The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-07-22
CROWD DISAGREED AS
TO MODE OF DEATH
WHITE MAN WAS OBJECT OF
VENGEANCE.
Thomas YarbrOugh Accused Of At.
tempted Criminal Assault-Taken
to Penitentiary.


Disagreement as to the manner in
which the proposed victim should be
put to a speedy death, and the lack
of a leader following the disagree
ment, prevented a lynching in the
Silver Street section of Newberry
county on Wednesday night or dur
ing the early hours of Thursday
morning, it is stated by those in au-
thority and in position to know the
sacts = :. ,...<.' '.::~"H ~ =
Thomas Yarbrough was the object
of the vengeance of the crowd which
had gathered. The crowd, it is stat
ed. numbered between Is and 20 de-
termined people. While the mob was
deliberating, Magistrate J. W. Hen
dirk got in communication with Sher-
1ff Buford at 3.45 on Thursday morn
ing, and at o'clock Sheriff Buford,
accompanied by his son and deputy,
Mr.. Pope L. Buford, was on his way
to Yarbrough's home. Yarbrough,
who has been working one-horse
farm on the Spearman place since
February, when he left the Mollohon
/ mill, was found at work in his field
n when the sheriff reached his home.
He was arrested and brought to New
berry and lodged in Jail.
Acting on advices received from
the community as to the feeling there,
including letter from Magistrate
Hendrix, Sheriff Buford was in COM
munication with the governors Of
flee 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 3.2O train on Thursday afternoon.
Yarbrough is accused Of attempted
criminal assault on seven-year-old
white girl child of the community.
The crime is alleged to have been
committed on July 2. It is alleged
that it was committed in path in a
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. 1t is charged that it
happened in a secluded path near
Yarbrough's home An interesting
d story is involved in the manner in
y which it reached the ears of the com
4 munity. 1t is said that Yarbrough's
wife wrote letter to the mother OF
the child telling her that if she knew
what had happened 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.
It is said that when the crowd
gathered on Wednesday night the first
proposition was to go for Yarbrough
secure him, swing him to limb over
the river, riddle his body with bullets
then cut him down and let his body
float down the river. Others, it is
4 said, wanted to swing him to limb
i'll in the woods and let his body remain
& as warning. A third portion Of the
ER crowd, it is said, wanted to give him
& whipping which would teach him
a lesson, and then let him leave the
community The crowd could not gel
%together, it is learned.
@ Magistrate J. W. Hendrix was in
Stouch with the situation, and he got
gSheriff Buford over the telephone at
3.45 o'clock On Thursday morning
Within fifteen minutes Sheriff Bu-
S ford, as stated above, was on the road
& to the scene. Accompanied by De-
3 putty Sheriff Pope Buford, he went
Z to Yarbrough's home first, and found
% him there at work in his field. Var
. brough readily surrendered and con-
NJ contod n, come to NeWberrv, Savine
81 that he knew nothing whatever of the
Rcharges against him.
E Shortly before being taken to Co.
HRR 7,,,,: 7-,-b-~, ~, ---o- COO, =, his