The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-11-30
PAYS PENALTY FOR CRIME.
FLUTE CLARK, NEGRO BRUTE.
MURDERS WHITE GIRL IN
ATTEMPT TO RAVISH
HER.
Negro il Captured by Half Dozen
Citizens of The NcighborhoOd---
Confcsscs to Crime and is Later
Riddlcd with Bullets.

Il((lc MOuHldlH NOV. S0.-ltluQleQ
hy 1000 bullet wounds, the body OF
Flute Clark. negro, tonight lies ON
the south side of Little Mountain,
mute evidence of the suddenly arous-
ed wrath of a mob of nearly 1,OOG
Lexington and Newberry citizens,
maddened by the murder of the IL
year-old daughter of prominent
farmer of this section, who, Clarke
is said To have confessed, met hel
death while resisting his attempts to
assault her. The girls throat was
cut from ear to ear, and her bleeding
body was found about 5 O'Clock this
afternoon near the cellar door OF heI
home. The negro was caught and
spirited away by a half dozen men,
who concealed him from the Off
GERS The mob got wind Of this and
the negro's alleged confession to his
captors, and at once went in groups
to the secluded spot, where the prs-
oner was held.
Once the brutal negro was in their
power, the enraged citizens poured
volleys into his body, nearly 1000
shots. it is believed, being fired. With
the bloody work over. the crowd be-
gan to disperse, and there was little
further manifestation of disorder
The body was left where it fell, with
lantern hung on the berast.
The young girl, who had two days
holiday from school on account Of
Thanksgiving, was alone at home at
the time of the attack. Her mother
had just gone to a neighbor's. The
negro, who worked for her father,
approached her, according to his al
legged confession, to which there is no
| confederation, there being no eye
witnesses, and asked her for drink
of water. She gave him the water,
and then he asked her to bring him
some potatoes also. When she
brought them he attacked her. The
| would tell her father. The negro
then lashed her throat from ear to
ear. the head being almost severed
from the body. He then fled.
The girls young brother, return
| ing to the house a short time after
| ward. found her body. The alarm
| was given, and the father of the vic
tim, who was plowing in field about
, 200 yards from the fatal scene,
| rushed to the scene. Medical atten-
! tion was hastily secured but the lit
tie victim was dead. Her resistance
had not been in vain, however, as she
had thwarted the negro's fendish
purpose.
Clarke. with almost consummate
cunning. returned at once to the
| scene and even assisted in carrying
the body of his victim into the house.
When the alarm was given the Lex
ington sheriff sent the bloodhouds
| from the country chaingang in charge
sheriff of Newberry, also hastened to
the spot
Upon arrival at the scene the dogs
ut once took up the trail and car
ried it to a field where the negro
had been plowing. Here they stopped
and the chase was given up.
Then the crowd, which had been
| gathering since the first reports of
the crime had gone forth, separated
to beat the bushes for the negro. At
/ ter a short chase he was captured by
a party of half a dozen and hurried
into place of seclusion. The negro
| Is said to have confessed his crime to
| these men. The mob learned of the
capture, and, while the officers went
| off on a false scent, quietly slipped
away to where the negro was held.
What followed can not be definitely
stated, but a fusillade Of shots was
heard and shortly after the negro was
! found dead, riddled with bullets. with
lantern hanging on his breast.
The girls body was found lying in
the yard near the cellar door, and
the surroundings show that des-
| perate struggle was made by the
young girl The distance from the
well to where the young girl met her
death is about 80 yards, and she was
| dragged the entire distance. Her
mead was almost severed from the
| body.
Flute Clarke had lived on the
place of the victims father for -
years. having been practically raised
/ 10y the family. He was married and
IS said to have been about 81 years
! ID