The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, November 29, 1910, Image 1
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VOLUME XLTM. NUMBER 96. NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLIhA, %UESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1910. TWCE A WE $1 A
LAST SAD CHAPTER
Inquests Held and Body of Murdered
Child and of Lynched Negro
Were Buried.
The full story of the horrible crime
near Little Mountain, on the Lexing
ton side of the line, and the subse
quent lynching of the negro, Flute
Clark, on Friday night, by the deter
mined crowd which gathered as soon
as the news of his attempted criminal
assault on a 14-year-old white child
of the community and the cutting by
him of her throat from ear to ear an'i
-of thLe bone in the back of the neck.
almost severing her head from her
body, was given in a special edition
of The Herald and News on Saturday
morning.
The body of the negro was found on
Saturday morning, some three hun
dred yards on the Newberry side of
the 'line, where it had been left after
his body was riddled with bullets on
Friday night. The negro had been
taken to a field on the south side of
the mountain, and it is said that a lan
ternowas swung on his body in order
that the crowd might see where to
aim.
Of courpe it is problematical as to
how many men took part in the kill
ing. The body had been pierced with
a number of bullets and a good irt
of his head was shot off.
The inquest over the body of the
negro was held on Saturday by Mag
istrate B. B. Davis, of Little Mountain,
at the request of Coroner Felker,,of
Newberry county. After viewing the
remains and taking some testimony
the verdict was to the effect that Clark
came to his death from gun-shot
wounds at the hands of unknown par
ties.
The inquest over the young girl was
held by Magistrate R. W. Frick, of
Chapin, acting for Coroner Clark, of
Lexington-county. No new facts were
1developed at this inquest.
The child was buried at Mt. Tabor
thurch on Saturday afternoon. The
services were held at the church, and
were conducted by the Rev. E. J. Sox,
assisted by the Rev. 0. B. Shearouse.
The church was crowded to its utmost
capacity and there was a throng of
people outside who could not find
standing room inside the church.
The negro's remains were buried at
a negro church over on the Lexing
ton side.
The two funerals were at about the
same hour.
Several Newbarrians attended the
funeral of the- young girl, among them
Governor-dlect Cole. L. Blease.
The funerals on Saturday afternoon
added the final chapter to a tragedy
which stirred this section of the State
as few tragedies have done in ,many
years. The attempted assault and the
murder occurred at between three and
4 o'clock on Friday afternoon. It
-was shortly after 10 o'clock when the
iiegro confessed and at about 10.30
o'clock the lynching occurred.
When the ne'gro came back to the
field after his horrible crime and the
alarm was given he went back to the
house, and keeping himself under
wonderful contrdl, aided around the
house and was apparently helping the
others to find some cue of the per
petrator of the crime. Au suspi
cion pointed to him, a chain of evi
dence gradually appeared which left
no doubt of his guilt, and which was
confirmed by his subsequent confes
There were men gathered at the
scene of the crime from Newberry
and Lexington counties to the num
ber of more than a thousand. Many
of them, however, did not know the
negro's whereabouts, he being in the
ands of another party some hundred
yards distant from the home of the
girl's parents. Sheriff Buford, of New
berry, and Sheriff Corley and Deputy
Sheriff Miller, of Lexington, were pow
erless to prevent the liynching.
Some Sidelights.
It is'no easy matter to handle a
lynching sixteen miles from town at
10.30 o'clock at night, send off reports
of it to the daily newspapers and get
back to the city in time to get out a
special edition in time to catch a 5.19
mail next morning. Such was the
newspaper feat performed by The Her
ald and News. For this good time
much of the credit is due the run made
from Prosperity to Newberry, to get
the newspaper men, from Newberry to
Little Mountain, and then back to
Newberry by Mr. 3. Frank Browne,
ehiving his car and accomrpani d by
Mr- jc-ome B. H{arm.U
Two Newberry cars went to the
scene, that of Mr. Robert Norris, con
taining Driver W. C. Waldrop, Con
stable Cannon G. Blease, Policeman T.
