The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-19
FACTS IN 1HEss CASE
DAMAGING TESTIMONY AGAINST
THE MEN LYNCHED.
They Divided the Money and Hid
the Checks That They Committed
Foul Crime to Get.

the Checks That They Committed
Foul Crime to Get.
Here is the testimony before the
coroner's jury that investigated the
assassination of Mr.. j. B. Smoak
that lead to the arrest and lynching
of Frank Samuel and Qui.lie Sim
mons a short time ago at or near
Smoak's. Ben Minus, a young col
ored man, tiled as follows:
Il was staying out there and was
watching Frank Samuel. On Thurs
day evening was going home. /
had. promised my mother to carry
T, aomething from Mr. Somak's and
&1as going to carry them. l. met
Mr.. Smoak on my way home. !
heard some talk that was being talk
ed, and / came back and told Mr..
Smcak about it. i asked Mr.. Smoak
if he was going to the other field
next morning; he said he was, and
1 turned and went to my mother
in-law's. Charles Duffie. Told Frank
that Acquilla Simmons said he must
be at home sure Thursday night.
that he wanted to see him on par
ticular business. | came down the
road and saw Frank Samuel and
AcqUilla Simmons out at the fence
talking. | went up close and stopped
and it was Acquilla Simmons, and
Frank said to Acquilla as soon as
he got drink Of water he would
be ready to go home or to his own
house. He came out and took up
his gun, and they both went to
Franks house. | went on behind
them. When theya got in the yard
Frank said to Acquilla to wait until
he got few mathces. | stood up
then until Frank came out. l then
got down on my knees. He open
ed his OK stable and drove the OK
out! The OK commenced eating
something and he cut him and he
went off. Frank and Acquilla went
in and kneeled down. They were
counting money. 1 could hear it
rafting. Frank told Acquilla to go
out in the road and see if he could
see anyobdy. When he came back
| saw Samuel pass some money to
simmons. Samuel asked Simmons
if he went to Branchville to bring
him pint of XXX corn, if he could
not get the corn to get some other
kind. Samuel asked Simmons II he
has heard anything more about the
beef, he said it had been pretty hot,
but was cooling down now. In this
time. they walked on out, and Sim
mons said Samual must come to
Charles Simmons that night or soon
the next morning. He came out by
me then. went back to Mr..
Smoak's. Farnk said he would Tx
what they left in the stable tomor-
rowS went and told Alr. Smoak
what had seen and that il he would
60 then he would find something.
Aud then I went home. Twas about
fifteen PAGES from them when they
were counting the money. l could
potS see whether it was silver or
green backs. l heard the silver rat
tie; was outside of the field when
they went in the stable, when they
began counting the money went
closer. | went in at the gate. They
had been spending money. Ihav'
not heard anything since that night.
I did not know what be meant when
he said we will deave this here and
| Will fix it tomorrow. They left
home about FIVE o'clock the day Of
the killing Of j. B. Smoak. They
seemed to be covering something
I'd in the stable before they came
out"
Mr.. ]. l.. SInoak. the father of the
murdered man, testified as follows:
Il hitcbed up my horse and buggy
aud went to Wilson's on the testl-
mony Of Ben Minus. | came to
Smoak's in search Of constable.
Did not find him here; went to his
house: Magistrate and Judge were
there. The constable came back with
me. We went to ask for help, and
fixing a plan to look after parties.
A party of men went iii search OF
Frank Smauel. Quillie Simmons,
Willie Stokes and to get stolen goods.
Samuel was not at home, wife and
mother were there. Some of our
party searched the house. went
into the OK stable. About that time
Mr.. Kinsey came up. dug in the
stable and found package i'll the
presence of Mr. kinsey. On opening
it we found it to be the checks.
We made several arrests. Simmons
was arrested at Pink Garrls
Two or three colored men testi-
fed that they had seen Samuel and
Simmons on the late afternoon OF
the killing with their guns going in
the direction of the place where
young Smoak was shot and killed.
After Simmons and Samuel were ar
rested they were turned over to a
constable who started for Walter
boro with them On tie way he
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