The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-23


the state. shot and killed George
Clinkscales, negro, in Abbeville
|county. Witnesses OF the tragedy
testified at the coroner's inquest the
next day that the killing was unpro-
voked, that 1t was deliberate muir
der. McGaha fled the State.
Negroes OF the community told the
white people. though not at the in
quest. that Clink scales had told them
that he was In mortal fear of McGaha
because he had refused to testify a,
McGaha wanted him to In a certain
lawsuit
McGaha remained In hiding for q
good long time, but was finally cap
tired In Georgia through the vigil
ance Of the sheriff OF Abbeville coun-
ty. and brought back to Abbeville and
lodged In Jail.
And then powerful influences were
set to work In his behalf. The wit
nesses who had testified at the in
quest. before they had been "seen" or
"fixed."~ now told different story.
They made affidavits that the shoot
ing was accidental. There was SUBJ
mitted what purposed to be the dy-
ing statement Of Clinkscales, in which
he said the shooting was an accident,
and that he did not want his friend
Johnnie" punished. A United States
senator was hired as McGaha's law
yer. a justice Of the State supreme
court granted him bail, and a men,
Der Of the State legislature went on
his bond.
The case came up for trial at Alb
beville last week. and McGaha was
acquitted. The jury Is not to De GEN.
sured. The jury had to go by the evil
dence. and although every member of
the Jury may have been convinced
In his heart-presuming, OF course.
that the jury was composed of intelli-
gent men--that the evidence was
for the occasion, yet
there was no evidence OF deliberate
murder. and the Jury could do
nothing but return verdict of not
guilty. Murder had not been proven
In a manner that would warrant con-
viction.
The dead negro had no rich or in
friends or relatives to work
FOR the conviction Of his slayer. There
were no rich or influential men or
strong influence working. for Justice.
That mythical figure Is blind. and
t often happens that she has no
friends or advocates In our courts.
McGaha had killed at least two
men before he killed George Clink-
scales. He Is now free man again,
free to go where he pleases, and so
quarrel with whom he pleases. Judg-
ng his future by his past record It
$ only question of time until ne
kills somebody else. or until some
BODY is forced to kill him.
So far as McGaha himself is con-
'erned. IL made little difference
whether he was convicted or acquit-
ed. He Is as worthless to the State
Is free man as he would be as a
'onvict. But II makes a great deal
'f difference ID the community in
which McGaha lives, and to the pub
ic at large. 1t will make great
ieal of difference In the future con-
iuct Of men Of the McGaha class. VIII
hey not feel. and with good reason.
hat they can kill with impunity, and
hat they can command influence to
assure them their liberty. which with
them means license?
1t does not require seer or a
prophet to predict that sooner or later
John McGaha will kill somebody else,
or will force somebody to kill him.
md either occurrence will be ca
arlty. 1t will be a calamity for Nc
Gaha to kill man whose life is worth
and 1t will be a ca
amity for some good man to be
forced to kill him. No good citizen
wants to stain his hands and his soul
with human blood. even in self de-
tense
And when John McGaha gets into
his next trouble, and kills or is killed.
those who have freed him from his
latest encounter with the law will
be more to blame than anybody else.
Eear that In mind.--Ande.son Mail.