'. Adams, and Mr White Fant, and
Mr. Forrest Summer's car, driven by
Mr Summer and containing Sheriff t
Buford, Deputy Sheriff Pope Buford, N
and Mr. W. J. Swittenberg. As stated t
there were several officers who came
in two Lexington machines. Mr. r
Wagdrop's machine was first to reach c
the scene. t
It is doubtful if any number of of- j
ficers or any number of militia, if
there had been time to get the militia
there, could have prevented the lynch
ing. The officers were there to do
their duty but to prevent the lynching -
was beyond their power.
The road leading up to the home of c
the vitim was lined with carriages, c
automobiles and buggies, and many i
saddled horses stood around. There ,
were weapons of every conceivable de- t
scription.
The Inquisition. I
Coroner Felker received the follow- b
ing report from Magistrate Davis yes- b
terday of the inquest and sent a copy o
to Gov. Ansel: t
Little Mountain, S. C. b
Mr. W. E. Felker. Dear Sir: I send b
you all the evidence I could get at in- I
quest over the body of Flute Clark s
and the jury's verdict. Could not find y
anyone who knew anything about it
Your friend,
B. B. Davis. b
At inquisition taken at Little Moun- i
tain, S. C., on November 26, 1910, the f,
jury after getting all the evidence they ii
couUd and hearing same renders the t
verdict that Henry Clark (alias Flute b
Clark) came to his death from gun- i
shot wounds inflicted by parties un- r
known to jury. d
B. B. Davis, n
Magistrate, g
Acting Coroner for N. C. s
November 26, 1910. b
Dr. J. M. Sease: sworn, Said that the o
deceased came to his death from gun- a
shot wounds in head and face sufficient p
to cause instant death. b
J. M. Sease. d
W. F. White sworn: Personally ap- u
peared: Says he knows the negro, Hen- n
ry Clark, commonly known as Flute. a
Didn't see negro yesterday. Been t,
knowing negro about two years. Saw a
dead body this morning lying just as ti
he is now. General appearance he is
the same negro. W. F. White.
Martin Cannon sworn: Martin Can- e
noni says he knows this body to be c
Henry Clark. Been knowing him 15 is
years. Saw him yesterday evening. ti
Saw him again about 11 o'clock last I
night. Sure of the body being that of u
Henry Clark. Came to see for curios- n
ity. Martin Cannon. a
Martin Cannon recalled: Says he is d
about 22 years old, working for Mr t:
Noah Shealy at the time of de1th and p
has been employed by Mr. Shealy for a
the last seven or eight years. t:
Martin Cannon.
W. F. White recalled: W. F. White
says this negro was married and has c
one child. s
W. F. White. ~
The deceased, Henry Cannon, came y
to his death by gunshot wounds un- t
known to the jury. -d
S. W. Young, foreman; D. L. Bow- y
ers, J. D. Brown, Jr., J. W. Lindler, t:
N. B. Wheeler, Norris McIntire, A. A. t,
Singley, E. E. Sligh, J. 0. Singley, J.
E. Boland, I. I. Hawkins.
November 26, 1910. d
S
LEXINGTONi SHERIFF REPORTS. ,a
a
Newberry Sheriff Says He Has Xade ~
None, But Will Do So if Caned b
Upon- t
It was stated in the press dispatches t
from Columbia and published in the b
Sunday papers that Governor Ansel i:
would give out no statement in re- 8
gard to the lynching which unfortu- h1
nately took place in Newberry county c
until hie had received report from the t
sheriff.
The Herald and News yesterday sent a
a representative to Sheriff Buford to t
ask if he had made any report, and the 8
sheriff said that he had made no report s
but would do so if called upon. He y
said he thoughit the Lexington sheriff f
has to make the report.
Sheriff of Lexington Reports. a
The State.
