The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-18

know whc'h her he would be allowed
to get in the lodge or not, as he was
behind in his dues. Money was given
him to pay up his dues and he left
Greenwood for Ninety Six. On Fri
day he returned and as proof Of the
fact that he had been to Ninety Six
and had attended the meeting, he
brought back with him his member
ship card on which the payment Of
his dues had been receipted and
dated at Ninety Six the night before,
and countersigned by the regular Of
ficers of the lodge, who were resi-
dents of Ninety Six.
This negro reported to those who
had sent him that he attended the
meeting Of the lodge and that after
the regular business had been dispos-
ed Of in the lodge an executive ses-
sion was called. That he asked 10
be allowed to remain to this executive
session, but that he WIS not allowed
to remain until he had made'a fierce
denunciatory speech against the
whites. After that he was allowed
to take part in the executive session.
At this session all Of the facts con-
neeted with the proposed beginning
Of the fight were discussed and four
white citizens of Ninety Six were
named as victims. AS was suggested
in the letter to Hartie Harris, pub
lished above, it was stated that the
white people Of Ninety Six would
blame any shooting that might take
place on the Talberts, and that the
negroes would not be suspected. The
four men selected were we'll known
citizens, Of Ninety Six and it was
stated that others might be chosen
later. such developments depending
on the outcome of the first venture.
It was also stated that the Rev. Jack
son, mentioned in the letter; had
raised fund Of SO towards buying
dozen Winchester rifles in Savs l.
nah, Ga. The plan Of getting these
rifles to Ninety Six was also discuss
ed.
Some years ago some little excite
ment was caused at Ninety Six by
the fact that some eight or ten ne
groes had ordered Winchester rifles.
These negroes stated that they wished
them for protection against rowdy
members of their own race. They
readily gave them up when the white
people demanded them and thus the
matter ended. Having this episode
in mind the negroes stated that it
would not be safe to have any guns
shipped-to Ninety Six, so. it was pro-
posed to have a young negro, named
Davega Williams, one Of those now
in jail, and a son of Wade Williams,
the secretary Of the Odd Fellows
Lodge, go to Savannah to purchase
the guns. Ostensibly he would 60 to
Claflin University, carrying a trunk.
Instead Of going to. Claflin he would
proceed to Savannah, buy the guns
and return as far as Dysons, which
is the next station below Ninety Six
toward Columbia. He would get off
there with a trunk in which the guns
would have been safely packed, and
in this way the guns could be distri-
buted without any suspicion being
aroused. The floods interfered with
his going to- Savannah and back at
the time first appointed. Whether
or not any other guns were secured
is not known.
However, according to the negro
informer. the first attack was to have
been made on Sunday night, Septem-
Der Is. it being stated that the moon
would be about right so far as dark
ness WAS concerned at that time.
II all Of this. be true it seems pro-
vidential that the letter addressed to
the Harris negro did not reach him,
but fell into the hands of the sheriff
through the medium Of another per-
son. for Saturday morning Sheriff
Mcmillan started out with warrants