The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-08
SIMPLY AN OUTRAGE.
Coffin Left on the Porch of the
Baptist Parsonage
4 Gard Was Left With the Coffin
Threatening Rev. E. NJ. Lightfoot
With Death In Short Time.

! Orangeburg was stirred with indig
nation Thursday morning when it be
came known that some one on the
night before had left coffin on the
porch Of the Baptist Parsonage
which is located right on the public
Square in the bright glare Of several
electric lights. The Parsonage is oc.
cupied By the Rev. E. NJ. Lightfoot
Pastor of the Baptist Church, and his
wife. The community looked upon
the outrageous occurrence as a das-
tardly attempt to wound the feelings
Of fearless and outspoken minister
Of the gospel for some attack he has
made upon vice and it's adherents.
The coffin, which was discovered
By Mr.. Lightfoot about eight O'Clock,
was resting on two benches on the
front porch. It was cheap one,
about the size for a half-grown per-
son. Just under the lid of the coffin
was a card on which was written a
warning and a threat to Mr.. Light
foot. It read as follows: This will
be your last resting place after June
10 next. Good by, Rev. Lightfoot.
P.S., Peace to your ashes. Anon. y
The note was written in fairly good
hand. and was evidently executed by
some one Of average intelligence.
Rev. Mr.. Lightfoot notified the po-
lice at once. who began an investiga-
ton. Later in the day the coffin was
recognized by the keeper Of colored
undertaking establishment as one
that had been taken from his es-
tablishment sometime Wednesday
night. He said that one Of the po-
licemen had Informed him that his
place was found open ABOUT one o.
clock Wednesday night. The police
man had told him this Thursday
morning, and not Immediately after
the coffin house was found open. No
doubt the party was in there then
getting the coffin. 1t is pity that
the matter was not investigated
right then.
A young man who works on The
Times and Democrat says he saw
some one go in this same coffin house
on Tuesday night Of last week, and
that he tried to see what he was up
to, but the fellow knowing that he
was watcheI stood perfectly still. He
said the party he saw was large,
tall man with moustache. He could
not tell whether he was white or col
ored. No doubt this fellow, who
ever he was, had something to do
With putting the coffin on the porch
the night after our young man saw
him at the coffin house.
While no one, of course, believes
for minute that the affair is serious
so far as the threats made by the
parties are concerned. still the en-
tire community regards the bastard
II outrage as an insult to the entire
city, and that it should be ferreted
out and the guilty parties made to
suffer. It was malicious, dastarolS
outrage, and we are glad TO kno"
that nothing will be left undone to
apprehead and expose any one liv-
ing in this community who would be
guilty of such thing. Several par.
ties were engaged in it and they Will
be caught.
One of the worst features of the
outrage is It's effect on Mrs. Lightfoot
who not in the best of health. BY
accident she saw the coffin and at
once became very nervous, and at
one time it was feared that she would
be prostrated from the effect 1t nao
on her nervous system. 1t is mSs-
terry how the coffin was brought up
the streets without beng
seen by the police. It vas certainly
a bold piece Of business. considering
the location Of the Parsonage anG
where the coffin was put.