The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-02-24


out side, and another attack on the
court house was not ventured. The
militia company, ordered by the gov
ernor at midnight, did not succeed in
assembling until 4 a. M, and at that
hour the militia relieved the depu-
ties.
The mob at the Jail was the growth
of public indignation over petty
crimes by negroes, particularly purse
snatching and annoyances to- women.
Mrs. Rose Maloney's purse was
snatched Wednesday evening", She
drew a revolver and fired at the ne
gro but he escaped with her purse.
In her pocketbook was silver dol
lar to which a postage stamp had be-
come attached. Mrs. Maloney told
the police of this fact and when
negro offered such coin in a drug
store yesterday he was arrested.
The prisoner John Pratt, confessed
that he had taken Mrs. Malony's
purse and that of Mrs. Accord. He
said that Lincoln Wilson was his ac-
complice and Wilson, a negro, was ar
rested
Appeal to Governor.
The sheriff heard talk Of mob law
yesterday afternoon and at 10 p. M,
the sheriff called up Gov. Deneen at
Springfield.
An order was sent to Cairo for
Capt. Greaney of the local militia
company, to go to the sheriff's aid.
There was delay in finding Greaney
and in arousing the militiamen.
The sheriff called on Mayor George
Parsons for aid from the police. The
mayor said he would order some Of
the night force to assist Nellis, but
none of the eight night policemen ap-
peared at the court house.
From 10 p. m. until midnight the
crowd gathered in the saloons and
talk of lynching grew into the deter
mination to attack the jail and take
out two negro prisoners.
The building itself was dark and
the mob could not see the sheriff and
IL deputies standing guard with shot
guns at the windows Of the two Off
ces on either side of the main en-
trance.
AS the crowd rushed towards the
steps, Sheriff Nellis called loudly,
"Stand back or my men will fire on
you"
The first four men in the crowd the
sheriff declared had handkerchiefs
over their faces. Nellis raised a pis-
tol and shouting a command to fire
he fired a shot over the heads of the
mob.
The deputies who had been order
ed to fire their first volley in the air,
did so. AS the sound died away, pis-
tol shots began sounding from the
crowd and bullets struck around the
sheriff.
Halliday, who had started up the
steps in advance of his fellows, was
felled at the second volley by charges
from at least two shot guns.
He fell over the railing of the
court house steps and lay silent in
the snow. The others fell back hur-
riedly, carrying the wounded men in
the rush for safety.
From a saloon, where physician
dressed the wounds of the four men,
telephone message was sent to the
sheriff's office. Nellis answered the
telephone.
eve want to send over and get
that man who is lying there" came a
voice from the saloon.
"You can't come until l have talk
ed to the Governor" was the reply.
Nellis called up Springfield and told
Governor Deneen that the man in the
snow was dead, as he believed him
to be. He asked whether he should
permit the body to be removed.
The governor advised him, Nellis
says, to wait until the militia came,
and to take no chances on ruse
which might result in renewal of the
mob's attack When the next mes
sage came from the saloon, Nellis told
his questioner that everyone must
keep away.
Early in the day company K re-
lieved Sheriff Nellis and soon had
matters fully in hand. The town is
excited and the residents assert that
the ned is not yet.
A heavy guard of soldiers has been
placed around the iail and no one is