The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-30
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF
THE FAIR PLAY RIOT
Slightly Different Version Of AZ
fair Given in Richland
Story.

Accounts of the recent race trouble
at Fair Play, in Oconec County, being
in order. a story from Richland to the
Columbia State. which give a some
what different version of the affair, is
reprinted below. 1t is as follows:
Julius Marrett, the man who was
stabbed at Fair Play three weeks ago.,
Is rapidly improving now and is re-
ported to be practically out Of dan
ger. 1t will. be remembered that Mr..
Marrett is a merchant at Fair Play
and that a negro, Byrd, was wanted
for some ofense In Georgia. He WIGS
located near Fair Play. An officer
from Georgia came for him, but fear
ing the negro would recognize him and
get away he sent Mr.. Marrett with the
warrant. He entered the negro's
house and while reading the warrant
the negro stabbed him with a butcher
knife, took his pistol away from him
and fled. The knife struck Mr.. Mar
rett Just below the heart and split one
rib and punctured one lung. For
some days there seemed to be little
hope for his recovery. Some half doz-
en- doctors were summoned and final
ly the split rib was taken out and he
has been improving aver since. The
negro vas captured near Tallulah
Fails and Is now In Jail in Georgia.
Ten days ago a negro named
Spright was found making preparation
to burn a home about seven miles
southeast OF Fair Play (Oconee), in
Anderson County. and on Sunday
morning. December 13, Woodrow
Campbell and John Mcdonald came to
Fair Play with the negro Tom Spright
tied n an automobile and two other
negroes wit'>them. Magistrate Nc
Clure OF Fair Play Joined them. They
made for the Georgia side to have the
other two negroes whip Tom Spright.
Near Knox'a bridge they met two sons
or Green Gibson, a negro, and some
words passed not satisfactory 10 the
posse. so they seized one of the boys
and tied him and put him in the auto
mobile and crossed the river. entering
q vacant house near the public road
and began whipping Spright and the
Gibson negro. The other son of
Green Gibson ran home for his father.
They came to the whipping with their
stotguns and at ice shots were ex-
changed in rapid succession. Just at
this point Paul Marrett was passing
along the public road on his way to
Georgia. Some one hailed him. He
was In a top buggy. with curtains up.
He stuck his head around the curtain
to see what was going on Just in time
to receive several slaps on hand and
face. He happened to be armed and
jumped from his buggy and began
firing with his pistol. After the firing
ceased n Gibson boy was found in
q dying condition and died in q short
time. Spright was badly beaten with
buggy traces, but vas found and car
ried to Hartwell jail and is there now.
Campbell, Mcdonald and Magistrate
Mcclure all received varying amounts
OF small shot. Green Gibson and his
other son took cover under the bridge
during the shirmish and retreated in
good order. Green Gibson, the old
negro. ran to his landlord, Allen Mar
rett. near Fair Play, and asked for
advice and protection. Marrett nd
vised him to take to the heavy tims
bered lacas northeast OF Fair Play
and stay there until things cooled
down. He made for the woods and
got safely through the first forest,
but had to cross the public road TO
get into the dense forest. AS he cross
ed the road N OF the pursuing party
saw him al O distance and put o rifle
bail through him and he fell in the
road and lay there for some "a hours.
A number Of shots were fired into his
body. Later another negro. whose
name Is not known. made some threats
ard the posse made for him, but he
reached his mule and. by good strategy
and all haste got q half hour start Of
the pursuers. and he has not been
heard of since, It ia thought he made
good his escape.
Since the above article was written
Tom Spights has died In the Has.setl
jail or injuries sustained when he was
whipped.