The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, March 07, 1918, Image 1
The
M Just Like a Member of the Family'*
VOLUME XLI.
BARNWELL. SOUTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY. MARCH TTH., 1918.
NUMBER
17 ARRESTS MADE
IN LYNCHING CASE
Prominent Farmers and Business Men
of Barnwell County Under
Bond.
r:
CHARGE IS DENIED BY ALL
Investigations Are Under Way By
Governor, Sheriff and
the Solicitor.
Columbia, Feb. 28.-Wudge William
« H. Townsend this afternoon granted
bond to seventeen prominent farmers
and business men of the town of Fair
fax and of Barnwell County, alleged
to have participated in the lynching of
a negro man, Walter Best. The negro-
m few hours before, had shot to death
William Wilson, a young garage man
of Fairfax, and was being taken to
Barnwell by Sheriff J. B. Morris and
Deputies J. F. Grubbs and John B.
Ross when a mob of between 75 and
100 men took the negro from the coun
ty officers at Duck Branch bridge
€ t a mile or more from Fairfax,
} earned Beet into the nearby
• and shot him to death.
Warrants Seem Out.
Acting ea "information and belief"*
Sheriff M ema, of Barnwell County,
•wore out warrants far the It mea
# before Magistrate E W. Holman, of
Barnwell, far alleged murder and they
were glared under arret today Those
arrested wave: C. H Sanders, mer
chant and farmers. Pairfas. J. R
JMmt. restnamnt heeger. Fatrfat.
John Duuhar. Allendale. O B Lynne.*
laiffat; E G (oaiwny traveling
mnn. f nirfas. Oumr t arttoa. farmer,
hbae, G A Sanders, eutemehile man.
lairfhai Iff, B Banders, Feirfst. B B
Beet, rfteefc. Feirfns; B W. Damunirh
and Leu T«44. automahsle men. earn-
BHBpI with the Faivfas Meter Cum*
guny. I aw venae Harter, farmer. Fair
fni. c;mdy Harter. Herb. Fntrflna; H
H Young, is!■ graph ogerutor. Fair*
*•». OKmL tim*. TmtHm*.
Frank Harter, farmer, Fairfaa. end
ueargu
BARNWELL COUNTY MAN y
RECEIVES PROMOTION
C. Keys Sanders, of Blackville, Is Mak-
f ing Good at Camp Jackson.
CONDUCTOR KILLED AT
BLACKVILLE ON SUNDAY
Barnwell County men who entered
the service of Uncle Sam after war
was declared continue to make good.
The latest promotion of one of “our
boys’* occurred at Camp Jackson last
week, when Second Lieut. C. Keys
Sanders, of Blackville, was promoted
to the rank of first lieutenant. Lieut
Sanders is ■ a graduate of the first
training camp at Fort Oglethorpe,
Ga., which he entered as a private
last .Springy His friends congratu
late him on the recognition of his mer
it
Another promotion that will be of
interest to the people of Barnwell
County was that of Lieut. Charles E.
Boineau to a captaincy. Capt Boi-
neau is a nephew of Col. Harry D.
Calhoun, of Barnwell, and for the past
several months has been in charge of
the mustering office at Camp Jack-
son. where his excellent work won the
approval of his superior officers.
Johaaeu He rood Wins Appointment.
Johnson Hageed, son of CoL Butler
Hagood, of Barnwell, has been ap
pointed principal for the vacancy at
the United States Military Academy
at West Point, as the result of a com
petitive examination held February
14th The appointment was made by
Senator E. D Smith. Alternates to
Mr. Hagood in the order named are
John B. Cromwell, of Chester; Charlie
M R. Bull, of Spartanburg. Sumter
vMjntp c pnd Jamee Norton Sloan, of
GreenvtBe Mr. Hagood la eligible to
toko the April entrance esammaUoa
Mr Hagood eolmtsd m the
Carolina NeteensJ Guard oheo the
^ubbIumM suRod foe suhmmmu during
the Meairan unplananntneea and new
eertnae aa the harder He haa haau
aim■•r fuatmuauMy la teaming mare
that lame
Capt. J. R. Maxwell Fell Between
Cars of Morning Train.
