The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-08
PROBING NEGRO KILLING.
May be Sensational Developments i'm
Lexington County Case.

thlS county has ever known is Just
coming to light. 1t will be recalled
that Henry Mitchell, negro, was
Killed near FredOnla on the night of
the Sth Of May. The following day,
which was Sunday an inquest was
held' conducted by a magistrate. Alb
solutely nothing was brought out at
the inquest the jury returning a YER
dict that the deceased came to his
death by a gunshot wound inflicted
by party or parties unknown to the
jury" This inquest was closed and
the report filed in the office of the
clerk of the court. The coroner was
not notified of the homicide, neither
was the sheriff, it is said.
The negro was shot with shotgun,
the load taking effect just behind the
knee, cutting the large artery. EIe
ran for a few hundred yards and fell
dead in the middle Of the road. It
was stated at the time by the magis-
trate and others in the immediate
vicinity, that it was believed that the
negroes were engaged in a little
game of Skin" as cards were found
on the track of the railroad. AL
though the negro was killed near the
home of another negro none of them
seemed TO know anything about the
trouble. 1t is said by a person who
went to the scene next morning, that
the negroes appeared very scared
and refused to have anything to say.
"A day or two after the negro was
killed rumors began to fly thick and
fast, and it was not long before II
was stated that the negro was kill
ed by white man, and that other
white men were eye-witnesses to the
tragedy. 1t is believed, in fact, it is
stated on what seems to be good
authority, that the white men went
to the place where the negroes were
gambling for the purpose of catching
them in the act, and when they came
upon the men, ordered the negroes to
| surrender whereupon the latter be-
gan to run. AS Mitchell ran off the
white man fired with the result that
the negro was killed.
The matter was called to the at
| tention Of Solicitor Zimmerman. who
at once took the matter up with Gov.
Ansel. During the past few days it
has been rumored that the white man
in question, who is married and has
five children, has skipped the coun-
try. gentleman was here yesterday,
though, who stated that he had not
left, but was still at work on the
plantation, where he has been en-
ployed as foreman for some time.
In order that no mistake might be
made, and get the true facts in the
case, the News and Courier CORES
pondent called up Solicitor Thinner
man at his home at Batesburg and
asked him for statement. Mr.. Tim
norman gave out the following for
publication: LAS soon as the killing
OF this negro was reported to me, |
wrote the Governor calling his atten-
ton to the matters that had been
called to mine; and later | wrote him
again to the effect that the party, or
at least one Of the parties, charged
with the killing had left the commu-
nifty. Some action will be taken by
the Governor as soon as he can prop
crly do so. He has written me to
that effect The public may rest as
! Sured that this case will he properly
ventilated in the Courts, and all will
he done that is reasonable to bring
the guilty party or parties to JUS
| tice"
The matter has caused considerable
talk all over the county, and future
| developments Will be awaited with
! Keen interest.