Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-12-17
MOB VISITS JAIL.

Except for the fact that the negroes,
Sam Johnson and John Young. recent
ly committed to Jail for attempted as
sault, had been spirited away to places
Of safety, there would probably have
been very serious trouble at the county
Jail last Thursday night.
A masked mob Of forty or fifty men
showed up at the Jail shortly after
midnight and asked for that Niger.
II is presumed that John Young, who
had been committed to Jail during the
previous day for an attempted assault
at Ebenezer, was the "nigger" wanted
but John Young was not there.
Sheriff Quinn had received straight
intimation during the day previous
that there was to be visit from mob
that night, and he did what he thought
was best under the circumstances, had
the negro transferred to u place OF
safety. The other negro, Sam Johnson
from Fort Mill. had already been NOV
ed from the Jail, and so far as that
part Of II was concerned, there was
nothing for the mob to get.
Although he had been warned Of the
approaching visit. the sheE& was
asleep when the mob came. Ne and
his brother, Deputy ]. T. Quinn, had
waited until along about midnight
Deputy Sheriff Quinn had been sick for
some days with something like the flu
il not the flu itself. He was still feel
ing very uncomfortable. The mob hav-
ing failed 10 show up by midnight, the
sheriff and deputy concluded that in
formation Of the spiriting away Of the
prisoners had probably gotten out and
that the threatened raid had been
abandoned. SO both went to sleep.
Shortly after midnight, Deputy Sher-
iff ]. T. quinn, who had not undressed,
heard the noise Of automobiles on the
outside, and at once comprehending
the situation. awakened the sheriff.
When the deputy reached the front
he found a crowd of men ascending
the stairway leading to the third floor
Of the Jail where the steel cells are To-
Gated. He intercepted the intruders
and commanded them to retire to the
street They said they wanted that
nigger," and when the sheriff informed
them that the negro was gone. they
said they would see. The sheriff told
them that one or two Of them could so
up. but not all. and that was agreed to.
Two men accompanied the sheriff in
an Inspection OF tne steer cells, anu
finding nothing went back down stairs.
One of the members of the mob who
had gone upstairs stopped at the Sec
ond floor landing and asked what was
there. Deputy Tom Quinn quietly ad-
vised that the second floor was being
used as a private residence. and moth
ing more was said.
The search was not at all thorough.
That negro" and others might easily
have been hidden about by the dozen,
without having been discovered by
such a search. The superficial nature
Of the search. however, Is not to be
taken as any reflection on the sincerity
or determination Of the mob. 1t Is
more a tribute to the we'll known char
acter of the sheriff. When he said the
negro was not there. those who heard
him say it knew 1t was true, and the
show they made of seeing for them
selves. was only for the purpose Of sat
isfying possible doubters.
Anyhow the whole thing was over in
a very short time. There was no liquor
In evidence and no loud or boisterous
talk. The mob was quiet and orderly.
and the sheriff and deputy were cool
and collected.