The Newberry Weekly Herald from Newberry, South Carolina • Page 1

A The Herald and News YOLCME 6NEWBERRY, S. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1913. TWICE A WEEK, A YEA I NEGRO LYNCHED AT LAURENS ON MONDAY SHOT-RIDDLED BODY STRUNG TO TRESTLE. Victim of Attacks Young Woman at Lonely Spot as She was Driviner to Laurens. Laurens, Aug.

Jg the declaration of the solicitor that a speedy trial would be given, a mob of 2,000 men tonight at 10.30 o'clock lynched Richard Puckett, a young I negro, charged with at' vmpted crimf inal assault. ttflk After overpowering the sheriff and his deludes the mob broke down two i doors, one to a steel cage, and securJm ing the negro carried him to a railway trestle near the passenger station, where he was strung up to a I Several hundred shots were fired into his body. The mob then dish persed. At midnight many were arriving in town from all sections of the Piedmont. Just before he was killed the negro denied his guilt.

Sher iff John V. Owings said tonight that the negro had confessed to him durI ing the afternoon. The confession, it is said, was not made known to the attacking crowd. Attacks Tounsr Woman. At a lonely spot on the road to Laurens from Madden the negro this naming at 11 o'clock attacked a well known young woman of the county.

He dragged her from the buggy as she was driving to Laurens. The negro was crouching under some bushes and after she had passed he ran and ordered her to halt. She called to her brothers, who were following in anL ether buggy. The negro fled. She A drove on to Laurens and stopped at jjtf the home of R.

A. Cooper, solicitor of Xo general alarm was given, but a search was begun by the officers. Solicitor Cooper aided in the dninor inct hpvorid the nlace scaivu. juuv of attack the officers found several at a house. Richard Puckett I walked away from the house and Solicitor Cooper directed that he be held.

When taken before the young woman she could not positively idenWw tify him. The negro was carried to Laurens and placed in jail under a heavy At 7 o'clock tonight bloodhounds from the State penitentiary were brought to Laurens and placed on the trail. The dogs trailed the negro from the scene of the crime to the house where he was found by the officers. 1 Is (During tne auernoon several uuudred men from all sections of the county arrived in Laurens. As night came 011 the crowd increased until it was estimated that there were fully 2,000 persons crowded into the public square.

Realizing that the crowd was "bent on violence several deputies were sworn in by Sheriff Owings and placed within the jail. Advance on Jail. At 9 o'clock about 50 men advanced on the jail. Sheriff Owings refused to give up the prisoner. The crowd broke down a wooden door in the rear and proceeded to the second floor, where the negro was confined in etaoi novo.

Thp rinnr Was soon bat CL VIAQ ft tered down. The sheriff and his depfeW; uties were overpowered. Taking the negro from tfie jail the mob proceeded to the union passenger station. A rope was tied to one of the beams on the Charleston 18! Western Carolina railway trestle to ft the south, about 12 feet from the ft ground, and the negro was hanged. He denied several times that he was IP guilty of the crime.

(Many Shots Are Fired. When the engro had been strung up several hundred shots were fire the crowd of 2.000. The mob then dispersed and proceeded to their homes. At midnight many from adjoining counties were arriving in the This is the first lynching to occur in Laurens county within the past 15 years and it is the first time that a negro was ever taken from the jail. Just before the mob attacked the jail Solicitor Cooper made a speech urging that the people let the law take its course.

He promised to secure a speedy trial for the negro. Severeal other well known citizens of Laurens spoke to the crowd without The boGy was left tonight swinging to the beam of the trestle and the in: quest will very probably be held toll Laurens is Quiet. Laurens, Aug. body of Richard Puckett, the confessed assailI ant of a young Laurens woman, who was executed late last night in the I presence of 2,000 citizens, was cut down by the officers this morning and turned over to the undertaker. The negro was buried by the county I this afternoon.

During the morning hundreds of people, both white and black, visited the scene of the lynching and viewed the black-bullet riddled form dangling from the end of a 12-foot rope. The coroner was on hand, but it was was decided officially that an inquest was unnecessary. Of course, the events of yesterday and the final outcome of the issue were topics of more or less comment during the day, but the city ocenmpH normal condition after nearly 12 hours of excitement, the like of which has not been witnessed in the town of Laurens during the present generation. Death of Mrs Vf. A.

