Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-11-20
~GUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR
HAS SIX NEW AFFIDAVITS
IDENTIFYING MOB


Columbia, S. c., Nov. 1S-Througl
ne EFFORTS of the State Detective w
w. Rogers. investigating the death
and iynching Of the Lowmans il has
haon revealed that Governor Nc.
heod has six new affidavits inyoly
ing the members Of the mob It is
reported that the governor has In
timated that he has no doubt that
there Is real basis OF truth in what
the affidavits say.
! Inc aihdavits are said to have been
made by four Negroes and two white
persons who were in the Aiken Jail
the night the three Lowmans were
taken out and shot to death. In ad-
dftion to the affidavits made by Mrs.
| Lucy Mooney and Charles E Lee,
! who were in the Jail that night the
F, new affidavits include: Hayward
Marshall and ID. A. Worley, whites;
y. Cliff Robinson, Walter jennings,
Joseph Rouse and Charles Chamber
lain
II is said that Nollie Robinson.
high sheriff ut Aiken. has made
three trips to Columbia to see the
, Governor. 1t is said that Governor
| Mcleod has ordered a PHOTOGRAPHIC
TO go to Aiken and make photo.
graphs of the interior of the Aiken
!ail. lie feels that there are a num-
Fer OF features of the stories of both
ROBINSON and his jailer Taylor,
which have not been satisfactorily
explained.
{ Both these men testified at the
eoroner's inquest that they were
overpowered by the mob, none of
whose members they recognized
which came from inside the ;ailer's
residence, like a flock of black
Dirds. Robinson said he fired two
SHOTS at them but missed and was
downed by three or four men. The
lailer related that the mob took his
gun and keys from him.
According to- lawyers of Aiken
whenever they visited the Jail to see
prisoners the jailer took the KEYS
from huge safe implanted in the
wall which he had to open with a
key he wore on his person. The
Jailer told the coroner that the KEYS
were on his dresser in his bed room
when the mob awakened him and he
put them on his belt before going
down to face the mob.
Why he did not put the keys in
the safe and throw away the safe
Key when he saw the mob has not
been explained. The sheriff appears
unable to explain satisfactorily
number Of incidents after he arrived
at the Jail in response to the jailer's
telephone call for help He says
he found the mob outside between
the courthouse and the main door
of the jail. He says he argued with
them to disperse and they turned
and walked away.
The sheriff says he addressed the
mob as he stood directly beside the
stairs leading to the main floor OF
the jail. No explanation has been
made why when he turned and walk
nd away toward the courthouse. he
felt it necessary for him to enter
the Jail, which was safe against in
frusion except by artffice. Nor has
II" related why upon deciding to en-
ter the jail he left the stairs lead
ing directly to the main entrance
and walked fifty feet around the
corner OF the Jail to the jai!er's
door. This maneuver forced him to
turn his back to the mob.
He says he found the door to the
sailer's residence open. formed no
suspicion that mob members might
be inside the house. and tells Of ar
irving at the steel door leading from
the residence Of the iaTIer to the
Jail and calling the jaiIer away from
ihe main iail door to admit him.
1t was then, he says, the mob
swarned over him from the rooms
behind him darkened when the cleo
trio light wires were cnt earlier IN
the night eight miles from town.
The final AID TerhaDs the most ex-
'fa"f1'J " port O. 6CtS trese stor-
,os b T. s,,,'fr gnirr RENE ms un
explained. Is how the mob got into
the is,i without injury. Robinson
saws he ives seized from behind
JUS as the ililer opened the large
steel door to admit him How IN ,
mob swarmed past him in an instant
and seized the jailer. who was inside
the Jail. before tNe sherift go a
chance even to fire his pistol or shut
TIE door remain az unsolvcd m s.
.ery
Through tho relentless efforts of
the stan correspondent of the New
York World ard the accompanying
efforts OF the Investigators Of the
n
Of the state detective fear IA bcire
spread throughout the whole q
Horse Greek Valley. n is said thai
Negroes living Ia that section are
also fllled With fear lest the vic:ou,
wNitet in thtir determined effort it
pt'nGe H. ,is dia-ospect for Law
urn yi,-epCo c. tn defenseiess No
rroes OF the section. Such obi,
Men" as Ouinby and others are sal
10 be doinc al In their power to sur
press the Investigation.
1t Is soid that mar known to b
member Of the mob while talkin
to an investigator insisted that the
keep inside and not allow certai
persons to 500 them talking. II
said II would mean that he wouI
be shot to death by the members q
the community" and he also warne
the investigator to be exceedingl
{ careful for his life might be snufre
otu any minute by the members {