom all had the greatest con-
fdence, and let him have trial On
! towards the woods the captors LED
their victim and those around Gov
ernor Hayward realizing the utter
hopelessness of his mission, urged
! him to get down, which he reluctant
ly did.
Father Wants Davis Burned.
| The crowd quickly followed the ne
| gro. He was taken down to the first
| clump of trees, below the home OF J.
PETIT Brooks and there . halt was
made. 1t looked as if the execution
would be swift, but Mr.. Brooks, the
father of the young girl: rode up and
begged that the crowd wait while.
He said that many .rllos had been OF
the three days hunt had not yet ar
| rived. and to wait for them. He then
! begged that the crime be wiped out
| bv burning the scoundrel. The negro
seemed anxious enough to wait and he
sat on the ground. It was hard work
to keep some from shooting him, but
the wait continued Crowds came up.
some from Greenwood and some from
the neighborhood, and most Of them
with guns and pistols. There appear