The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-23
HOW RIOT STARTED
NEGRO AND SHERIFF SLAIN ON
COURT HOUSE STEPS
ON WAY TO HIS TRIAL

Mob of Few Men Trample Law Under
Their Feet-SheriT Hood, Mortally
Wounded, Places Man Accused Of
Attempted Criminal Assault Into
Dock Where He Falls Dead.
Sheriff A. D. Hood killed in per-
formance of his duty, Jules Smith, a
negro charged with criminal assault
and Clyde Isenhower, q relative OF
Smiths alleged intended victim, dead,
Deputy Sheriff Earle Stevenson des-
perstely wounded. his left arm being
practically shot off, Rural Stevenson
;. r. Boulware shot. in the pit OF his
stomach and barely living, and Jesse
Morrison, brother-in-law of 1senhow-
er and a member of the attacking
party, shot in the head. and several
other deputy sheriffs wounded, tell
the horrible results OF an attack by a
small mob on the sheriff at Winns-
boro Monday morning while he was
ascending the Court House steps
with the negro who was to be placed
on trial for his life.
The negro had been in the State
Penitentiary for sSee-keeping and
the sheriff was accompanied by sew
eral deputies. This precaution was
taken in view Of certein threats said
to have been uttered. The sheriff
and his prisoner reached Winnsboro
in safety.
With the negro walking between him
and Policeman Haynes. the sheriff
had started up the steps to the
Court House, his deputies followering
in the rear, when frsillade of shots
broke out. The first bullet struck
the negro prisoner in the stomach
with fatal results. The second bullet
from the mob hit Sheriff Hood.
BY this time the fusillade had be-
come general, the mob firing promls-
cuously into the crowd which was
following the sheriff and his party up
the steps to the Court Room. As soon
as he could draw his pistol Sheriff
Hood returned the fire and several
of his deputies Joined in the ARRAY.
Sheriff Hood was shot five times,
three times in the stomach. in his
right side, in left arm. and between
shoulder and elbow. Deputy Sheriff
Earle Stevenson who was right behind
him, was shot twice in the left arm,
practically severing it from his body.
One bullet struck Rural Policeman
J. r. Boulware in his stomach, prob
ably fatally wounding him. Deputy
D D n I
left leg. Constable r. L. Kelly was
shot in the. thumb and right arm.
Deputy Sheriff J. w. Broom received
several bullets through his pants and
one grazed mis- left foot.
From all the information obtain
able the concensus of opinion is that
Clyde Isenhower began the shooting
and it is said that his first bullet kill
ed the negro prisoner. He himself
was fatally wounded. being shot sew
eral times, and received thirteen
openings in this body as result OF
bullets lodging there.
It is thought that Sheriff Hood di-
reeted his fire at Clyde Isenhowcr,
Cor the sheriff emptied his pistol. IS
enhower, after being shot to pieces,
staggered into the sheriffs office and
had unbreeched his pistol and reload
ed it before he fell faint from the
loss OF blood.
Jesse Morrison, brother-in-law OF
Isenhower, and sid to have been a
member of the mob, received a scalp
wound in his head and had a thumb
shot away. D. F. Smith, bystander,
took refuge behind tree and a bull
let just grazed his stomach. Probate
Judge W. L. Holley was standing in
the door of the Court House at the
time Of the shooting and bullet bur-
led itself in the door facing at his
side
Although mortally wounded, Sher-
iff Hood took the neg prisoner, who
was sinking from the effects of the
fatal bullet in his stomach, up the
steps Of the Court House and into the
room and pushed him into the dock
before he succumbed- AS he fell to
the floor, he said to Solicitor Henryc
''They have got me at last The
negro prisoner lived only about ten
: minutes.
= Sheriff Hood, Deputy Sheriffs ]. B.
Boulware and B. r. BcckhoIn were
taken to Columbia on special train,
reaching there about one thirty
O'Clock. Surgeons had Sheriff Heod
on the operating table several hours
and eighteen perforation were found
in his intestines. He was given ev-
cry attention, but his condition from
the first was hopeless, and he died at
eight O'Clock Deputy Bulware has
only a fighting chance for recovery.
the bullet having lodged in the pit
of his abdomen
- Clyde Isenhower, said 20 be the
princi; Il in the shooting. was a far
mer, and resided in the Wateree Sec
ton, about seven miles from Winns-
utes. The sheriff was propped up
against the wall, saying to Solicitor
Henry at the time, they have got me
at last All during the time before
the special train reached Winnsboro
from Columbia not word escaped
the lips of the dying man, although
he must have been in great agony.
For several hours surgeons worked
over him on the operating table hop
ing to save the brave life, but in vain.
Nearly score Of perforations were
found in his intestines. After all
that was possible had been done for
him, it was seen that his case was
hopeless and he knew it himself. He
died just before eight O'Clock. and
died like he had lived, uncomplain-
ing and unafraid, man to the last.
GreGtsregret is expressed in official
circles and by citizens in every walk
Of life over the death of Sheriff
Hood. Shot down while doing his
duty. his blood bathing the steps and
the floor Of the court house, and his
Spartan courage to the end proved
the heroic mould out of which Sheriff
Hood was built. Judge Wilson, eX-
pressed the general opinion VIII Il he
said of him would that every sheriff
in South Carolina were like him and
that we had thousands Of such citi-
zens."