IteSwain. Mrs. McSwain, the wife of Mr. W. A.

McSwain, died after a brief illness at her home in this city on Tuesday morning at three o'clock. She was buried at Rosemout cemetery Wednes day afternoon, service at tne nouse at four o'clock, conducted by her pastor, the Rev. E. D. Kerr, of the Presbyteran church.

The following were the pallbearers: Dr. 0. B. Mayer, J. X.

McCaughrin, J. H. Summer, F. Ewart, W. H.

Hunt, W. A. Hill. Mrs. McSwain formerly lived at Cross Hill and before her marriage was a Miss Lee.

Her mother, Mrs. Lee, survives her. Beside her husband and mother, Mrs. McSwain is survived by five children, boys and one girl. Her death has cast a gloom over the city, as the family have many friends here.

Mrs. McSwain was a devoted and consistent member of the Presby terian church, and a thoroughly good woman. Xo death has caused more universal sorrow in the community. Mr. McSwain is a well known business man of the city.

The sympathy of all will go out to him in his great sorrow, as every heart is deeply touched by the grief that is his today. H. BLATTS IS DEAD. dewberry Man is Stricken While Working in Wilmington. Wilmington', X.

Aug. few minutes after drinking a glass of rei freshment this afternoon, H. K. Blats, linotype operator on The Evening i Dispatch, was stricken by an attack of acute indigestion while operating his machine and died an hour later. He was 36 years old and a native of Newberry, S.

C. He leaves a wife and one child, also his father, W. H. Blats of Newberry, who was visiting here, and two brothers, J. A.

Blats of Columbia and W. E. Blats, who lives in the west. Mr. Blats had worked in Columbia, Charleston and had been here 11 years.

xne in aenwctfj. There is sincere and general regret in Newberry at the news of the death of H. K. Blats at his home in Wilmington Monday afternoon. He is a native of this city and lived here until a few years ago, serving at one time as a member of the city council.

His father, William H. Blats, is a Confederate veteran and a man very highly esteemed. Poisoned by Salmon. Orangeburg Times and Democrat. Mrs.

J. W. Caddin of this city, had a very startling experience Thursday morning. Mrs. Caddin opened a can of salmon and before emptying them out ate a little.

But upon emptying the can she discovered a lizard in the bottom. She threw the salmon out, and the chickens that ate it died very soon afterwards. Mrs. Caddin immediately summoned a physician, and had it not been for his prompt arrival she would have been seriously ill as a result of the poison. All By That Smart.

I Exchange. James M. Mcintosh, one of tlie leading bankers of Indianapolis, and I a lifelong republican, says that he considered Mr. McAdoo the greatest secretary of the treasury the country had ever had; that McAdoo acted where others talked, and that with the passaco of the Glass currency bill and the innovations which Secretary McAdoo has made in the policy of the tieasury department, financial panics would hereafter be practically impossible in the United States. Venezuela's army is sent to rapture Castro.

Horrors! Suppose he's armed? GOVERNOR SUGGESTS A FINANCIAL PLAN I STATE SEEDS Governor Ev-oriatcs 0:1, for Cruel Treatment of Paroles Issued. Columbia, August State of South Carolina will have- to borrow from $250,000 to $300,000 to meet running expenses until the taxes begin to come in, and State Treasurer Carter has so notified the governor. Governor Blease in reply suggested that each office run itself until the money conies in and save the inter! 5av? bp is readv to run the governor's office, and asks for the opinion of the other members. Last year the State borrowed $500,000 at 3 1-2 per cent, and Governor Biease said that President Wilie Jones and Cashier J. Pope Matthews, of the Palmetto bank, had offered to get this $250,000 at about 5 per cent this year.

The borrowing board is composed of the governor, State treasurer and comptroller general. The following letters passed between the State treasurer and the ernor in regard to the matter: Treasurer's Letter. "August 1, 1913. "The Hon. Cole L.

Blease, Governor, Columbia, S. Sir: The cash on hand for general parposes has reached the point where it is necessary to procure funds with which to meet the State's obligations as de- mands are made upon the treasury. We have to the credit of the general account at beginning of business, August 1. I estimate the avero n-o xj for thp J.W* balance of the year to be from $110,000 to $115,000. It appears therefore that we will need at least $250,000 or possibly $300,000 to run until taxes are available.