Blackville,* March 4.—Jesse Reid
Maxwell, conductor on Southern Rail
way freight Np. 55, operated between
Columbia and Savannah, was killed
at 1:15 o'clock yesterday morning at
Blackville when he fell between the.
cars of the ifioving train. Mr. Max
well was walking along on top of the
cars, passing from the caboose to
ward the engine and the supposition
is that he lost his equilibrium and fell
directly between twd of the cars.
Death was instantaneous. The body
was taketL to Walhalla, his former
home, leaving Columbia at 7 o’clock
this morning in a private car attached
to train No. 15.
Mr. Maxwell was nearing his 38th
birthday. He has had a number of
years experience in railroading and
stood high with the men of his pro
fession. He was a member of Local
No. 323, Order of Railroad Conductors,
and members of this fraternity will
accompany the body to Walhalla. He
is survived by his widow, who before
marriage was Mias Lucy Murphy of
Anderson. He is also survived by three
children; one daughter, 14 years old,
and two sons, eight and taro and one-
half yoara, respectively
In addition to the railroad organisa
tion, Mr Maxwell aloe arms a msmbsr
of Acuna Lodge, A. F M . No. P4. and
af the Woedmen of the World.
A. A.
BARNWELL COUNTY BOY
WINS COLLEGE HONORS
24th. found that he ~came la bw death
fram gunshot wounds el the bends of
pnft*ee onhnewe to thte jury "
Fifteen *eood»
wo
Judge Towuaeud vetoaoed C H Ran*
dors, John Dunbar. O B Lynee, R G
i siwj Oscsf t efttoa so fTjbOO
h>ods serh and the reamaung twelve
defendants m tkjHM hands each The
t amount of the hands amounts In
I * **'. which urns tmme-i *w .
up bp the altsceoys of the srnmnd.
Edgar A. Brew a aad J. Emile HarWy.
af the Barnwell Bat The seventeen
defendant* were brought to Columbia
this aftemasa in charge of a deputy
sheriff aad part af them appeared at
the hearing
It was brought oat at the hearing,
which began shortly afteer three #*-
rlock, that three Inceetigatiene into
the lynching are under way one by
Governor Manning, another by Sheriff
Moms and a third by Solicitor R. L.
• inter, of the second judicial circuit
which Barnwell County is situated
and that a large number of additional
arrests are expected.
Enter Denial.
In the petition asking for bail all
of the defendants submitted affidavits
denying that they were present when
the lynching of Walter Best took place.
These affidavits were substantiated
by others in the majority of instan
ces. None of the defendants ivere able
to tell the names or identities of the
lynchers.
The evidence given by Sheriff Mor
ris at the coroner’s inquest which was
submitted by the attorneys for the
defendants in their petition at the
hearing today, after describing hjAv
the negro was taken from his posses
sion, says:
Sheriff’s Evidence.
“I could not name all in
the crowd. One or two of the
men on the bridge told me they were
doing me wrong, that they should
have done this before I came. The
names of the men that I remember
that w r ent into the swamp were John
Dunbar, E. G. Connelly, Oscar Carlton
and several garage men, J. R, Blount,
O. B. Lynes, C. H. Sanders, Audrey
or Wffl. Sanders and B. B. Best. The
names of those that did not do any
thing were Jimmy Boyles, A. H. Har
ter, Frank Harter, Jamie Boyles, Mor-
ralL Strange.**
Deputy Sheriff's Testimony,
J. F. Grubbs, one of the deputies
^with Sheriff Morris at the time of the
Punching, in his deposition, said:
M ! know the name of the man that
pulled the negro out of the car, his
naaw was C H Sanders and with this
r&cept.un. thfli Aariff*• testimony Is
pm*
G Wvuhry. Ik
found fffWaa 1
aheta, peahnhly
net. fear •# ffvo
md*, four or ffve
saagdaiag
hh*s an MB
■Sf caliheg
la <abbvf
i
> J * i
•f largsr a
•rudyHartef
• aa
•J*ki
fr
puam
BK HABUBO* OCT
FOB R. R. COM MISHKIN
le Mahe
< ahauhia. Feh 2* Alfred A BlHh
aMsaa, «f f* ~ 1 rm« t rhmf
gaum wasdsa of Bnath Gafahaa^ tu»
dhg aaaaanrwd fee eudread eeamasa*
meaer to eaeveed Vvme JWhn J •^tdh*
*• whw Is la twe rm** fneCwvvcwwr
He Bwhaads a asal lhai as is fan*
e «*g aa his r r* * d sad wt n muwmree
his plntfeem la the peepAs of Mm Bia*e
fvuai the *vcump" m aa aaeeetaia
sssaad eai
^ • ♦ *+* amde due*
} days The elhee wm
w D Lee, ef tlariang
W. R. Johns Is Winner in Wofford
. ^ ' /
College Oratorical Contest.
