The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-18


him to pay up his dues and he left
Greenwood for Ninety Six. On Fri
day he returned and us proof of the
fact that he had been to Ninety Six
and had attended the meeting, he
brought back with him his member
ship card on which tho payment of
his dues had been rcccipted and
dated at Ninety Six the night before,
and countcrsigned by the regular Of
ticcrs of the lodge, who were resi-
dents Of Ninety Six.
This negro reported to those who
had sent him that he attended the
meeting Of the lodge and that after
the regular business had been lispos-
ell Of in the lodge an executive ses-
sion was called. That he asked 10
be allowed TO remain TO this executive
session, but That he Wis not allowed
t" remain until he had made Il fierce
d"nnnclatory speech against the
whites. After that he was allowed
t." take part in the executive session.
at this session all Of the facts con-
ncetcd with the proposed beginning
or the fight were discussed and four
white citizens Of Ninety Six were
named rs victims. As was suggested
IN the letter 10 Ilartic Harris, pub.
llshcd above, it was stated that the
white people Of Ninety Six would
blame any shooting that might take
place on the Talbcrts, and that the
negroes would not be suspected. The
t"nr men selected wore well known
citizens. of Ninety Six and it was
stated that others might be chosen
later. such developments depending
on the outcome of The FIRST venture.
1t WAS also stated That the Rev jack
son. mentioned in the letter: had
raised Il fund Of so towards buvinr
II dozen Winchester rifles in Savau-
nah Ga. The plan Of getting these
rifles to Ninety Six was also discuss
ed.
Some years ago some little excite
mrnl was caused at Ninety Six by
tie iact that some eight or ten ne
"r"rS had ordered Winchester rifles
These negroes stated that they wished
them Tor protection against rowdv
members OF their own race. They
readily gave them up when the white
people demanded them and thus the
matter ended. Having this episode
IN mind the negroes stated that it
would not be safe to have any guns
shipped to Ninety Six, 50 it was pro-
posed to have Il young negro, named
DavC%a Williams, one of those now
IN Jail, and il son Of Wade Williams.
the secretary of The Odd Fellows
Lodge, go to Savannah to purchase
the guns. OStcnsibly he would 90 to
'laflin University, carrying a trunk.
Instead OF going to Clafln he would
proceed l." Savannah, buy the guns
and return us far as DySons, which
Is the next station below Ninety Six
toward Columbia. lie would "ri off
there with Il trunk in which the GUNS
would have been safely packed, and
III TINS way the guns could be distri
hnl"d without any suspicion being
aroused The floods interfercd with
ais g"n% to Savannah and back at
the time first appointed. Whether
or not amy other guns we're secured
is not known.
However. according to the negro
ml"rmrr The first attack was to have
been mad" on Sunday night, Scptcm-
Der -. II brin" stated That The moon
W""!d b" about right SO far as dark
HESS was concerned at that time.
II all Of lhi>. be true it seems pro-
Vl'lrnllal 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 ont with warrants
Tor all OF the rinylcadrrS. and bv
n""n had them safely LODGED in thc
r"'n,y JAIL As stated in the bc"in-
nMg only Il few people at Ninety
SIX knew anything about the matter.
and it is possible that if all of thc
Facts had been known the eleven ne
"r"rS might never have been allowed
to leave the town. However, the
matter was well managed, and the
negroes were brought here and put
IN Jail without any bodily harm be-
ing done to them.
Saturday afternoon one of them