The balance we h-ive on hand will protibly- run us until the middle of this month. These facts are brought to your attention as ch.r.-i of the borrjv ing committee for such action as you may deem advisable. Yours very truly, S. T. Carter, State Treasurer." Governor's Reply.

"The Hon. S. T. Carter, State Treasurer, Columbia, S. Sir: Your letter of 'August 1, in reference to borrowing money for the use of the State has been received.

In reply I beg to ask what this money is needed for, and to whom it is to be paid. It appears to me that if it is for the use of the State officials, that on account of the rate of interest which is now being demanded, each of us might carry our own offices until the tax money begins to come in, when we can easyly be reimbursed, and save the taxpayers of our State from paying the exorbitant rate of interest. I would like to have the opinion of the other members of the committee in regard to this matter. As governor I stand ready and am willing to borrow at my own expense, or discount my State checks, in to run the executive Dart of the government, with out borrowing any money at the exorbitant rate of interest which is now being charged. Very resspectfully, Cole.

L. Blease, Governor." Webb Simons Paroled. Webb Simons, white, convicted at the April, 1910, term of court for Anderson county of murder with recommendation to mercy, was paroled by the governor. The petition was signed by eight of the jury, endorsed by the Judge, and over 1,000 citizens, He killed Bert i Mc Adams. In connection with this case it will be interesting to note that J.

C. ElliI son, who was foreman of the jury which convicted Simons, is himself in the Penitentiary. Yesterday, when 1 a i A Mmons went tu iic 10 cam have told Ellison good-bye. In his reasons for paroling Webb Simons, the Anderson county life termer, Governor Blease excoriated cruel and overbearing treatment of suspects and prisoners by officers of the law, saying: "The idea of and officer when ne arrests a man, navi ing a right to knock him, or beat him, or otherwise mistreat him, is eroneous, and, the cruelty of the ofI fic-r often makes men outlaws, and if the courts and juries of this counj try would do their duty and convict some of these bullies and blacki guards for cruelty it would put a slop to such acts." The following is a copy of the governor's reasons for exercising clemency in the Simons case: Treatment of Prisoners. "Webb Simmons, white, convicted at the April, 1910, term of court for Anderson county of murder with recommendation tor mercy and sentenced to lifo imnrisnnmpnt in the State D6ni tentiary.

"After looking very carefully over the petitions and into the case I am satisfied that this man was only guilty of manslaughter, and in reaching this conclusion I have applied my twenty three years experience at the bar making a specialty of criminal A AffinAw KanoncQ a QT1 UI Ail officer, has no right to be abusive to his prisoner. To prove this I beg to cite the cases of State vs Beck, I Hill; state vs Golden, 1st S. State vs C'lark, 28 S. On the contrary, they should treat with courtesy those whom they are called upon to arrest. The idea of an officer, when he arrests a nan, having a right to knock him or beat him or otherwise mistreat him is erroneous, and the cruelty of the officer often make men "outlaws; and, if the courts and juries of this country would do their duty and convict some of these bullies and blackguards for cruelty, instead of sitting back and saying, 'Oh, well, he is an officer and is allowed to do as he pleases over these poor unfortunate it would put a stop to such acts, the officer in this case, was a bully or a blackguard.

Many such illustrations come to the knowledge of the officers of South Carolina, and particularly one which destroyed the happiness of one of the finest homes among one of the most noble and bravest families of the State. If the officer in that instance had been killed instead of the poor fellow who was murdered like a dog, it would have been much better for South Carolina. I presume to the readers of history of the State it is unnecessary to call names, but this brutal murder, U'nder the guise of law, win ever De a aaxiv inarK upuu musts who participated in it. Cowardly Murder. "Of course, in this case, it was not as strong and I am not comparing the cases at all, but only refer to that one in order to show that it has led on and on, and by its being countenanced, hundreds of other little cases have followed.