This Is ihe
fee rudrswd ee
*»g the Iasi fw
Bmaftsp Qarsn
The'Spartanburg Journal of recent
date tells of the winning of addition
al honors by Mr. W. R. Johns, a stu
dent at Wofford College. Mr. Johns
is a son of Mr. W. I. Johns, of Bal-
dock. The article is as follows:
^ The oratorical contest at Wofford
College last night was won by W. R.
Johns, of the Preston Society, who
had for his subject “The New Pa
triotism.” There were five speakers
representing the three societies, and
from these the winner was chosen. .
There was quite a large crowd pres
ent to greet the young orators and
every one seemed to enjoy the con
test. The audience, composed of 4
townspeople, soldiers and students,
was an appreciative one, and gave
each speaker hia due meed of ap
plause. The contest was of a high
order of 'merit, and compared favor-
•Idy with the contests held in bygone
years. Eacji man was at hia best and
each did exceedingly well. The five
men all choae subjects bearing on the
present crisis, but no two speeches
were alike, for each orator took a dif
ferent view of the world-wide war for
his particular field There eras no do-
plication and no lack of iateveot oa
the part of the audience
Bax. W. L Herbert, in nnnousinng
the deciaien af the judge*, stated that
there had been no wnlhover for any
auMi; that the winner had not fan
•way with the prtae. hat had barely
■orreeded In capping the rentiet The
jwdgea wove oat far •aumfhiag ever
twenty minute*, and apfmrenlly had
marh difficulty la reamui la a dona-
COUNCIL OF DEFENCE
REORGANIZED TUESDAY
Important Meeting Held in Court
House.—Dr. Currell Present.
BARNWELL SHERIFF
WEARS NO GLASSES
Me Joh*. wtaaev af the ecolndcal
amdnl, m a ant to* af Rarwweff coun
ty aad la a amashev of the Jnmor Haas
at Waff oaf He km
hem ia*4 a laadmg part m
matmral content* Ha haa
•woe* he arms ret am
t<MK
caam
nenalar Lee
mg fvmu Allendale aad amvod at the j •Wht year* «f legislative experveace
•coat of the lynching after the aegro I *• mmm nming hia last term at
ora* dead I Btalo a Banalar. Ha la B praauaaat
T1
H
• etateamat was eahataatmtad ^ planter and
aBMMBur affidavit farm ^hrry I Hm Coanty.
haaaaaas amn af DafRaff
ag at Lydha. W J C
Thrift Htamp* Free
The Keople offers to give FREE
to the hay* and girls af Barn
well County a tS-cent THRIFT
STAMP for every subacnptiaa,
wither new or renewal, that they
send m to this office at the reg
ular subscription rate of $1.50 a
year. There are no strings tied
to this offer. Simply send us a
friend** subscription for one
year and we will send you the
Thrift Stamp. This offer is
made primarily to promote the
ftrfle of the atafnp* in this county.
' Address The People, Barnwell,
f*. C.
the
jary. at the
nsgro, haid Fihruary
%B, af A HeadsJe
laorenre Harter’s affidavit said
that he had gone to thick Branch
bodge m an aatoambile with a party
<»f fnonds sometime after the lynch
ing. This affidavit was supported by
affidavits from W. Allen Harter, J. W
Thoms* end F W. t$*ilson
The affidavit of Frank Harter said
that he had started to Al lendale on
business and reached the scene of the
lynching after the negro was dead.
Sims O'Neal swore that he did not
?o to the scene of the lynching until
some time after it had occurred.
