The St. Paul echo. [volume] (St. Paul ;) 1925-1927, 1926-11-06
Assistant Secretary OF N.A.A.C.P.
Makes Personal Investigation
Of Brutal L0Wnan Lynching Bee
Report of Walter White Gives Names of Local. Government Off
cials Implicated in Aiken Atrocity Dsprovng State
Story; Full Facts to Governor Mcleod.

man reached the back steps at the
Bertha out of the way with his left
fist, his pistol clutched in his right
hand, shouting to her to stand back.
In the melee Deputy Sheriff Robin
son fired and killed Mrs. Annie Low
man.
Bertha Lowman was shot twice in
the left breast just above the heart
and once through the abdomen.
Clarence Lowman was also severely
injured while Demon Lowman was
shot but not wounded seriously.
Sheriff Howard was killed by
gunshot wounds and, in the first trial
three states witnesses testified that
pistol bullet went through his head.
The Sheriffs had pistols. Clarence
Lowman had a shotgun while Demon
Lowman had a pistol but at no time
was anywhere near Sheriff Howard
or at a point where he could have
shot the Sheriff. In the trial it was
brought out that the white men did
not in any manner indicate they
were officers of the law.
Hasty Trial.
Five of the Lowmans were ar
rested and moved hastily to the peni-
tentiary at Columbia to avoid a
lynching. According to the record
of the South Carolina State Supreme
Court, the shooting took place on
April 25, Howard's funeral on the
26th (at which were present more
than 200 Klansmen in full regalia),
inquest was held on the 27th, the
court convened on May 4, the indict-
ment of the Lowmans was had the
same day. the defendants were ar
raigned on the 9Th and placed on trial
May IL. Feeling was so high in
Aiken, according to the defense brief
in the Supreme Court, it was pub
lished to the world that it would be
difficult to obtain lawyers for the
Lowmans in Aiken.
Attorneys were appointed by the
court, who merely went through the
gestures of defending them. In his
charge to the jury, Judge H. F. Rice,
knowing of the danger to the law
yers, even though appointed by the
court, apologized for the formal de-
fense made by them and impressed
upon the jury the fact that none of
them wanted to do it,
Bertha, Demon and Clarence were
found guilty Of murder with rec
ommendation of mercy in the case of
Bertha. Demon and Clarence were
sentenced to die on June IL, 1925,
and Bertha to life Imprisonment. 1t
is worthy of note that Bertha and
Clarence Lowmans' lives were hang
ing in the balance from their wounds
at the time they were placed on trial
and they were taken from the hos
pital to the court room.
Appeal Made.
1.-THE case was so outrageous that
IN. j. Frederick, colored attorney
of Columbia, on his own initiative,
entered the case and filed an excel
lent appeal to the State Supreme
Court for a review of the cases, re-
sulting in a reversal of the convic-
tions and the remanding of the de-
PENDANTS for a new trial.
"The three defendants were again
placed on trial, October 5, at Aiken
Judge Lanham presiding. Mr.. Fred
erick retained L. G. Southard,
white attorney of Spartanburg, pay
ing him $125 out of his own pocket.
Messrs. Frederick and Southard put
up a magnificent defense and COM
pletely demolished the States case.
On October 7, a motion was made for
a directed verdict of not guilty In the
case of Demon Lowman. 1t was gen
erally conceded in Aiken that Clar-
ence and Bertha would be freed by
the jury the next day. At 5 In the
afternoon Judge Lanham granted the
motion for the dismissal of the case
against Demon. He was, however,
Immediately re-arrested on charge
of assault and battery and recon-
mitted to jail.
Lynching Planned by Klan.
within one hour after the Judges
decision, news had been sent to as
distant a point as Columbia that the
three Lowmans were to be lynched
that night. Within the same hour
the Ku Klux Klan held meeting In
the Office of a prominent white attor-
|ney of Aiken who had been recently
CONTINUED on page 81