The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-07-28
SOUABBLING SAVES A LIFE
ALMOST A LYNCHING IN NEW.
BERRY COUNTY.
Disagreement Among Members OF
Mob as to How Man Should be
Lynched Ayerts Deed.

Lynched Averts Deed.
Newberry, July 21.-Disag agreement
as to the manner in which the pro-
posed victim should be put to a
speedy death, and the lack of lead
er following the disagreement, pre-
vented lynching in the Silver street
section of Newberry county on We'd
nesday night or during the early
hours of Thursday morning, it is
stated by those in authority and in
position to know the facts.
Thomas Yarbrough was the object
of the vengeance of the crowd which
numbered between IS and 20 de-
termined people While the mob
was celebrating Magistrate J. w.
Hendrix got in communication with
Sheriff Buford, at 3:45 on Thursday
morning, and at 4 o'clock Sheriff
Buford, accompanied by his son and
deputy Pope L. Buford, was on his
way to Yarbrough's home. Var
brough, who has been working a
one-horse farm on the Spearman
place since February, when he left
the Mollohon Mill, was found at work
in his field when the sheriff reached
his home. He was arrested and
brought to Newberry and lodged in
Jail.
Acting on advices received from
the community as to the feeling
there, including letter from Magls-
trate Hendrix, Sheriff Buford was in
communication with the governors S
Office on Thursday morning, and in
view of all the circumstances it was
deemed advisable to take Yarbrough
to Columbia to the State penitentiary
for safe keeping, which was done on
the 3:20 train on Thursday after
noon.
Yarbrough is accused of attempt
ing criminal assault on seven-year-
old white child of the community.
The crime is alleged to have been
committed on July 2. 1t is alleged
that it was committed in a path in
secluded part of the section, and the
youthfulness of the victim is the rea-
son assigned for it's not having come
to light sooner. An interesting story
is involved in the manner in which
it reached the ears of the commu-
nifty. 1t is said that Yarbrough's
wife wrote a Letter to the mother OF
the child telling her if she knew what
had happend she would not let the
child travel alone the path which
she had been in the habit of travel
ing. This letter, it is said, led to
the investigation, which resulted in
the excitement and the arrest of Var
brough and lodging him in the State
penitentiary for safe keeping.
MOB DSagreeS.
1t is said that when the crowd
gathered on Wednesday night, the
first proposition was to go for Var
brough, secure him, swing him to a
limb over the river, riddle his body
with bullets, then cut him down and
let his body float down the river.
Others, it is said, wanted to swing
him to limb in the woods, and let
his body remain as a warning. A
third portion of the crowd, it is said,
wanted to give him a whipping which
would teach him lesson and then
let him leave the community. The
crowd could not get together, it is
learned.
Magistrate ]. w. Hendrix was in
touch with the situation and he got
Sheriff Buford over the telephone at
$40 O'Clock on Thursday morning
and within fifteen minutes Sheriff
Buford. as stated above was on The
road to the scene, accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff Pope Buford. He
went to Yarbrough's home first and
found him there at work in the field.
Yarbrough readily surrendered and
consented to come to Newberry, say
ing that he knew nothing whatever
of the charges against him.
Yarbrough readily consented to
talk, proclaiming his absolute inno-
cence throughout his conversation.
He gave his age as As, saying that
he was As years of age about a
month ago. He said that he was
born in Montgomery county, North
Carolina. He left home when he was
about % years of age. While at
home he had been engaged in farm
ing and mill work. After leaving
home he spent some years in North
Carolina working in the mills at
Charlotte and Wilmington. From