The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-03-15

| s SOonIS AOi NV doASS wv
months. is now receiving the con-
gratulations of his numerous friends
; for the clever manner in which he
outwitted one of the largest mobs
that has ever been organized in this
State last Friday night, and taking
| Macky Palmer, who shot and NOR
tally wounded a local police officer,
out of this city and through round
about way to Charleston and there
locked his prisoner safely in the
Charleston county Jail.
On account Of the size of the mob,
which was reinforced with men from
other counties than Orangeburg, and
the systematic search which they
conducted not only along public
roads, but on trains, and their de-
termination to take the negro and
lynch him on account of the crime
which he had committed, the success
full eluding of these men has been
the topic of much conversation dur
ing the past two days.
Sheriff Dukes after an all night
ride on a freight train with his
nerves keyed up to the highest pitch
successfully got his man to Charles
ton and this morning he related the
thrilling story of how he managed to
outwit the pursuers and get Macky
Palmer, half frozen and frightened
nearly to death, to place of safety
where he would be beyond danger of
lynching by any mob.
"First of ALL" said Sheriff Dukes
to representative of this paper, Il
wish to say that the report to the
effect that 1 had advance information
as to the whereabouts of Macky
Palmer and that he would surrender
at the proper time, is entirely with
out foundation. I knew nothing of
where Palmer was hiding If 1 had
known Sheriff Dukes declared, II
would have made full arrangements
to get the negro away"
After setting this report straight
and stating that the arrival cf the
A. C. L. freight train at the coal
chute at the time that the negro sur
rendered was a coincidence, Sheriff
Dukes told the story of how he spent
the remainder of the night in the cab
of the freight; locked in box car,
and hiding about the depot at Rob-
bins.
The story of how the crowd quick
ly gathered and each man heavily
armed patrolled the swamp in search
of the negro has already been told.
Sheriff Dukes states that he to-
gether with ten other men were seat
ed on the A. G. L. embankment a
short distance from the river and
watching on the side of the railroad
to the south. A negro, it was report
ed, was preparing to enter boat
and go down the river. Upon this
information Sheriff Dukes went to
warn the negro that he would not be
permitted to go on the river. Sher-
iff Dukes was accompanied by Mr..
Dibble Moss and Mr.. Edward Ant
ley. AS they neared the river bridge,
they were startled by a call from the
swamp, 81 give up" Looking into
the swamp in the direction from
which the shout came, they saw the
object of their search standing in
water waist deep. He was On the
side north of the A. C. L. track. I'M
mediately he was ordered to throw
up his hands and the two men with
Sheriff Dukes covered the negro with
their guns. The negro was ordered
to throw down his pistol. He deliv
cred the pistol holding it by the bar
rel. He was nearly frozen and
among his first words were inquiries
as to the condition of Sergt. Frank
lin. Luckily for the negro, the men
further up the track did not see the
negro surrender to Sheriff Dukes.
Sheriff Dukes with Mr.. Antley took
the negro on across the bridge to-
wards the coal chute. At negro
house a piece of quilt was obtained
from a negro woman which was
wrapped about the shivering prison
er.
When the negro surrendered,
Sheriff Dukes made confidant of
Mr.. Dibble Moss who was told to go
to the city at once and have Sheriff
Dukes automobile taken to the point
where the Cannon Bridge road
crosses the A. C. l..
AS the officers got to the coal chute
the approaching train was observed.
Sheriff Dukes Immediately decided to
flag this train. He began tagging,