The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-12-10
BLEASE TO THE RESCUE
ORDERS THE MILITIA TO PRO-
TECT THE NEGROES.
Who Were IN Jail Charged With the
Brutal Murder Of Mr.. E. p. Best
at BarnHeIl.

The cold-blooded murder of Mr.. E.
P. Best, at Barnwell on Wednesday
night while walking along one Of the
principal streets of that town, caused
great excitement, and had the ne
groes been caught who murdered
Mr.. Best they would have Jared bad
ly. The coroner's jury held Scott
Madison, colored, as principal and
Mitchell Story aud Gilbert Parker,
also negroes, for the killing. They
were carried to the State penitentiary
for safe keeping on Thursday night.
They had been confined in the Barn
we'll Jail all day Thursday.
Acting on long distance telephone
call from Senator Patterson Thurs
day morning 70 the effect that from
the oninous air pervading crowd Of
determined white men, which were
gathering, a lynching OF negroes was
feared, Governor Blease ordered the
military company at Barnwell under
arms and told Sheriff Morris to call
out a posse comitatus and swear in
extra deputies to preserve peace and
order and to prevent any bloodshed
in Barnwell, as a result Of the whole
sale arrest Of negro suspects follow
ing the shooting down Of Mr.. E. P.
Best.
Here Is the governors order: Gas
sem5le your company and do what is
necessary to preserve the peace
there" was the Telegram sent to
Capt. Emile Harley, of the Barnwell
military company, Thursday morning
by Governor Blease. To Sheriff J. B.
Morris he telegraphed: "Use every
effort at your command, call out
posse comitatus, swear in extra depu-
ties and do everything to preserve
peace and order there. 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 vindtcated,"
was the wire which went to NJ.
Simms. The military company was
ordered out to guard the Jail and pre-
serve order and Sheriff Morris was
instructed to swear in any amount Of
deputies to reinforce the military if
necessary.
The city was intensely excited and
Thursday morning white men gather
ing in the streets in front Of the Jail,
with determined looks on their faces
and with sullen anger pervading
the crowd, led some citizens to fear
that an attempt would be made to
lynch the suspects. This is the infor-
nation which Governor Blease got
from Senator Patterson over the long
distance telephone, it being stated
that it was feared that forty negroes
would be lynched.
Late Thursday afternoon the town
was quiet and the military COM
pauy was not needed. Sheriff Morris
has everything in hand and the
crowds have all dispersed: Mr.. Best
was a popular merchant and citizen
and much sympathy IS felt for his
widow and little children. His as
sassination aroused the citizens to
fury and it is said that only the cool
ness and self-control of the yeomanry
Of Barnwell averted trouble.
Knowing the intense feeling
against the accused it was decided at
a meeting Of the bar, Thursday
morning to request immediate trial,
court now being in session. The
grand jury will be summoned to meet
Monday and as H. A. Simms, Esq,
who, with Thomas NJ. Boulware, Esq,
has been appointed to defend the
negroes, stated that the usual three
days would be waived. 1t is very
Immediately after the finding Of the
probable that the case will be called
grand jury.