Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-06
GUARD ROBINSON ATTACKED.

probably saved Guard Jim Robinson
from death and certainly prevented the
escape of twelve conyicts yesterday
morning after one Of the prisoners had
knocked Robinson unconscious with
two blows on the. left side of his face
from an axe. Sensing what was hap
pening, Daniel, who was seated beside
Guard Robinson driving the truck
which was carrying the prisoners 10
work on the Lincoln road, about mile
northeast of Yorkville, stopped his
truck and seizing the shotgun or the
III, conscious guard, covered the con-
victs. At the same time Matthew's
better known as "Jack Johnson" be-
cause Of his. pitch black skin and gi-
gantic strength, jumped to the ground
with 9, shovel and dared any convict TO
leave the truck.
Not a negro or n white man tried 10
leave and the two TRUSTEES soon had the
situation well In hand Sherin QUINN
and Supervisor Brown were notined oi
the occurrence by Mr.. II. w. Wither-
spoon. who lives q short distance away
and were soon on the scene together
with Chalngang Guard Coon Mcknight
81 II has not been definitely determined
Who hit the guard, but responsibility
lies either with VIII McCiathy, a. white
convict, or John Reid, q negro. Held
claims that McGathy hit Robinson,
while McGathy claims il was the act OF
Reid. Robinson believes McGathy
struck the two blows that. rendered
him unconscious. When Sheriff quinn
arrived Robinson was seated on the
side of the ~ d, his gun between his
knees and his eyes On the convicts, say
ing: .Win, you are the man who MT
me-"
The attack occurred yesterday morn
ing about 8 o'clock, on the Lincoin
roa d northeast of Yorkville, near FISH
ing creek bridge. at u point Wnere
woodlands cover the land on eacn
side.
In charge of Mr.. Robinson fourteen
conyicts were being carried to work,
sanding the Lincoln road. Mr.. ROBIN
son was seated in front beside the dri-
YER. "Bub' Daniel, his gun between ms
xnees and his pistol in his belt. SUD
denly one Of the convicts, either Nc.
ia,hy or Reid, crept up behind him and
struck him twice on the left side oil tne
face. lacerating the cheek and ear and
rendering him unconscious. ineh
Daniel stopped the truck and seizlng
the gun of the unconscious guard, COW
cred the prisoners while Matthews
i,,nned to the ground and prevented
any Of the other conv!cts from getting
down.
Robinson regained consciousness IN
ehr.t time and taking the gun from
Daniel sat down on the side OF the
road. bleeding profusely and still Dit
unsteady, determined however, 10 re-
main master of the situation unth the
supervisor arrived -, y s.-....,
When the sheriff came ana afsurcu
him that everything was sateiy In ms
hard and urged him TO so to a surgeon,
he still refused. saying: Il am staying
right where / am until supervisor
Brown gets here
And he did just that.
examination OF his wounds, when
wore made with the blunt end of the
,vn revealed that while painful thcy
were not serious. Had the blows been
delivered a little higher up on the head
the probability is that his skull Woulu
have been crushed, although the theory
is that the blows We're not deliHertu
with all force because the axe nahuIc
struck the top over the truck seat
NcC,athv, the white convict VINO Is
charged with hitting Mr.. Robinson. Is
serving an eighteen months sentence
roIIowinr his conviction In September
Of assault and battery with intent 20
kin. He was sent up from ROCK nm
and was in Jail last August when John
hudson. a white convict attacked
Denu;v Sheriff Tom Quinn. 1t was
thought at the time that he inspired
that attack. 1t is said that ono OF ms
brothers killed guard on Nor'n
Carolina chain gang while serving d
sentence and later made getaway
John Reid, on whom suspicion also
n attaches is serving sentence oil lour
years following his conviction AT the
November term of court last year ior
assault and battery with intent 10
Kill. He cut up a negro woman:
chain gang officials believe that IT
Reid did strike the blow he was in
anircd by McCiathy or others.
Guard Robinson believes that tho |
attack Yesterday morning was the re-
snlt OF a preconccrtcd plot to make
,way with him. He said yesterday
hat he noticed several of the con-
yicts acting in 4 rather peculiar man
1cr during the morning when they
eft the stockadc and that he was IN
lined to ask superintendent John
Robinson for an additional guard, bur
lid not do it.
Further evidence pointing to plot
O make away with the guard ana es-
ape lies in the II CT that the assault
ook place at q po.nt where the road
.urs through thick woods, maxim: II
asier for an escape. The convicts
we're familiar with the spot, 1t Is said,