The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-09-25
NEGRO HUNT IN ANDERSON
SHERIFF AND POSSES SECURING
BRJSHY CREEK SECTION.
Woman's Story Starts Husband and
Others on Search for Eugene
Hatton-Likely to be Caught.

Hatton-Likely to be Caught.
Anderson, Sept. 21.-Sheriff Ash
ley and his deputies, together with
volunteer posses, have been securing
the Brushy Creek section of this
county since Friday night in search
of Eugene Hatton, negro, accused
of grossly insulting the wife of his
employer, a planter, in the northern
part of Anderson county. The search,
it is understood, is still being prose-
cuted by the volunteers, the officers
having returned to the city, after
leaving instructions for the pursuit.
1t is considered scarcely probable
that Hatton can escape from the
searchers. He will hardly be taken
alive.
Friday afternoon the negro went
to the farm where he worked and
asked the young woman whether her
husband was at home. Learning of
his employers absence, the negro is
said to have offered a gross insult to
the young woman. She fed to the
home of her father-in-law, and re-
turned with two women members of
the household One of them with a
pistol covered the negro and demand
ed his name. He gave it as Eugene
Hatton. Then, in spite of the pistol,
he managed to make good his escape.
Start in Search.
Returning from Piedmont, the
young husband learned of the incl
dent, and with his father went to the
negro's house. The two called Hat
ton out, but accepted his explanation,
inasmuch as they were imperfectly
informed as to his conduct. The
young woman had begged, too, that
his life be spared.
Later in the night the two learned
further details of the negro's actions
and decided to search for him. Mean
while, Hatton had fled.
Saturday the sheriff was notified
and he and deputy Sanders went to
the scene. They, with the assistance
of the Brushy Creek people, made a
thorough search, but were able to get
but the slightest traces of the ne
gro's course.
Last night about 8 o'clock word
was received that the negro had been
seen crossing the watermelon patch
of a neighbor and that he had gun
across his shoulder. Between IS and
25 men, headed by the father of the
young wife and the father of the
Ayoung husband, began systematic
search of the houses in the COM
munity, including the home of Hat
tons father-in-law, a negro named
Sherman. The men knew that Hat
tons wife had, during Saturday, gone
back to her home and secured Hat
tons clothes and had taken them to
Sherman's home. The supposition
was that Hatton would go to Sher-
mans house during the night to get
his clothes and then skip out OF the
country. The clothes were found
and were identified, but the negro's
whereabouts was not learned.
Detailing a couple of men to watch
the Sherman house from nearby
bushes the crowd of men went on
searching tour of the woods and
nearby houses, but they met with no
success.
Rain Interferes.
Rain fell in torrents at intervals,
and the searchers were driven in
doors to wait until the weather
changed.
The searchers returned to their
homes this morning without having
found the man. The search is being
prosecuted this afternoon and will
probably be carried into the night.
The young woman whom the negro
insulted is the daughter of probably
the largest farmer in the township.
The husband is the son of very
prominent and influential farmer,
and is one who has a wide and well
known family connection. Besides be-
ing a bit nervous the young woman
has suffered no i'll effects from the
incident. She has been staying with
her fathers family since the OCCUR
renee while the search for the negro
has been directed from the home OF
the young husbands father.
Eugene Hatton is described as be-
ing bright mulatto and about 22