The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-25

Or TN, Part the Sherins Played I'm
that Hone Path Lynching.
Greenville News.

-~cWS.
when the law. personifed by lis
officers. fees before the automobile
mob Of infuriated citizens Iynchine
is cereain.
| The principles Of Josh Ashley and
those who think with him in regard
10 lyrching for the unmentionabls
crime are we'll known: II is useless
to argue that phase of yesterdays af-
fair near Iionea Path. Those men did
just what they would have been ex-
pocted to do. in the circumstances.
But what about the sheriffs OF
Anderson and Greenville counties ?
Having the prisoner within the An
derson jail. where steel cells and stout
hearts and firearms would have in
sured sufficient protection. ne was
rushed of to Greenville. Then when
In reach Of Greenville's fortress Jail
he was again rushed towards Spar
tanburg-but eventually concealed in
the woods. Temporarily frustrated
by this pitiable subterfuge. the pur-
suers were permitted to discover the
automobile driver and force him Ia
tell where the prisoner was hid
Where was Greenville's force when
that was going on?
| Companions are odious, but we
venture to suggest that had the old
Baldheaded Sheriff. or his gritty SON
got hold Of that prisoner in the official
capacity as sheriff Of Greenville
I County. the prisoner would have been
kept safe within Greenville iail."-
Columbia Record.
Certain facts I'm connection with
the G-aenville end Of the story came
to light yesterday. 1t appears tina,
Sheriff King. in order to evade the
mob shat he knew to be approaching
Anderson. forwarded his prisoner IN
to Gresnville Jail in custody Of an An
derson deputy. This deputy and pris-
1 oner were met at a point near the
| city by the Greenville sheriff. and
start was made for the Greenville
jail. On arrival at the prison. the
Greenville sheriff and the Anderson
| deputy were In the act Of taking the
prisoner into the jail when q teie.
phone message came from Sheriff
King. Of Anderson. ordering the pris-
oner to be taken to Spartanburg
Acting on this order. the Anderson
deputy and the Greenville sheriff
made the start on the thirty-mile trip
to spartanburg in an automobile
which broke down. The remainder
Of the story is well known to all who
have followed accounts of the chase
and capture and final lynching OF the
rapist.
The question naturally arises:
Should not the Greenville sheriff. or
bis own initiative. have held the
prisoner in safety while he had an
opportunity of doing so? Should ne
not have jailed him while he had the
prisoner In reach Of his own county
Notwithstanding the orders oi
the Anderson sherifY:
Under the circumstances this would
appear TO have been the sensible plar
especially in view Of the fact tina,
he Is not willing to admit that he
could not have held his own against
thirty. even fifty, men. He had hi.
deputies, the city police force and g
militia company. within easy call. an
II seems now. looking at the matteI
I'm calmness, that the negro might
have been held here in safety till 8
special term Of court could have deal
out speedy justice.
| AS We understand il. Solicitor Bon
ham was quick to act in the matter
AS soon as he heard Of the impend
Ing lynching he got In communica
tion with the Governor of the Stat
and to the mayor Of Honea Path h,
repeated the Governors promise fol
quick justice. But the m ob was wild
in the chase which II had begun, ant
only the right sort of nerve coult
have stayed II.
But the right sort OF nerve coult
have stayed 1t.