The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-16
Sheriff Of Fairfield Dead
Riot at Court House Door
Negro on Way to Trial Slain Though
Mortal1y Wounded, Sheriff Hood
Takes Man Accused Of Attempted
Criminal Assault into Court Room
Where He Falls Dead in Dock.
Judge John S. Wilson Presiding,

itary company, but that brave
body of men under Capt. J; B.
Doty responded promptly when
orders came from Columbia.
They escorted Sheriff Hood
and the two wounded deputies
to the special train, which took
them to Columbia. for there had
been some idle talk that more
shooting was imminent. The
company dispersed, for there
was nothing for them to do. The
townspeople we're amazed when
two automobiles, carrying 4,8OO
rounds of rifle ammunition and
700 rounds of pistol ammunition
raced IN from Columbia. The
detail, which brought the am
munltion. was commanded by
Adjt Gen j. Shapter Caldwell,
for the report had been sent to
Columbia that the company here
was without ammunition. The
cars were guarded by a detail of
men hastily enlisted in Columbia
and the run from the Capital
City here was made in record
time. The detail returned TO
Columbia when they found the
situation here was quiet. Sew
eral automobiles came from
Columbia, but the excitement
here lasted less than an hour; in
fact, as one citizen said, it was
all over before anyone knew
what was going on. They best
described it as sounding like
the popping of frecrackers: "
Court was to have convened
here this morning, but after the
tragedy it did not assemble un-
til 8 o'clock this afternoon.
There was an air of unusual
solemnity prevailing the court
room, and Judge Wilsen and
the jurors all reflected the grav-
ity of the situation by their 5ac-
tions and demeanor. The at.
mosphere impressed one with
the. feeling that those respons:-
bic for the tragedy were going
to be held to "strict accounta
bility."
ASSASSINATION" SAYS COURT.
The blood-stained portals of
this temple OF justice cry aloud
for the vindlcation of the majes-
ty of the law, said Judge John
S. Wilson in his vigorous charge
to the Fairfield grand jury this
afternoon. in which he derounc-
ed the shooting Of Sheriff Hood
and his deputies as 'assassina
tion" and called on the jury to
make a thorough and sweeping
investigation and to bring every
one connected with the horrible
affair to justice.
It is your duty, said Judge
Wilson, to act and act in such a
manner as TO vindicate the law
which has been so greatly rut'
ragged this day.
Calling attention 20 the ltct
that he first presided as Judge
in Winnsboro IN September 1907.
Judge Wilson recalled the slo
rious history OF Fairfield county
"a county known for the rlln-
hood of its men and the purity
of it's women, a county where
law and order reigned, but
which this day has been out
ragged. Did this happen on the
borders of Arizona: Did this
happen in Mexico: No, it hap
pened in old historic Winnsboro,
continued the Judge.
"What man is there whose
blood does not boil when he
hears of the crime of which this
poor wretch stood accused?"
Judge Wilson asked, adding
that he had been informed that
the negro had confessed and
that everything was in readiness
to give him a fair and impartial
trial, and that the law would
have been vindicsted and justice
done. He said that men should
control themselves in such cir
cumstances, but this morning
men gave vent to their passions
and took the law into their own
hands, and with what result2
Your sheriff lies lowering be-
tween life and death. The negro
is dead. Several deputies are