- B. B. Best swore that he was in the
store where he was employed at the
time of the lynching and J. R. Blount
made an affidavit that he was in his
restaurant until after the death of the
negro, Walter Best. Both the store
and restaurant are in Fairfax. W. W.
Myrick, employed along with Best,
substantiated his statement, and J. B.
O’Neal, postmaster at Fairfax, that of
Blount.
Out Demonstrating.
G. A. Sanders and 0. B. Lynes swore
that the latter was demonstrating an
Overland automobile for the former,
and ^hearing shots up the road, got to
Duck Branch road after negro was
killed. They had no previous knowl
edge of the contemplated lynching,
they testified.
H. H. Young and E. G. Connelly, in
separate affidavits, sw r ore they were
returning to Fairfax from Allendale,
where they had been on business, and
reached the scene of the lynching af
ter the negro had been shot.
The affidavit of George Hogg swore
that he was at the home of his sister,
Mrs. W. G. Kearso, at Fairfax, at the
time of the lynching.
W. B. Sanders swore that he Was
carrying the family of Lawrence You-
mans ta their home in the country and in so far as I am concerned, to keep
did not know of the lynching until af- j these defendants unduly deprived of
ter returning to Fairfax. their liberty, should the conscience of
Saw Crowd Scrambling. the court lead him to believe that there
. C. H. Sanders, Lee Todd and S. W. is a doubt of their guilt, but in the
Dominick swore that they were in an event that the court decided to grant
automobile together lowing Sanders' hail. 1 request that ho it very
car. which had become disabled, to- stiff."
ward Fairfax. Whea they apprernrhed . Later the Attorney General ex-
Duck Branch Bridge they saw ffhtnff ynriiii the -f~in the bod
Msma m hia amemsbtle and a crowd ast he lam '.haa $Um fee met of the
mm a antra m Wbmfh M
thereafter deponent heard a great
many shots fired out in the edge of.
the woods and learned that Walter
Best had been killed,” stated the affi
davit.
A. H. Harter swore that he was go
ing from Fairfax to Allendale in his
automobile and got to the scene of the
lynching after Walter Best had been
killed.
John Dunbar swore that he had been
to Fairfax on business and w r as re
turning to his home at Allendale, ac
companied by Oscar Carlton, and ar
rived at Duck Branch after the lynch
ing. Oscar Carlton’s affidavit sub
stantiated this, saying he, his father,
J. L. Carlton, and others were at Fair
fax and Oscar Carlton requested Dun
bar to let him ride to Allendale with
him. . Aq affirmative affidavit was
submitted from J. L. Carlton.
• Thomas H. Peeples, Attorney Gen
eral, who appeared for the State in
the absence of Solicitor Gunter, said
“that it is not the desire of the State,
•f (Ms Ham aw4 affnvfp
tartta wmR aB Mr Ji
•arvll—l chamrv af
Aa« b—m Mm auta wmiat i
Omaamaaf ApvM 8R
NRG BO RACE < t INFER EM R
M.rrk III*
TW Bw. RidmrM C*mB. prta>4ft
•f tha Bvwth Carolina Nagra Rarv
"fervara which ha yrganixcd four-
lav* years ag* far tha parpaax af aa-
rouragmg tha ralorvf paapta along m-
•t u* trial I in*
fu! rrlatioci hvtwrm tha two me** in
South Carolina will ha held la Bam
berg Friday, March 15th. Other meet
tngs were scheduled to be held in
Charleston and Beaufort but they have
been called off. The only meeting to
be held in the Southeastern section
will be Bamberg. We hope that the
white citizens who are readers of this
journal will notify the best thinking
colored men to attend this meeting.
The Defense Council and Food Admin
istration presided over by Mr. D. R.
Coker and Mr. William Elliott will be
present or send a representative. R.
W. Westbury of Sumter, who is at the
head of the Negro Food Administra
tion will give an address at 10:30 a.
m. The white people are cordially in
vited to the meeting also. Rev. W. W.
Chappelle of Bamberg is* chairman of
the local committee. For information
w'rite . •
Rev. Richard Carroll,
Pres. Negro Race Conference,
Columbia, S. C.