Lexington, Nov. 27.-When seen to-r
day the sheriff, P. H. Corley, stated1e
that he had mailed his report to Gov. *
Ansel on the lynching of the negro, y
"Flute" Clark. whc occurred just t
across the Lexington line in Newberry
*
THE IDLER. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * *
To The Idler: I am requested to say
o you that that additional lamp which
ras ordered put up at the union sta
ion in Friend street has not been put
.p for the reason that the Southern
ailway gave notice that no lamp pole
ould be erected within thirty feet of
he ends of the crossties. Alderman
axter says all the material necessary
as been ordered and is on hand.
Citizen.
Now, that is very strange. I can not
nderstand why the railroad people
rould put any obstruction in the way
f additional light at the union station.
eems to me they would be anxious to
ave more light and that if the town
rould not furnish the light they would
emselves. I know what I will do.
see the chamber of commerce has in
ited President W. W. Finley to be
are on the 20th of December and that
e has accepted. I will just take him
ver there myself, or have some one
do it for me, and let- him see for
imseRf how difficult it is to see in the
igh officials x1on't really know how
hope it will be raining and the
treets good muddy and that he may
rade over his shoe tops in the water.
. -o
It really happens that some of these
igh officers dont' really know how
iuch inconvenience some of us poor
)lk have to endure to keep them go
ig on big salaries. Yes, I want him'
) get his feet good muddy. Maybe
e will realize then how great is this
eed. Now, as for me personally, it
iakes very little difference, for I
on't have to go out at night and
fighty little in the day time. I am
etting so old and feeble and near
ighted that I am afraid that I may
e run down by somebody's automobile
r motor cycle or mule buggy. nI fact,
11 my efforts have been to help the
ulic and for no personal gain or the
ope of personal gain. But the town
oes need more light at night at the
nion station, and if the railroad will
ot permit this stfeet light then pass
n ordinance requiring the railroad
) put up and burn more small lights
round the depot. Or stop the night
ains.
-0
I notice the civic association has
lected new officers and appointed
ammittees. Now, for instance, what
the publIic square committee going
> do? or what does it intend to do?
ring the wagon yard back to the
pper square, of course. Seems to
e I heard as long time ago that the
ssociation had already given the or
er for a nice coping around a por
on of the upper square, and that the
ortion inside was to be made into a
ice little park. Am I right? If so,
aen get busy and get busy quick.
I am told that the present city coun
il has put down some good cement
ide~walks in West End. That is theI
roper thing to do, and I wish some
rere down in some other sections of
e city. But they ought to be put
own under the direction of some one
rho knows what he is doing so that
re water would not stand on them af
er each rain.
-0
By the way, I was thinking the other
ay-yes, I am always 'thinking about
omething good-I was thinking about1
new postoffice building for Newberry
nd I thought what a nice location the
Lentral Methodist church lot would
e, and all at once it seemed to me
dat I had heard or read somewhere,
rat once upon a time something had
een said about a government build
ig for Newberry and that the con
ressnan from this district-I forget
is name for the moment-had gotten
ongress to make an appropriation for
at very purpose and it was a good
urpose, too. Did the government buy
lot? Seems to me I heard some
Ling about that. I wonder if the
overnment intends to build any time
oon. Now, Congressman Aiken, when
ou go up to Washington next week
or the opening of congress will you
e so kind as to let me hear somathing
bout that appropriation. If you have
Iready sent it to the banks in Newber
y the interest on it will add consid
iable to the sum. It1 fact the amount
i double in a certain number of
ears and we could build a building
hat would be a credit to thc city.
--
the Saturday edition of The Herakl
and News and the daily papers. I am
sorry they brought the brute over on
the Newberry side to shoot him, but I
reckon if I had been there I would
have aided and abetted and given lit
tle thought to county lines. The brutes
who commit such crimes may know
that certain and speedy justice will be
their portion.
-0
By the way, Mr. Editor, that was a
good piece of work, I mean that Sat
urday edition. Your subscribers ought
to appreciate that. But, you know, I
find that there are lots of people who
have very little appreciation. I reck
on that is the right word. And, no
doubt, you will find some people who
will find fault with you, but you just
let the heathen rage, and tell them The
Idler says he is proud to be connected
with The Herald and News.
