The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-08-13
SOLICITOR COOPER AND SHERIFF OvINGS
PROTEST IN VAIN AGAINST ACTION
Over One Thousand People in the Mob that Stormed
the County Jail and Took Negro out Who had Been
Placed There Pending Identification. Mob Orderly
and Quiet Yet Determined.

Rich Puckett, a negro probably be-
tween twenty-five and thirty years Of
ty Jail by a mob Of determined citi-
zens Monday night and, followed by
a crowd of around one thousand men
from many sections Of the county,
was carried to the c. & W. G. trestle
which crosses the little stream few
hundred yards south of the passenger
station, where he was strung up and
riddled with bullets. This was the
climax of an exciting day following an
attempted assault upon a lady Of q
prominent Laurens county family on
the Double Branch road just beyond
the southwest edge of the city. Though
protesting his innocense in the face
Of the angry mob surrounding him
just before his death, Rich Puckett
had earlier in the day to Sheriff John
guilt of the attempted assault and the
evidence gathered by the men in pur-
suit pointed SO positively in his di-
rection that no doubt can be enter
The lffeless body of the would be
rapist hung suspended beneath the
railway trestle all during the night
and until about nine o'clock yesterday
the order of the county authorities.
Ii was taken in charge by the under
takers and yesterday afternoon it was
inferred in the colored cemetery near
the city.
The awful crime of which the ne
gro was charged was attempted early
in the forenoon Monday. The lady
was coming to the city to visit a sick
relative and had arrived within about
a mile Of the city limits. The negro,
who had been working in field some
distance away, was crouched behind
a large bush awaiting his victim. Af-
ter she had passed and had gone a
few feet, the negro approached from
behind the bush and attacked her,
dragging her from the buggy into tho
bushes to the side of the road, choking
her all the time. Her screams and her
almost incoherent declaration that her
brothers were coming on behind
frightened the negro so that he re-
leased his hold and ran withou, ac-
complishing his purpose Bruised
ly injured, the lady succeeded in climb
ing back into her buggy and driving
to town. She first stopped at the home
of Mr.. John Hicks and told him of
her narrowing experience. Mr.. Hicks
telephoned the sheriff and the hunt
was begun Immediately Word flew
like wildfire over different sections of
the county where she was known and
very soon hundreds of men were on
the scene in determined pursuit.
The Capture.
GuardS were placed Immediately
around the scene of the crime to pro-
tect the tracks Of the criminal and
bloodhounds were ordered from Co.
>lumbia. Scouting parties began a
search of all the surrounding country.
1t was when several men stopped at
a negro house to get a drink of wa
ter that the capture took place Two
negroes were sitting beneath a tree
talking when one of them got up and
offered to get dipper. The other
one, who later turned out to be the
would-be rapist, turned to go through
the house when Solicitor Cooper or
dered that he be held as he seemed to
act in suspicious manner and APP