The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-18


ecutive session, but that he was not
allowed to remain until he had made
fierce denunciatory speech against
the whites. After that he was allow
ed to take part in the executive ses-
sion At this session al Of the facts
connected with the proposed beginn-
ing of the fight were discussed and
four white citizens, OF Ninety-SiX
were named as victims. As was sug-
gasted In the letter to Hartie Har-
ris, published above. it was stated
that the white people of Ninety-Six
would blame any shooting that might
take place on the Tolberts, and that
the negroes would not be suspected.
The four men selected were well
known citizens of Ninety-Six and it
was stated that others might be
chosen later, such developments de-
pending on the outcome Of the first
venture. 1t was also stated that the
Rev. jackson, mentioned in the let
ter, had raised a fund OF $40 to-
wards buying dozen winchester
rifles in Savannah, Ga. The plan or
getting these rifles to Ninety-SiX was
also discussed.
Some years ago some little excite
ment was caused at Ninety-SiN by the
fact that some eight or ten negroes
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
Deople demanded them and thus tho
matter ended. Having this episode
mind the negroes stated that 1t
would not be safe to have any guns
shipped to Ninety-Six. SO it was pro
posed to have a young negro, named
Darcga Williams. one of those no"
in iaii, and a son OF Wade Williams,
the secretary OF the Odd Fellows
Lodge, so to Savannah to purchase
the guns. Ostensibly he would go
to Claflin University, carrying a
trunk. Instead of going to Clafiin he
would proceed to Savannah, buy the
gums and return as far as Dyson s.
which is the next station below Nine
ty-Six towards Columbia. He would
get of there with trunk in which
the guns would have been safely
packed, and in this way the guns
could be distributed without any sus-
nic!on being aroused. The foods in
tereferred with his going to Savannah
and back at the time first appointed.
Whether or not any other guns were
occurred is not known. -
However. according to the negro
infor,ner. the first attack was to have
been made on Sunday night, ,Septem-
Der Is, it being stated tlslt the moon
rs ould be about right so far as dark
mess was concerned at that time.@v p
IF 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
for all of the ringleaders. and by
noon had them safely lodged in the
county Jail. AS stated in the begin
ming only few people at Ninety-SiS
knew anything about the matter,
and it Is possible that If ell OF the
facts had been known the eleven
negroes might never have been allow
ed 10 leave the town. However, the
matter was we'll managed, and the
negroes were brought there and put
IN ,iail without any bodily harm be-
ing done to them.
Saturday afternoon one of them
called to the sheriff and stated that
they did not want q preliminary hear
ing then. This procedure if adhered
to will mean that the whole dozen
will remain in Jail there until the
next term 0fs Court OF, General Ses-
sions. 4 large number OF white peo-
pie at Ninety Six think the whole
thing is fake They think the in
former is up to spite work" and is
simply trying to get the white people
worked up against certain negro
enemies of his. There is no
excitement either here or ut Ninety
Six whatever. The affair has caus-
ed considerable talk, of course, but
there is no excitement whatever.