The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-12-11
BLEASE ORDERS TROOPS
CITIZENS FEARED LYNCHING OF
NEGROES AFTER MURDER.
Coroner'S Jury Holds Three Negroes
for Murder OF f.. Pey-
ton Best.

Columbia. December A coro-
Aer's jury investigating into the cause
Of the shooting of E. P. Best, mer-
chant, on the streets of BarnWeli
last night, held Scott Madison, col
ered, as principal and Mitchell Story
and Gilbert Parker, also negroes, for
the killing. They were brought to
the State Penitentiary for safe keep
ing tonight
A long distance telephone message
ffom Barnwell late this afternoon to
this bureau stated that the town was
auiet and that the military company
vas not needed Sheriff Norris has
everything in hand and the crowds
have all dispersed. 1t is said that
the grand jury will likely be called
in special session to investigate the
killing and that special term OF
Court will be asked for to try the
negroes.
Mr.. Best was a popular merchant
and citizen and much sympathy is
felt for his widow and little children.
His assassination aroused the cltl-
zens to fury and it is said that only
the GOODNESS and self-control of the
yeomanry of Barnwell averted
trouble. Funeral services over the
dead merchants remains will be held
tomorrow
Military Ordered Out.
Acting on a long distance tele-
phone call from Senator Patterson to
the effect that from the ominous air
pervading a crowd of determined
white men, which were gathering,
lynching of negroes was feared, Gov
ernor Blease ordered the military
company at Barnwell under arms and
told Sheriff Morris to call out a posse
comitatus, swear in extra deputies
ties to preserve peace and order and
to prevent any bloodshed in Barnwell,
as a result of the wholesale arrest'of
negro suspects following the shoot
ing down of Mr. E. P. Best on the
streets of that city last night.
Assemble your company and do
what is necessary to preserve the
peace. there" was the telegram sent
to Capt. Emile Harley, of the Barn
well military company, this morning
by Governor Blease. To Sheriff J. B.
Norris he telegraphed: Use every
effort at your command, call out posse
cemitatus swear in extra deputies
and do everything to preserve peace
and order there. l warn you not to
fail in the discharge Of your duties"
The Governor asked Mr.. Charles
Carroll Simms at Barnwell to use his
influence to preserve order please
use your influence to preserve order
and to see that the law is vindicated,"
vas the wire which went to Mr..
Simms
Intense Excitement.
Information received in Columbia
is that following the shooting of Mr..
Best on the streets of Barnwell last
night as he was leaving restaurant
a determined posse of white men,
heavily armed, searched for the sus-
pected slayer or slayers and that over
a score of negroes were rounded up
and locked in Jail as supects. The
city was intensely excited and this
morning white men gathering in the
streets in front of the jail, with de-
termined looks on their faces and
sullen anger pervading the crowd,
., led some citizens to fear that an at
tempt would be made lynch the sus-
poets. This is the information which
Governor Blease got from Senator
Patterson over the long distance tele-
phone, it. being stated that. it was
feared that forty negroes would be
lynched.
The military company was oredered
ont to guard the Jail and preserve Or
der and Sheriff Morris was instructed
to swear in any amount of deputies
to reinforce the military if necessary.
Mr.. Simms was asked to use his in
fluence with his fellow citizens to
quiet their anger and allow the law TO
take it's course
1t is thought that the prompt
measures taken by Governor Blease
will insure order in Barnwell and
that any violence will be averted.