The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-11-12
SIX ARE SENTENCED
TO DIE FOR MURDER
Negro Witnesses Testify That They
We're Forced to Join in Attack on
Whites.

cases growing out of the recent race
disturbances near Elaine, in the south
ern part of this county, which result
ed in the bringing of indictments
against 122 persons; mostly negroes,
proceeded rapidly today in Phillips
County Circuit Colrt, jurles returning
verdicts of first degree murder in two
cases, thereby causing six negroes to
be sentenced to death by electrocution
Evidence brought out by the pros
ecution in the two cases heard today
showed the existence of q post of the
Progressive Farmers and Household
Union of America" the organization
under which, it is alleged, were banded
for the uprising at Elaine, near where
the disturbances took place the first
week in October, resulting in the death
of five white persons and a larger
number of negroes and the wounding
of others.
Several witnesses for the state re-
lated how they joined the Elaine post
within ten days before the disturb
ances began, and were told to bring
arms to meetings, because the union
"expected trouble if the whites tried
to break up it's meeting"
That the union had large follow
ing in the Elaine neighborhood was
brought out in the testimony of
George Green, negro appearing for
the State in the case OF Frank Hicks,
charged with the killing of (Clinton
Lee. Green said he attended the meet
ing fthe union in a church the night
Of September 80, and say there "over
hundred head" who, he testified, all
carried guns.
| 1t was when an automobile in which
a small sheriffs posse c:as going to
4, arrest white man in the Elaine
nelghborhood was stopped for repairs
before negro church according to a
+, statement issued by the "committee of
seven" authorized by Governor Chas.
Brough, city and county authorities
to investigate the trouble, that the
troubles started, the negroes in the
building firing on the party. killing
one white man and wounding an
other.
The first witness called today was
that Of Frank Hicks. Several wit
nesses for the State testified they saw
Hicks fire the shots the morning of
October l, that resulted in the death
Of Clinton Lee, of this city, former
soldier, who was a member Of one of
the posses sent to the section follow
ing receipt of news Of the attacks Of
the sheriff's posse the previous night.
The defense announccc it had no
witnesses and the State rested it's
case, the court adjourning until after
noon as mark Of respect for Judge
P. G. Thweatt, oldest member of the
local bar, whoae son was buried here
today. When court was reconvened
argument was waived and Judge J.
NJ. Jackson instructed the jury. which
after eight minutes deliberation, re-
turned a verdict of guilty of murder
in the first degree.
The second case called named as
defendants Frank Moore, Ed Hicks, J.
E. Knox, Paul Hall and Ed Coleman
all negroes, charged jointly with the
murder of Clinton Lee. In this case
the prosecution attempted to prove
the fivee negroes were leaders of the
Elaine Squad" Witnesses for the
State repeatedly testified that Moore
Knox and Hicks acted as leaders
giving orders the morning Of October
]. Whe nthe negroes gathered near
Moorc's house, and forming in q col
union of twos, marched toward HOOP
pur, where they had Sheard shots
| John Jefferson, negro, testified Hick
was president Of the Elaine post OF
the union and Knox, vice president
He also said that Knox, who brought
up the rear Of the column, said he
would shoot any dcscrtcrs. Witnesses
also testified to the presence of Hall
and Coleman in the squad that morn
ing.
Dave Archer, a negro who said he
did not belong to the union, testified
the members attempted to capture
non members the morning CT the dis
turbance, arm them and compel them
to join their ranks. He said he had
been captured and armed but haG
escaped.
During the testimony the name OF
4 Robert l.. Hill, negro, alleged organ