Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1908-09-24

and dated at Ninety-Six the nigh, be
lore. and countersigned by the re
guiar officers of the lodge, who wer,
residents OF Ninety-Siy
This negro reported to those who
had sent him that he attended III,
meeting of the lodge and that afte,
the regular business had been dis
posed OF In the lodge an executiv,
session was called. That he asked
to be allowed to remain to this ex.
ecutive session. but that he was no,
allowed to remain until he had made
Ia heree denunciatory speech against
the whites. After that he was allow.
ed TO take part In the executive ses-
sion. At this session all 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-
gested in the letter to Hartie Har-
ris. published above, II 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 II
was stated that others might be
chosen later. such developments de-
pending on the outcome of the first
venture. II was also stated that the
Rev. Jackson. mentioned in the let
ter. had raised q fund of $40 to-
wards buying dozen Winchester
rifles in Savannah. Ga. The plan OF
getting these rifles 10 Ninety-Six was
Ialso discussed.
Some years ago some little excite
ment was caused at Ninety-Six 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
people demanded them and thus the
matter ended. Having this episode
mind the negroes stated that It
would not rc safe to have any guns
shipped 10 Ninety-SiX. so II was pro-
posed to have young negro, named
Davega Williams, one of those nov
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 &C
20 Cla6in University. carrying a
trunk. Instead of going to Claflin he
would proceed TO Savannah. buy the
guns and return as far as Dyson's,
which Is the next station below Nine
ty-SiX towards Columbia, He would
get of there with a trunk in which
the guns would have been safely
packed. and in this way the guns
could be distributed without any sus-
picion being aroused. The floods in
tereferrtd with his going to Savannah
and back at tho 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, Scptem-
Der l3, II being stated that the moon
would be about right so far as dark.
ness was concerned at that time.
If all OF this be true IL 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 nv
noon had them safely lodged in the
county Jail. AS stated In the begin.
ming only few people at Nincty-SiA
knew anything about the matter
and It is possibie that IL ali OF the
facts had been known the eleven
negroes might never have been allow
ed to leave the town. However. the
matter was we'll managed. and the
negroes were brought there and put
n Jail without any bodily harm be
ing done TO them.
Saturday afternoon one OF then:
>alled to the sheriff and stated that
they did not want preliminary hear.
ing then. This procedure Ii adhered
10 will mean that the whole dozen
will remain in jail there until the
next term of Court of General Ses.
sions A large number of white peo
pie at Ninety Six think the whole
thing is fake. They think the in
former is up 10 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 at Ninety
Six whatever. The affair has caus.
cd considerable talk. of course. but
there is no excitement whatever.
Split ~ HEARST PARTY.