The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-13
Mob Begins to Form.


Tie angry citizens Of Saxon began
to gather in the court house yard at
about I o'clock and at 2 o'clock there
were several hundred people assem-
bled. The mob secured step ladders
and sledge hammers and made an un-
successful attempt to get over the
high brick wall. Grover Fowler, a
Young man. attempted to break down
the gate with a hammer, and at the
same time the mob made rush for
the ladders. Shots were fired from
| inside the jail. resulting in Grover
Fowler being shot in the arm and
Ed Foster in the head. Mr.. Glenn
mons and a man named Solesby were
also shot. None of the wounds are
serious. A man in the mob returned
the fire with a shotgun, breaking out
a pane Of glass in the jail. and it is re-
ported that Deputy Sheriff Becknell
| was shot in the face.
Negro Did Not Accomplish Purpose.
DR.. H. R. Black addressed the mob,
stating that, on his word Of hcVor, the
negro did not accomplish his purpose,
an,; the only harm she suffered was
bruises about the face and throat.
The following signed statement was
given ont this afternoon by the at
tending physicians:
"This is to certify that We have
this day examined the person of Miss
Lille Dempsey and find that she has
not been ravished, and that there is
no evidence Of violence on her person,
except severe bruises about the throat
and neck. Her assailant failed to ac-
complish his purpose.
(Signed) 81. L. Jefferies, NJ. D.
"H. R. Black, NJ. d.
Speeches Made to Mob.
The mob was also addressed by
Senator H. B. Carlisle and Solicitor
Sease, both of whom made pleas that
the law be allowed to take its course.
Solicitor Sease assured the crowd
that he would do everything in his
power to have the governor call a
special term Of court and that he
would do his utmost to convict the
negro. The mob made many loud eS-
CARNATIONS, saying they did not want
a special term of court-that they
wanted the negro now.
The mob increased in numbers dur
ing the afternoon, and by evening
hundreds Of people from the sur
rounding factory towns had arrived
and the court house yard by $50
o'clock was surging mass of angry
humanity. The mob commenced to
talk about dynamiting the jail. When
Sheriff Nichols learned of the contin-
ued threats he communicated with
the Morgan Rifles, at Clifton, and
the company reached this city this
afternoon on a special trolley car,
bringing a large box of ammunition.
As the company marched through the
court house yard and into the jail
ward the men were hissed and jeered
by the mob.
Governor Ansel Informed.
Sheriff Nichols has been in CON-
munication with Governor Ansel, who
is in Greenville, and it is under
stood that the sheriff has been advised
to be ready to remove the prisoner to
Columbia for safekeeping. Many cit
izens here are opposed to this step.
stating that the Jail is perfectly safe
and that they have every confidence
in Sheriff Nichols'S ability to protect
the prisoner. and that he will do
so even at the cost Of his life. It is
out Of the question to get the prisoner
out of jail. for the building is sur
rounded by the mob.
Miss Dempsey is an attractive and
popular young Lady. For many years
she was stenographer in the insur-
ance office Of James Cofield and IS
highly regarded.
Mobs from Greenville and Greer.