The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-22
Consolidated Aug. 9, 1881.
ASSAULT IN COLUMBIA.
HORRIBLE CRIME COMITTED IN
STATE CAPITAL BY NEGRO.
Arrest Made by Police and Criminal
Taken to Penitentiary for Safekeep-
ing-Prisoner Is Unidentified.

VI piStoi Eu byTO, lS-year-Old
negro, committed a criminal assault
yesterday afternoon about 800
O'Clock in the northwestern portion
OF Columbia. He was arrested, not
more than 20 minutes after he had
accomplished his purpose, by police
man Hite and taken back to the
scene of the crime, where his VIC
tim. white woman, positively iden-
detiled him and declared that the pis-
tol found in his pocket looked like
the one which had been thrust into
her face.
Byrd was taken to the police sta
tton. where he was questioned by
Chief Carthcart. The negro denied
all knowledge of the affair. He de-
clared that he had been hunting all
day on Crane creek. This statement
was later disproved by Nose Pete, a
negro, whom Byrd said went with
him.
Byrd was afterwards spirited away
by the police TO the State penitentiary
for safekeeping. He will be kept
there until the next term of court.
The occurrence was not generally
known on the streets until after s
o'clock. There was no demonstra-
ton. but three bodies of men gath
cred. one on the State house grounds,
one at the corner of Taylor and Main
streets. and one around the police
station. There was some talk of
lynching the negro. When the news
got abroad that he was in the peni-
tentiary, the crowds dispersed after
satisfying themselves that it was
true. The mob spirit was lacking.
But for the foresight of Chief Cath
cart in taking Byrd to the peniten-
tiary. 1t might have fiared up at any
moment; for the recognized futility
of any attempt to get the negro out
of Ape-. State prison acted as,saS aS-eer
blanket on the near-mobs.
The first intimation to reach police
headquarters that anything had oc-
CURED was a telephone message from
Il. B. Carder that a negro had been
In his store at the corner Of Lincoln
and Lady streets. brandishing a pis-
tol. The message came a little after
O'Clock. Policeman Hite, who was
on reserve duty, went at once to Car
der's store, but the negro had gone.
Policeman H.te went up Park street
on the lookout for the negro who
had created the disturbance at Car
der's store. He found him at the
corner of Park and Second street.
The negro made some show of re-
sisting arrest and, knowing that he
was armed, the officer drew his pis-
tol and called TO a white man to ocme
and search him. pistol was found
in Byrd's pocket.
Immediately after the negro was
arrested by Policeman Hite, Police
man Milette, who was on duty in
up and told his fellow officer Of the
crime. the scene OF which was only
two blocks from where the negro
was caught. Byrd was taken before
his victim. She declared that he was
the negro and said that the pistol
with which he had threatened her
was made of blue steel.
After his identification. Byrd was
taken to police headquarters in the
patrol wagon. Word had been sent
In that negro had broken into q
cab at the Seaboard and taken a
blue steel pistol out of Conductor
Howells locker. II had also been
reported that "a negro boy had threat
ened TO shoot John Franklin a few
blocks from the scene Of the criminal
assault. Byrd was identified by F..
". Jones. a Seaboard car inspector.
as the negro he had seen leave the
cab. John Franklin also declared
that he was the same negro who had
threatened him with a pistol.
Bryd told a story about a hunting
trip on Crane creek ne had taken
with Nose Pete. negro. whom ne
had left at the old fair grounds. He
denied all knowledge OF the crime
end declared that ne had the pistol
In his pocket all day.
Nose Pete was found and brought
to the police station about s o'clock
last night. He said that he did not
Know negro by the name OF Ed.
BYRD but that he might recognize
MIN IL he could see him. Byrd had
already been taken TO the peniten-
tiary and will be shown Nose today
Nose said that ne, i'm company with
negro and young white man, had
lner