-0
I read the following in Frank Stan
ton's column in the Alanta Constitu
tion some time ago:
Every-Day Philosophy.
Arthur Aull is a philosopher who
preaches good sermons on the little
things that make up life. Here is a
bunch of them:
"Two women living upon adjacent
lots, with children and chickens in
each yard, are almost sure to have a
row. A whole lot of the time, when
you gaze ahead, it looks like it was
Indians upon the upper road and cer
tain death upon the lower. A young
man not far from here, when asked his
occupation, answered that he was en
gaged in the practice of law and econ
omy. Most folks are like a young bird
-give them something and their
thaniks consist in open4ug their
mouths for more."
I was wondering if this Arthur Aull
was some of the same Aulls we had
in this county. I know lots of folks
like the little bird. -And if you fail to
supply the caftl of the open mouth
even one time they get mad and pout
like little children.
-0
What about my park? The Idler's
park? Well, just this, the park is
coming and coming soon, too, and
don't you forget that.
The Idler.
Takes in Newberry County.
The Spartanburg Herald. which has
been doing some admirable work in
stimulating the citizens whom it
serves so well to renewed activities
in various lines of endeavor, prints a
very striking map which illustrates at
a glance the remarkaule development
of the territory in and around Spar
tanburg. Within a radius of fifty miles
of its city The Herald boasts of an
estimated population of 500,000; of
$7,000,000 capital invested in water
power development; of 70,000-horse
power available; of 80,000-horse power
available, but not developed; of $50,
000,000 capital invested in textiles,
which is allmost as much as in the en
tire State of South Carolina, the sec
ond matiufacturing State in the Un
ion; of 3,500,000 cotton spindles; of
77,000 cotton looms, about one-fifth
the entire number in the South; and
of superb lands admirably adapted to
a wide variety of agricultural enter
prises. Within the circle embraced
in The Herald's map are in the cbun
ties of Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union,
Laurens and Greenville, in South Car
olina, and Rutherford, Polk, (Jleve
land and Henderson, in North Caro
line, as well as part of the counties of
Yorkville, Chester, Fairfield, Newber
ry, Greenwood, Abbeville, Anderson
and Pickens, in South South Carolina,
and Transylvania, McDowell, Bun
combe, Burke, Lincoln and Baston, in
North Carolina. Of course, -a good deal
of this territory is not tributary to
Sprtanburg in a business way, but
with its railroad connections leading in
every direction, "The City of Success"
may well take pride in the superb re
sources of the rapidly developing dis
trict of which it is the centre.-News
and Courier.
It is getting time to begin to advise
the legislature just what the needs
of the country demand, and what is ex
pected of that body.
Query: If a hen should eat poppy
seed would the eggs that she laid be
doped ?-Greenviille Piedmont. Not be
ing intimately acquainted with the
hen and being unfamiliar with her
whereabouts, etc., deponent saith
nothing. It might depend on the so
ciety to which the hen belonged or O'1
The Herald an
Begins N
Several Handsome Prizes
Big Subscription Cj
About It and G
Beginning with this announcement
The Herald and News launches one
of the newest and best enterprises of
its history in the form of a Subscrip
tion Campaign and Voting Contest.
There will be several prizes award
ed to the contestants receiving the
highest number of votes, votes to be
issued on each subscription, and the
winners of the prizes to be decided
later-by a committee of men who will
act as judges.
What the Contest Is For.
This voting contest is launched to
inrease the subscription list of The
Herald and News, and to enable The
Herald and News co reach its high aim
of the best and newsiest semi-weekly
ini Newberir county and a 'S-ond
best to none" in South CaroQina.
To do this the management of this
paper conceived the idea of giving
away handsome and valuable prizes
to the men, women, boys and girls,
who are willing to assist in this. cam
paign. This plan has called into con
sultation the best newspaper delibera
tion The Herald and News affords.
How the Contest Will be Conducted.