Some officers seem to think that when they arrest a man they have a right to knock him and beat him; they seem to think that if he is charged with a misdeamnor and he rues he (the officer) has a right fo shoot him, and when he shoots and kills him he immediately cries out, in order to save himself, 'I only shot to It is cowardly murder and the men who acquit such a man are the dirtiest perjurers, and as long as I am govern or, if the juries acquit such people as these, I propose to take care of a man who takes care of himself, against such official tyranny and wilful abuse of authority. "The petition for this young man's pardon is signed by more than a thousand of the people of Anderson county, in which they state that they think cnffi-Aionf 1V LUC UCLCUUailt uao punished. The signers of the petition are among South Carolina's best citizenship; they are those who made me governor, and being their servant, it is but right and proper that I should obey their will. Among the Petitioners. "Among the names on the petition I frnd the editor of the Anderson Intelligencer, Col.

V. B. Cheshire, Dr Frank Ashmore, Col. G. M.

Tolly, Dr. McCreey Glymph, Dr. Clyde F. Ross, Judge Muldrow and a great many others entirely too numerous to mention, but stronger than all of this is a seperate petition, which reads as follows: 'We, the undersigned memlbers of the jury, who convicted Webb Simmons of the murder of Bert McAdams, with recommendation to the mercy of the court, petition and pray that you exercise clemency in his behalf. We think that has already suffered enough for his crime and we ask that you parole him during good "The judge who tried the case says: 'I, the undersigned, the special presiding judge at the trial, well remember the facts in the case and have no objection to the board recommending a parole to the governor, (Signed) E.

McDonald, special presiding judge, July "The board of pardons, in their renl'a a hilt yui ill IIU i. ILL 1XJL wuw simply state: 'The Hon. E. M. Rucker was heard in behalf of the prisoner.

Eight of the trial jurors join in the prayer for I presume by this they are straddling; therefore I will throw their straddle-leg on the side of mercy and grant a parole during REQUISITION FOR J. J. ZACHRY WAS DENIED GOVERNOR BLEASE OFFERS REWARD FOR ARREST. Case Involving Custody of Children Further Complicated by Georgia Supreme Court. Atlanta, August preme court today reversed the decision of Judge Hammond, of Augusta, awarding the two Zachry children to the father, J.

J. Zachry, thereby further complicating the sensational case in which requisition papers By Governor Blease for Zachry were refused hv Governor Slaton this morning. According to the ruling of the supreme court, the decision awarding the children to the father be reversed and remanded to Judge Hammond's court for further hearing. The ruling further specifies that Judge Hammond may exercise his discretion in awarding the custody of the children, which is contrary to the opinion rendered by Judge Hammond, who held previously that he was forced to award the children to Zachry because of a pre vious judgment. The effect of the ruling will be to put the whole matter back in the Augusta courts, with the possibility that Mrs.

Zachry will be awarded the custody of the two children. i Governor Slaton based his refusal on the fact that no State law had been violated by Zachry in South Carolina, and that the whole case against the defendant grew out of the desire of Mrs. Zachry to obtain the custody of the two children. I I Surprised, Says Blease. Columbia, August 4- TO Lilt; luai.

ton, of Georgia, had refused today to honor requisition for Julian J. Zachry, wanted in South Carolina on several alleged charges, Governor Blease issued a proclamation offering a re'ward of $250 for the arrest of Zachry. Governor Blease, when shown a telegram stating that Governor Slaton had refused requisition of Governor Blease for custody of J. J. Zachry, and asked for a statement, said: "I presume Governor Slaton did what he thought was right, and I am not surprised at this treatment from a Governor of Georgia.

It is getting to be common. I shall issue reward for Zachry's arrest. Possibly I can catch him some time passing through this State, or on this side of the river, and get him yet for what I consider a wilful and malicious violation of our State i laws. "In my letter to Governor Slaton I stated that the attorney general and myself had investigated the matter. If he knows more about the laws of South Carolina than Attorney General Peeples and myself, of course, I have no comment to make, and have no hard feelings towards a man doing what he thinks is his duty, conceding this to him because I suppose that Vin 1 ri UnQfcT SillUicU concede the same to me." Reward Proclamation.