Ah important meeting of the Barn
well County Council of Defence was
held in the Court House Here Tuesday
morning, at w'hich time a very inter
esting and instructive address was de
livered by, Dr. W. Is. Currell, presi
dent 6t the University of South Car
olina, of Columbia.
In the absence of the Chairman, Mr.
A. M. Kennedy, of Whlisten, the meet
ing was called to order by Mr. P. M.
Buckingham, Vice-Chairman. Dr..W.
M. Jones, of Williston, explained the
object of the meeting and read some
instructions to county chairman. Du
ring the course of his remarks, he paid
a glowing tribute to the attitude of
the brother in blmck during the criaia
through which the Nation is now pass
ing.
Re-organisation of the Council was
perfected by the re-election of Mr. A.
M. Kennody aa Chairman, Mr. P. M
Buckingham aa Vtce-Chainaaa, and
Mr. H. J. Crouch as Secretary.
Remarks were then made by Mr. W
I. Johns, of Baklock, a member of the
State Council of Defence, and Mr. J.
E Johnston, of Fairfax, county food
administrator, after which all town
ship chairmen wer*
iloctod
On motion. Meoora J. E
W. R t Lake. Jr., county fuel tdmiato
teat or. and If G Boyloton, county
!ama*atrati«fi agent, and Mwaos Clif
ford Barratt and Elmae Cove, boom
'rmur ttr** agenta, weeo mode
m>f the executive cwUMMtkae
At this juncture. Dr Currell. who
hod ju*t arvi»od from t oftumhra. am
the oauvt room and afire a imng
mtcwdurtma by Dr J«mmi dHteerod a
mart admirable addraaa He dtaramnl
Mm war at length and etfuamd the
nvrwomtp for America In brum bar faff
power la the taeh af fveemg Mm world
af the amnarw of Ftunhm autnevary
At Ihe raarhmnm of hm talh ho waa
- • ftomg voie of thonks
* E**. a ammher of tho roAoeed
^ «f Mm ruuanl. told of tha
that the negvuro hnve dene ami
**€ ond pledged Mm«r tuuHauod
1 of dmaoreary.
etth Mm Tirio.
wiB follow *
* ftitrg mifitefter*. ike mretiej mJ
Governor Manning Expreoaco
Emphatically Regarding Fair
fax Lynching.
PRAISE FOR SHERIFF MORRIS
Solicitor R. L. Gunter Also Pi
’ Aid in Proeecuting the
Alleged Lynchers.
Governor Bf^miing yesterday
mended Sheriff J. B. Morris of
well County for his clearness of
retentive memory and courage to
names in connection with the lynching
of Walter Best, a negro, near Fairfax
in Barnwell County yesterday one
week ago. The sheriff came to Co
lumbia yesterday for a conference
with Governor Manning and followhm
the meeting the governor isaaad a
statement in which he said:
**l am glad to see Sheriff Morris had
and had the courage to *%fl amam
when tho thae came.**
The conference wa
Thomas H. Peeples.
Seventeen white a
MORE MEN TO CAMP
One Lsfl Monday aad ^aa Ma
deevd to Bra eel
tir
also
M connect ma with the
Mm waftoata haehig been a
by Wmctff Morris.
Farther
hp B. L
SmrvmJ Juki no J OrvaH. who
pledged the adotfalsifoMoo that i
pwaamte effort wMI ha omda la I
Mm guilty pumas ha jaet^«
mg the cuaferenre yvolardny
Manning mid
"T am dmavmmad that three
• <a'*gh ***miigwuow Vj
of the lynehma oi Duah Bmnah hi
theoe aha pammpadod wta ha l
ouffy pmarrumd. that Ma law
he vmdmwftod
e had a aoufbaansa wMh Mm i
nef a«oaaal and Mmnff J B
Horan ell Cuuaap* Mm#
tyndmaa I feeudvud o laM
i«ritee B L (hmSag af Mm
dMIal QpvwB, la whiff
| . n a; ka^m (
mu umaffHBauaaau mBBBP MBw
that ho would 4
power to sew that
the 11that af Maher Baal
la jaaMso.
"I aai flMd $• am Mtoft fl
had a good ammary for
faros and had Mto eoas
•amee whan the tiam <
State. March I
la
CAN SEND LARGER PACKAGES.
