The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-04-25
MOTHER AND son INJURED.
Florence Negro Charged With At
tempt to Murder.-CroWd Threat
ems to Lynch.


supposedly to take the life OF well
known Florence lady and her SON
Ferdinand. at their home, 104 East
Front street, this city, about $50
o'clock Saturday night, was made BY
negro with the use of part OF
heavy steel IS" wrench. But for thell
screams and prompt response o1
neighbors and members of the police
force, both of them no doubt would
hav been murdered. The husband
who was at work in the A. c. L. Yards
was apprised of the deed later in the
of Police H. NJ. Brunson, who, WI
evening. The story as given by Cnlel
Foreman Mack Worrell, of the chain
gang, soon ran to earth the negro
supposed to have committed the as
sault, is as follows:
Story OF Attack by Negro.
The lady, the wife of an Atlantic
Coast Line Trainman, and her 12-year-
old son. were alone at their home.
Some one knocked at the door and up
on investigation it proved to be ne
gro, said to be named Herman Kelly,
who had been sent there to buy milk.
He did not have a vessel to take the
milk in and he was loaned a pitcher
which he was to return. Later in the
evening Kelly returned with the pitch
er and, according to the police story,
as he handed the lady the vessel he
caught her by the arm ad struck her
over the head with part OF a steel
"S' wrench, which is used by track
forces for tightening rail bolts. The
blow partially feiled her and she be-
gan screaming. The assailant struck
her again and by this time her son,
who had been asleep, was awakened
and he ran into the yard screaming.
Thinking that he had probably slain
the lady, the negro ran out after the
boy, telling him. BY this time neigh
bors began to reach the place and fear
ing he would be caught the negro, sup
posed to have ben Kelly, ran through
the back yard and attempted to scale
a high fence to the side of the prem
ises. In doing so, however, a board
broke with him and he fell heavily to
the ground. AS he fell his arm was
caught on the end or picket and the
skin torn off. In this condition, and
With blood from his victims wounds
smeared over his clothing, he made
good for the time his escape.
1t was not long afterwards before a
great crowd gathered and the police
officers proceeded to run down the
negro. Chief Brunson and Officer Wor-
rell followed clue and shortly after
midnight, at the home of Jack Black
whose wife is an aunt Of Kelly's, they
arrested Kelly, who is charged as be-
inc the man who committed the deed
Evidence Seem Strong.
When arrested Kelly is said to have
had the scratch on the arm which il
is thought was made in the fall over
the fence
The officers took Kelly before his vic
tins. who identified him as being the
right party. Kelly was then carried tt
the station house and later removed
to the Jail.
By this time there were various
rumors as to what would be done with
him if the crowd could get at him
throughout the day yesterday the deco
committed was the talk Of the town
and as the day grew into night squads
of men who were seen talking soo1
gathered into a crowd.
Rumors of Contemplating Lynching.
Shortly after 9 o'clock it had reached
some $50 or 200 men. 1t seemed tina
this gathering proposed to take sum
mary action on Kelly: and not onl!
Kelly, but the Mcintosh boys, who i
will be remembered are in jail under
the sentence Of death for the murdel
of little Andrew Jackson last Febru
ary one year ago, and who are await
ing the supreme courts decision,
lynch the three of them at one time
About 10 o'clock move was made ant
the crowd proceeded to the Jail, ant
Jailer Bryant was called up. Upo1
opening the door several of the crowc
called upon him to surrender the keys
which he refused to do, but which h
was later forced to give up, and while
held captive an attempt was made tt
gain entrance to the cell room IL
which tho caonc arc located but i