The following is the proclamation of Governor Blease: "Whereas, Julian Zachry stands charged in the State of South Carolina with the crimes of kidnapping, ill treating children, torturing, tormenting and cruelly ill treating child, failure to support wife and -children, and information has been reveived at this department that the said Julian Zachry has fled justice. "Now, therefore, Cole. L. Blease, (TAuowinr Smith I uw governor of the State of South Carolina, in order that justice may be done and the majesty of the law vindicated, do hereby offer a reward of two hundred and fifty ($250) dollars for the apprehension and delivery of the said Julian Zachry to the superintendent of the State penitentiary at Columbia, South Carolina. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, this twelfth day of Au CL VjUiUmwiu, gust, A.

one thousand nine hundred and thirteen, and in the one hundred and thirty-eight year of the independence of the United States of man having served three years and a half in the tuberculosis feel that he has fully repaid to his State for whatever breach of the law he may have committed. "Parole granted during good behavior, August 9, (Signed) Cole. L. Blease, (Seal.) Governor. By the Governor: (Signed.) R.

M. McCown, Secretary of State. Mrs. Zaehry Wires Slaton. Columbia, August denial in tof.o of the statements made by E.

D. Cleary, mayor of Harlem, in the hear ing before Governor Slaton yesterday in the Zachry requisition case, was I made by Mrs. Zachry this morning in a telegram to the Georgia governor. The allegations of Mr. Cleary reflected up on both Mrs.

Zachry and her moth- 1 er, Hallihan. Mrs. Zachry this morning sent the following telegram to Governor Sla- August 12, 1913. I Hon. John M.

Slaton, Governor of Georgia, Atlanta, Ga: Statement of E. D. Cleary, reported in this morning's paper, absolutely deliberate and malicious contortion of the facts. I would love opportunity to submit affidavits in contradiction thereof if you deem it necessary. Mrs.

Mary Zachry. In the Methodist church at Whit1 mire, S. on Tuesday evening at 8. 30 o'clock, Mr. H.

Alfred Machen. of Baltimore, and Miss Charlotte i i-ucne ul vvmumie uiiit.ru I in marriage by the Rev. 0. A. Jeffcoat.

The already pretty church was made more beautiful by banks of ferns, palms and cut flowers artistically arranged by the young girlhood friends of the bride. 1 Promptly at the appointed hour the wedding march played by Miss I Lucy Metts, a cousin of the bride, anj nounced the approach of the bridal i party. Messrs Hassell and Henry Mils 1 ler, first, followed by Miss Mary Butler Fant of Newberry, maid of honor, then the groom with his best man. Mr. rerry ivieus rani, 01 entered from the chancel door, and met the bride who came in with her uncle, Mr.

McD Metis. The beautiful I ring service of the Methodist Epis'copla church being used. 1 The bride's gown was of soft white crepe de chino draped with lace, and she carried a beautiful shower bouquet of bride roses and ferns. I The maid of honor was beautiful in her gown of pink satin with over dress of accordian pleate dchiffon, carrying an armful of pink roses and ferns. After the 1st of September, Mr.

and Mrs. Machen will be at home, at 302 North Casey street, Baltimore, Md. Mr. and H. A.

Machen are visiting Mrs. Machen's aunt, Mrs. Jno. F. Fant.

for a few days at 2000 Main i street. Educational Rally. To People of Newberry County An educational rally has been planned for the people of Newberry county at Youngs Grove on August 23rd. Prof. W.

K. Tate, State supervisor of ele. mentary rural schools, Hon. J. E.

Swearingen, State of education, and Miss Edith Parrott, State organizer girls tomato club have accepted invitations to speak on this occasion. Efforts are bing made to have one 11 lift twu, utxici apcaati o. The school problems and situations are understood by speakers. Would it not be wisdom on part of every board of trustees to tiave at least one representative present? Would it not be wisdom on part of parents, children, and teachers to attend this meeting? Will you remain at home and thereby discourage the work? Will you give us your presence and thereby help the work? Meet at the Rally. The location of Younss Grove is known to many, but will state to the public that grove, is one of Prosperity.

Music will be furnished by band. Barbecue dinner and picnic dinner will be served on grounds. Do not forget the invitation, every one invited; time, Saturday, August 23rd; place, Youngs Grove, Prosperity. Thahking you in advance for your co-operation, support in school work, and future kindnesses, I am, Yours truly, Geo. D.

Brown, Co. Supt. Education. The Arcade was forced to open up an hour early today because of the large crowd gathered to get the first i glimpse of "Pilgrims Progress," Fourteen people from Laurens county came down to see it during evening. The civic asociation will meet next Monday, August 18; at 9.30 oMonday, Monday, August 18th, at 9.30 oclock at the residence of Mrs.

E. M. Evans..