The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-29
FIEND CAUGHT
The Negro Brute Who Assaulted
a Lady at Hartsville
HAS BEEN ARRESTED
And Taken to the Penitentiary for
Safe Keeping-Would Have Been
Lynched Had He Been Taken to
the Scene OF His Hellish Crime.
Early Trial Wanted.
Early Trial Wanted.


Early Trial Wanted.
IIartsville, Dec. 27.-The black
fend who entered the home OF u
merchant of this place on Monday
night of last week and criminally
assaulted his wife has been caughe
and taken to the penitentiary for
safe keeping. 1t has been a ter
rible week of waiting and disap-
pointment to every good citizen or
Hartsville as the days passed and
the many clues gave no results anf
thu many suspects failed to be iden-
titled by the lady.
Enraged and determined that thu
crime should not go unavenged IL
any human agency could accomplish
the detection and arrest of the crl J.
imal, every man has felt more ana
more hopeless and baffled as each
succeeding day was fruitless. Every
Instrument of the law and every
means that could be employed with
ally hope of success have been used
20 get to the bottom of the outrage
ard quietly, but constantly, the town
and county authorities have worked
day and night every hour.
And added to the efforts of tire
authorities has been the voluntary
work Of many persona in their pri-
vate capacity. Through this latter
source came the first clue, which has
finally led to the arrest Of brute
against whom the evidence Is very
positive. A negro named Johnson
was arrested at Effingham Saturday
r'orning by Sheriff Burch Of Flor
ence. acting with Policeman Seegars
of this place and Mr.. Ed Perry,
r, other of the victims husband.
The negro was taken to Florence
AID thence to Darlington, where he
as turned over Saturday night 90
Sheriff Blackwell at 8 o'clock. It
vas proposed to bring him here for
Identification, but the authorities
hel ared trouble and advised
Sherih Blackwell to keep him ac
darlington. Lata- on, acting on
further advices from here that q
| threatening crowd was waiting to
ret sight of the negro, Sheriff Black
well drove to Florence at 2 o'clock
in the morning and there took the
4 o'clock train fr Columbia.
A crowd met the train coming in
here at 9 O'clock Saturday night
and 1t is pretty certain would have
made short work of the negro ac
| once. Indeed, many Of them believ-
cd that the negro had been taken or
the train on the outskirts of town
and was somewhere around, and all
/ right and all day Sunday crowds OF
men have been congregated around
town awaiting developments ana
anxious to locate the brute. There
was never any intention on the part
cf the town authorities to allow the
man to be brought here.
This is the first crime OF It's kind
committed at this place and, indeed.
orc of the few in the county. Il
fairly staggered people by its enor-
nifty, bat left no doubt as to tho
short work that would have bees
irade OF the criminal had 1T been
possible to lay hands on him. The
citizens of the town look for the
governor to order an early trial OF
the fiend. and If he is guilty, OF
which there seems no doubt,
srcedy conviction and speedy hang
ing. Quick work should be made OF
such fiends.