For the purpose of conducting its
contest on the best princip%es, and
business plan The Herald and News
has entered into a contract with the
well known contest firm of Jackson
ville, Fla., The American Music Co.,
who are conducting so many success
ful contests all over the South, and
their integrity and modern business
methods are a guarantee to all the
contestants of the absolute fairness of
the contest.
The American Music Co., will be
represented by Mrs. Edna Morris, a
very competent contest manager of
much experience, who will have en
tire charge of the contest.
Who Can Enter.
Any white person of good repute is
eligible to ei1ter this race.
No employer or employe or a direct
member of The Herald and News, of
his or her family, will be allowed to
enter this contest, and the Contest
Manager reserves the right to reject
any name for cause that will be sent
in.
How to Enter.
In another column of this paper
will be found a Nomination Coupon,
cut out this coupon and fill it in prop
erly and send it to the Contest De
partment of The Herald and News, or
if you do not have a coupon, write the
name of the person or persons whom
you wish to enter as a candidate with
their address written plainly on a
separate sheet of paper, and announce
them as a candidate in the race.
The first Nomination Coupon sent
in for each contestant, entitles him or
her to 1000 votes, or as soon as his
or her name is received in the Con
test Department, 1000 votes are issued
to their credit.
The nominator's naue will not be
divulged, so do not be afraid to nomi
NOMINATIO
I hereby nominate
HERALD AND NEWS e
Under no circumstan
name be divulged.
!d News
ew Enterprise
Will Be Awarded In This
2npaign.-Read All
.t In the Race.
nate as many as you choose.
The Prizes and How They Will be
Awarded.
The Herald and News has spared
no expense in selecting prizes for this
contest, and only prizes of worth and
value have been selected. The first
prize is a handsome Cote piano, a
well chosen -prize. This pianosis of
the $425.00 size and style, and is guar
anteed by the manufacturers for ten
years.
This piano has a beautiful ;mao
gany case, a highly finished case,
double veneered, with seven and one
third octaves, the keys being of the
best imported ivory. Three unison
with overstrung bass the strings are
of the best German imported wire.
The unimpeachabRe workmanship is
perfected by the appearance of the in
strument, it being of a plainness that
always attracts.
Other prizes will follow consecutive
ly, they are being selected to consum
mate the plan of The Herald and News
in making this voting contest the
greatest of any of Its kind that has
been attempted in this section of the
country.
How Votes Are Obtained.
On another page of this paper will
be found a scale of votes to be used in -
this contest. Votes wil be issued on
subscriptions by this scale, and by
bonus offers that will be announced
later.
A free voting "Weekly Ballot" will
be published weekly, entitling the re
cipint to as many free votes as the
ballot represents. As many of these
ballots will be accepted as can be
collected weekly, but they must be
sent to the Contest Department
promptly, each week before the ex
piration. of the date of publication of
the next issue of The Herald and News,
unless a change of this rule -is an
nounced in the paper.
When to Enter.
Send in your nominations at once.
An early start is haif the race, and
those who contemplate entering or
sending in their nominations are urg
ed to do so promptly. Don't stop at
nominating a f-riend, but if you want
to win a prize for yourself, start today.
For any information about this'con
test call on or write Contest Manager
of The Herald and News.
Subscription pads and receipt books
will be supplied on application to the
Contest Manager. Get them at -an
early date and get in the lead by a.n
earny start.
The rules for the contest will be
published in the next edition of this
paper.
Scale of Vote for The Herald and News
Contest.
An increase of 500 votes on every
year will be given on New Subscrip
tions. The following scale for old and
renewals:
6 months, 75 cents .. .....500 votes.
1 year, $1.50.. .. .. ....1,000 votes.
2 years, $3.00.. .... ....2,500 votes.
3 years, $4.50.. .. ....4,000 votes.
5 years, $7.50.. . .....10,000 votes.
10 years, $15.00.. .... ..25,000 votes.
25 years, $37.50 .. ....100,000 votes.
N COUPON.
us a candidate in THE
ontest Mr., Mrs., or Miss
ce will the nominator's