The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-08-15
MOB OF 1000 LAURENS MEN
CLAIMS LIFE OF RICHARD
PUCKETT.
Shot -Riddled Body Strung to Trestle-
Victim of Mob Attacks Young Wo-
man at Lonely Spot as She was
Driving to Laurens-Solicitor's Plea
for Delay Disregarded.

MOB OF Z,OOO men tonight at 1O:3O
o'clock lynched Richard Pickett,
young negro, charged with attempted
criminal assault.
After overpowing the sheriff and
his deputies the mob broke down two
doors, one to steel cage, and secur-
ing the negro carried him to rail-
way trestle near the passenger sta
tion, where he was strung up to
beam. Several hundred shots were
fired into his body. The mob then
dispersed. At midnight many were
arriving in town from all sections of
the Piedmont. Just before he was
killed the negro denied his guilt.
Sheriff John v. Owings said tonight
that the negro had confessed to him
during the afternoon. The confess
sion, it is said, was not made known
to the attacking crowd.
Attacks Young Women.
At lonely spot on the road to
Laurens from Madden the negro this
known young woman of the county.
He dragged her from the buggy as
she was driving to Laurens. The ne
gro was crouched under some bushes
and after she had passed he ran and
ordered her to halt. She called to
her brothers, who were following in
another buggy. The negro fled. She
drove on to Laurens and stopped at
the home of R. A. Cooper, solicitor
of this circuit. No general alarm was
given, but a search was begun by the
officers. Solicitor Cooper aided in the
search. Going just beyond the place
of attack the officers found several
negroes at house. Richard Puckett
walked away from the house and So
licitor Cooper directed that he be
held. When taken before the young
woman she could not positively iden-
tify him. The negro was carried to
Laurens and placed in Jail under a
heavy guard.
At o'clock tonight bloodhounds
from the State penitentiary were
brought to Laurens and placed on
the trail. The dogs trailed the negro
from the scene of the crime to the
house where he was found by the of
ficers.
During the afternoon seceral hun
dred men from all sections of the
county arrived in Laurens. AS night
came on the crowd increased until it
was estimated that there were fully
1000 persons crowded into the public
square. Realizing that the crowd was
bent on violence several deputies
were sworn in by Sheriff Owings and
placed within the Jail.
Advance on Jail.
At o'clock about SO men ad-
vanced on the Jail. Sheriff Owings
refused to give up the prisoner. The
crowd broke down a wooden door in
the rear and proceeded to the second
floor, where the negro was confined in
steel cage. The door was soon bat
tered down. The sheriff and his dep
uties were overpowered.
Taking the negro from the Jail the
mob proceeded to the union passen-
ger station. A rope was tied to one of
the beams on the Charleston &
Western Carolina railway trestle to
the south, about IL feet from the
ground and the negro was hanged,
He denied several times that he was
guilty if the crime.
Many Shots Are Fired.
When the negro had been strung
up several hundred shots were fired
from the crowd of 1000. The mob
then dispersed and proceeded to their
homes. At midnight many from ad-
joining counties were arriving in the
city.
This is the first lynching to occur
in Laurens county within the past Is
years and it is the first time that
negro was ever taken from the Jail.
Just before the mob attacked the
Jail Solicitor Cooper made a speech
urging that the people let the law
take its course. He promised to Sc
cure a speedy trial for the negro,
Several other well known citizens of
Laurens spoke to the crowd without
avail.
The body was left tonight swing
ing to the beam of the trestle and the
inquest will very probably be held to-
morrow.
Bloodhounds Sent.
Bloodhounds from the State peni-
tentiary were sent to Laurens yester-
day afternoon to aid in capture of
Richard Puckett, the negro charged
with criminal assault. The dogs