70 Pounds Delivered by Parcel Post in
1st, 2nd and 3rd Zones.
Parcel post regulations have been so
amended that beginning March 15,
packages weighing 70 pounds will be
delivered by the.sqpvice in first, sec f
ond and third zones. Increase in
weight has also been' made to 50
pounds for packages destined to other
zones.
The increased weight limit will be
particularly advantageous in the mar
keting of products from the farm, aa
it wfll make for immediate dispatch
of product! between producers and
consumers, thereby facilitating the
conservation and distnbutioa of food.
TW mete* sod weight limit due* not
apply to portals amM to Mm
ary forte is
Another tagiatrauL Jacob Manama.
«f K<>t*tnna. was voluntarily inducttd
mtn military arrricv by the l^cat
Board Monday and mot to Comp Jack
•on for irmotag. He ta tho ■mwomh
volunteer m about two weeks three
white men and two negroes.
Two Barnwell men, Messrs. Nicho
las D. Coclin and Jacob Levy, were or
dered to report for service yesterday
(Wednesday 1. Mr. Coclin left Mon
day for Columbia, taking hia papers
with him, as he desired to spend a
couple of days in tho capital city be
fore going to Camp. He ia a member
of the firm of Coclin Bro*., of this city,
and is very popular in Barnwell. His
friends here expect him to advance
rapidly.
Mr. Levy was in the mercantile bus
iness here prior to January 1st and
was in the first call. He was given a
temporary discharge to allow him time
in which to dispose of his stock. He
is also well liked here and will carry
the good wishes of many friends for
his safe return. Bo*h of these young
men are naturalized citizens, Mr.
Levy being a native of Russia and Mr.
Coclin of Greece.
t NC LB BAM NRBDB FIFTY
STFAOGR \PHEBB AT O!
Lyndhurst Items.
Special to The People.
Lyndhurst, March 4.—The Rev.
Paul F. Brown and Mr. Sumter Clarke,
of Estill, and Mr. Thomas Warren, of
Allendale, motored up Sunday to con
duct a meeting at the local Presbyter
ian Church for the purpose of raising
funds for benevolent purposes;
Miss Louise Moore, of Barnwell,
spent this week-end here with Miss
Alleen Fowke.
Dr. and Mrs. B. J. Hammett, of Al
lendale, and Dr. and Mrs. W. S. Hay,
of Estill, were here for a few hours
Sunday.
Masart. S. Marion Hay, of Charles
ton, and Henry Cummings Hay, of
Summen die, are spending a few days
here with relative* ~
Farm work ia prngredaiaj wall in
tfcit fectma jAimust aB af the folds
have heea hrwkea up and ff Mm warm
wil ha
. Will Be Made fteaa.
Fifty stenographers are needed by
the government service this wash,
•tales a notice which haa been received
by the Local Board for Bara waff
County from State headquarters, and
if this number fail to volunteer tknr
will be drafted into the service by the
power of the government. In earn
this means is resorted to the call will
be apportioned among the various
local boards of the State. The ateu-
9graphers herein called are for the
aviation section, signal corps, and will
be sent to Kelly Field, San Antonio,
Texas. The chairman of the Local
Board has been asked to forward at
once to the office of the headquarters
officer the number of registrants un
der the jurisdiction of the Barnwell
County board qualified for this calL
Only white men and men physically
fit for general military service will he
taken in this call. Applicants for vol
untary induction will be accepted
until March 8th, and if the call is net
filled by that date a sufficient number
of qualified men to fill Barnwell Coun
ty's quota will be immediately in
ducted from Class One in sequence
order numbers.
Very Few Rejections.
The Local Board has received re
ports on 142 of the 199 men sent to
Camp Jackson within the past two
weeks. Of the number heard from,
139 have been accepted and three re
jected, two on account of tuberculosis
and one of heart trouble. This id a
very small percentage and the physi
cians who conducted the
for Mto Board are to he eaagVBl
oa their good work. In ail.
County haa seat about tot
Camp aad aa far theea ha
about 11 fojartwaa or a til
I three par caul. Tiff
' m e famed far foeto