The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-29
NEGRO EX.SOLDIER INSULTS
LITTLE WHITE GIRL.
Saved From a Summary Punishment
by the Prompt Action Of Sheriff
Blease.-Taken to Peniten-
tiary.

tlaEy.
On last Thursday about noon a
negro ex-soldier, but recently re-
turned from France, insulted little
white girl about IA or Is years of
age as she was walking along the
street on her way to town. She ran
and gave the alarm and the negro
was arrested by the officers and
identified by the girl and lodged in
jail.
AS soon as it became known the
| people began to discuss the matter
and about 5 o'clock in the afternoon
crowd very quietly got together,
not a large crowd, but determined,
and decided to go to the jail and
F., take the negro and give him sum-
mary justice. There was no excite
ment. In fact, it was not generally
known that anything had gone wrong
in the town.
The negro's name is Elisha Harper,
son of the Rev. T. F. Harper,
very good and quiet citizen who has
lived in Newberry for many years
and bears a good reputation among
all the people. Elisha is about rs
years old and has been in the army
for some time, and was in the service
over seas.
When searched at the jail it was
: found that he had in his possession
number of pictures, and most of
them white women, but none Of the
indecent character. These probably
were brought by him from over sea.
Sheriff Blease came in the 400
o'clock train, having been at the in
quest at Pomaria. AS soonas he ar
rived he heard of the arrest and got
an intimation of what was under way
as to the negro, and Immediately
made arrangements to take the negro
in his automobile and get him out of
town, and so quietly was it done that
those who were arranging to make
raid on the Jail knew nothing Of it.
When they arrived at the jail a
! few moments after the sheriff had
gone Jailer Sanders promptly offer
! ed to open the jail for them, but his
willingness to let them in convinced
them that what they were looking for
had departed, and they did not take
up the offer of the jailer to 60 in.
Even if they had been given the
keys it would have been next to I'M
possible for them to get in the jail,
but the sheriff thought the best thing
to do was to get the negro out of
town, and it was.
When the crowd found that the
prisoner had departed with the sher-
iff they concluded that he would
scarcely undertake to go through the
country to Columbia in the condition
of the roads, but here again they
were mistaken. But they went to
/ Prosperity, about so strong, thinking
that the sheriff would undertake to
board the train there with the pris-
oner, but at that time he was very
near to Columbia.
Sheriff Blease was accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff W. M. Dorroh and
Rastus Eison. They went around by
Prosperity and Leesville and reached
! Columbia about 10 o'clock. Then
they had to get commitment from
Gov. Cooper before the authorities
at the penitentiary would receive
Harper.
Sheriff Blease says the roads are
F.! fearful, and they must be, when 1t
| takes him five hours to drive to Co
lumbia even around by Batesburg.
He left his car in Columbia.
| It is we'll that he got the negro
out of the way, because if the ne
groes had undertaken to defend
Harper there would probably have
been trouble in Newberry. 1t is not
likely that the colo-,d people of this
community would undertake to up
hold a man who is guilty of this Of
fense, but would let him take the
consequences Of his wrong doing.
This should be lesson, not only
to the ex-soldiers who are returning,
but to all others. The good women
and girls of this Southland will be