The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-31
TIE FAIR PLAY AFFAIR.

Rumors continue to COME from
Fair Play as to undercurrents OF a
continuance OF mob violence, or
threatened mob violence, but SO far
as The Courier has been able to as
certain, these reports seem to be ex-
a~ggerated. built up mainly, we sup
pose. upon the mutterings OF some of
those who possess largely the mob
spirit. 1t Is to be hoped that the
citizens OF the Fair Play section will
be willing to let bad enough alone,
the lawless element abstaining from
further lawlessness and the law abid-
Ing citizens lending every energy to
the prevention Of further crime and
the bringing to justice of those who
may be guilty of having melted and
assisted In the diabolical deeds that
have been committed in that commun-
ity within the past few weeks. The
good name OF Fair Play has been
stained in such a manner that 1t will
take years to the blot. With
the best that can be done 1.-THE damn
ed spot will not out" until justice has
been done and time has blotted from
memory the vividness of the outrages
that have been committed. !;
SO far Oconee has not completed
an inquiry into the tragedy, though
we learn that an inquest was held
without reaching any conclusion, the
jury disagreeing. This is report. but
We can not give 1t as definite infor-
nation. 1t Is said, however. that
Magistrate Eubanks, of the Oakway
section, is to open an inquiry next
Monday. January 4th, and it Is to be
hoped that the legal procedure will
have the hearty support and thorough
cooperation of every l%aw-abiding cit
lien Of the community most directly
concerned and OF the county at large.
Oconee has a good name to protect,
and while no one should seek ven
geance for the outrage that has been
committed, no one should be salts
fed with less than full justice, stern
justice. adequate to meet the gravi-
ty Of the situation, and the enormity
OF the crimes committed.
In Hart County, Georgia, action has
been taken IN regard to that part of
the crimes committed in that State,
and the following statement as to re-
suits appeared in the Atlanta Consti-
tuition OF last Wednesday.
Coroner James Nixon and DR.. w.
F.. McCurry have returned from Knox
Bridge, in upper Hart County, where
an inquest was held over George Glib
son. who was beaten to death. Tom
Spight. another negro, was badly
beaten. The negroes are from South
Carolina, just across the river. The
coroner's jury returned q verdict OF
murder against w. p. Mcclure, Ca!
Kay, VIII Kay and others"
1t Is to be hoped that there will be
no "whitewashings-and we believe
there will be none-in the inyestiga-
ton that Is to be held on The Caro-
lima side next week. The Georgia
officials seem to have acted with very
proper promptness in the cases that
concerned the Georgia side of the
river. Let South Carolina officials
act with q determination that no in
Justice shall be done to any man, yet
that the majesty OF the law shall be
upheld, and that the guilty parties,
regardless Of position, family, influ~
ence, or any other consideration, may
be speedily brought before the bar Of
justice.
News reaches us now that the third
negro has died, this one being Ton
Spight. who has been held for safe
keeping In the Hart County tetl.
Is this lawless element determined
that the good name OF Oconee shall
be dragged continually through mire
and filth, and crime and degradation?
Can they not be satisfied with having
placed q splotch ON the county's good
record without continuing to redden
that part of It which they have writ
ten In blood? Let there be an end Of
this %rottenness that ia coming to be
q stencil in the .nostrlls Of all law
abiding citizens OF the whole county
and State.-Keowee Courier.
O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o