The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-07-06
NINETY SIX MAN
KILLED BY NEGRO
Or. Lawton LipsComb Shot
Four Times
NEGRO BROUGHT
THROUGH HERE
Pink Griffin Shot and Almost Instant
ly Killed Prominent Ninety Six Cit,-
zen. Brought Through Here Late
Yesterday Evening for Safety.

zen. Brought Through Here Late
Yesterday Evening for Safety.
Pink Griffin, a negro about 35 years
Of age, was brought through Laurens
by Greenwood peace officers late yes
terday evening in an effort to elude a
mob which was said to have been
forming in Greenwood following the
killing by Griffin of DR.. I.awton Lips-
comb, prominent citizen who lived
about three miles from Ninety Six on
the greenwood road. Deputy Sheriff
Mcmillan and Chief Of Police Nj. B.
chandler had him in charge, but they
would talk very little Of the occur
renee. Following a long distance tclc-
phone talk with Sheriff White of
greenwood, the two officers with
Sheriff Reid left this city for some
other destination. They also had with
them another negro who was said to
have assisted Griffin in getting away.
Griffin, 1t was learned, was caught
near Saluda on the Greenwood side of
the Saluda river by a nephew of Dr..
ried him towards Greenwood and on
their way met Mr.. George Lipscomb
former supervisor Of the county who
was brother Of the deceased He ad-
yised that the negro be turned over TO
Sherltf White so the law would be al
lowd to take it's course. This policy
was followed and Griffin turned over
TO the sheriff. Shortly afterwards he
was secreted away by Messrs McMil-
Ian and Chandler arriving here about
six o'clock.
fDr. Lipscomb was well known in this
county and highly regarded The
news of his violent death was a great
shock to those who knew him. He
was connected by marriage with the
Byrds, of this county, having married
a sister Of Mrs. W. D. Byrd
The following account Of the tragedy
Is taken from last nights Greenwood
IndeX-Journal:
DR.. Lawton c. IIipscomb, prom
inent farmer Of Ninety Six sec
ton, was shot five times and
killed by Pink Griffin, a negro
farm hand. shortly after noon today.
The killing ocucrred in Dr.. Lipscombs
back yard at his home, short distance
from Ninety Six, on the Greenwood
Ninety Six highway, shortly after the
negro returned from field work for
dinner, and is believed to have result
ed from DR.. Lipscomb's ccnsure Of the
negro for mistreating a mule.
No EyewitncssNS
There were no eyewitncsses to the
killing, but David Machen, another
farm hand heard the words passed be-
tween the white man and the negro to
be followed by the rapid firing Of pis-
tol few minutes later. IDr. Lipscomb's
right hand was powder burned, which
leads to the conclusion that after he
was shot one time he grappcd with
the negro for the weapon Three
shots went over the heart one through
the left hand, and the fifth through
the right arm.
The theory Is advanced that Dr..
Lpscomb was in the act Of turning to
go into the house when the first bull
let was fred through his left side rang
ing upward over the heart and that he
turned and tried to wrench the PTS
tol from the negros hands when he
suffered the powder burns The other
shots came in quick succession. Dr..
Lipscomb died before anyone reached
him.
Griffin Surrounded
Griffin fed Immediately after the
shooting and at o'clock this after
noon had not been caught although Of
fcers and posse OF large number of
citizens from Ninety Six and Green
wood began search for him within a
few minutes after the news was spread
broadcast. BloodhouRds will be sent
up from Newberry and put on Grihln's
trail without delay.
1t was learned at 2 o'clock that the
posse believed 1t had the negro sur
rounded in a patch OF woods near
Ninety Six and that he would be ap-
pretended within very short time
There has been some talk of mob yio-