Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"DO THOU LIBERTY GREAT. INSPIRE OUR SOULS AND MAKE OUB LIVES IN THY POSSESSION HAPPY OR OUR DEATHS GLORIOUS IN THY-CAUSE." VOL.)Qax TWO MEN BURNED At the Stake Hear Statesboro, Ga., by a Determined Mob. THE MILITIA IS OVERPOWERED. The Soldiers on Duty With Unloaded Guns Were Helpless In the Hands ol the Crazed Populace. With clothing saturated with kero sene, writhing and twisting in their agony, screaming to heaven for the mercy that the mob would not show, Paul Heed and Will Cato, negroes, two of the principals in the dastardly mur der and burning of Henry Hodges and wife and three children six miles from Statesboro, Ga., three weeks ago, were burned at the stake on Tuesday, Aug. 16th. That afternoon at 1.21 o'clock a de termined mob charged upon tho court house, overpowered the military guard, secured Cato and Reed, who had been found guilty after a legal trial and sentenced to be banged, took them two miles from States boro and there exacted the ftarful penalty. The forenoon passed quietly, the trial of Paul Reed, the ringleader tn the murder, being coucluded and a verdict of guilty rendered. Sentence was Imposed upon both him and Will Cato, sentenced the day before, and September 9 was tlxed as the date for the execution. The crowd assembled about the court house Tuesday, was not so large as Monday. Nor was itso tbreaining, though, for that matter, there was .nt ver much parade about tbe crowd that argued the worst and tbe deter mination of the countrymen who had come in from miles around for the trial was never to be doubted. TTn to t.be noon hour there, was no intimation that so so m was to be en acted the terrible climax. lu the trial of Reed little delay was caused and upon its conclusion the prisoners, as before, were hustled into the wit ness room where a strong guard of military was mounted over them. THE AGITATION UEGINS. In the corridors the agitation be gan. The spectators left tbe court room and from the lawn outside many entered the hallways. Shortly before 1 o'clock the crowd was addressed by a tall man who seemed to inllime it greatly. He called on those aoout bim to follow him. Then Capt. Hitch of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, who was In command of the forces, -realized that the situation was desper ate. He posted gu irds on eacb of the . k stairways that led to the door above where the prisoners were confined. With fixed bayonets but unloaded rix.., ? tue. yu ai us tvwwCf.'' X'Ut?"" uioVj surged toward them but were repulsed /several tlmec. The determined effort was yet to be made. At the rear stair way the gravest danger threatened. Prominent in the crowd was Rev. Mr. Hodges, brother of the murdere? man, who sprang to the front to address its members. He begged them to dis perse. * Sheriff Kendrick was in the crowd. He cautioned the crowd against vio lenee and pleaded with them to dis perse. "I am your frlent," he said. 'I beg you to do mthlng that will re fleet upon us as well as on the com munlty. Disperse and let the law take Its course. We need these men. There are others to be bi ought to jus tice and only from the information to be gained from Cato and Heel can we bring the right ones to josi ice. I can almost promise you that w lien the case ls Anally sifted there will be live par ties who are equally guilty." Tn Jil lt KIUIC.NO UKN DKIC'h. "We know you are our friend, Ken drick," someone shouted, "butprom ise us that you will let these men stay In the St??jcsboro jail and not be taken back to Savannah. Then we will dis perse, not until then." There was a shout and cheering aud Kendrick could not reply. "Promise us that," they shouted, "you will not take them away from Statesboro." A commotion to the front drew the crowd there. This was but tempor ary. Presently they were back at the rear and some 2.'> men crowded around the guards. Before they could be prevented they bad caught two of the guards, wiestled their weapons from them and thrown open the breech locks. The weapons were empty. That was what tbe crowd wanted to ascertain. The troops hud been given orders not to load their rill is. The captuied soldiers were held prisoners. The same policy was fjl lowed with others of the soldiers. Mau after man, caught isulated, was relieved of Iiis rill ; after a struggle. At the front a member of the mob crept along tbe will until he got close to the guards. He threw himself upon them. lu the bri ach tbus formed his companions threw tbem selves. Two hundred wild'y cheering men followed him and soon tho sol diers, though they fough desperate ly and inllicted bayonet wounds upon some of their assailants, were over powered. OK IS I'IGUTINU SOLDI BK. One young soldier of the Oglethorpe GuardB never surrendered. He fought his way free, fought through tils cap tors and out upon the lawn. A weapon was raised to strike bim. "Shame!" shouted the crowd and struck down the man who had raised the weapon. Then they throw them selves upon the boy and and overpow ered him. The small guard about the prisoners withdrew Into the room and dosi il the door. The mob crashed ugainst lt, bursting lt as though lt were an egg shell. Tho prisoners were at their mercy, all resistance having been beaten down. Cato, Ried, Handy, hell and other prisoners cowered before the crowd. They dragged Cato and Recd out, releasing Hell into the hands of the few soldiers left there as soon as they learned that lie was not Reed, for whom they bad msitaken him. Reed was taken down one stairway with a rope about his neck and Cato down the other, both pleading for their lives. By then the crowd numbered 500. They dragged thc men along, shouting and cheering along the roadway lead ing to the Hodges homestead, where the 6ve members of tbe family had been murdered and burned. Tbat was tbelr destination. A WEARY CROWD. Tbe beat was so Intense tbat the orowd wearied wben two miles of the Biz mlle route bad been traversed. Going several hundred yards from the road the crowd baited. The two ne groes were made to seat themselves on a log. They were told they had but a short time to live and tbat they should confess. Reel was the tirst to speak. He confessed, implicating other negroes as he bad In the court room. He denied, however, that be had taken au active part lu the murder. Cato answered incoherently. Tile crowd moved across a Held to a strip of woodland. Several men dimed to branches and called . for ropes. ''Burn them, burn them" shouted the orowd. Cato begged to be shut or hanged, saying he was innocent; that he bad had no hand in the crime. Some of the more humane wanted to grant his re< nu si but they were In the minority. The rest wanted to visit tbe same death upon the negroes tbat they had visited upon the Hodges family. A member of the mob made a speech recounting the horrors of the crlmo. This iollamed tbe crowd to the burn ing pitch. To a large stump, 12 feet high, the men were chained with their backs to the stump. With trace chains the men were lashed to tbe stump. Then a wagouload of pinewood was hauled to tbe spot, lt was piled around the men and ten gallons of kerosene was thrown over them. A UEOUOIA COIN-CHASKR. A Photographer was present aud the crowd was cleared back that he might get several views of the men bo.md to the stake and ready for the burning. The scene which followed beggars description. Frenzied cheers rent the air as men, almost crazed with hatred 'it the men being punished, saw thc cr-iel Hames drinking np the ?lie blood. Just as the match was applied to the pyre one of those in front asked Reed didn't bo want to tell the truth before lie died. "Yes, slr; 1 killed Mr. and Mis. Hodges," he replied. "Who killed the children?" he was asked. "Handy Hell," came the response, ai the Hames lept upwards and furthei questioning wus impossible in tie wild tumult. The spectacle wa: frightful. As the Hames touch?e Reed's naked oil snaked skin he twist ed his head around in an endeavor t( choke himself and avoid the fearfu torture. Only once did he complain He said: "Lord have mercy I" Cato screamed in agony and beggei that he be shot. His heavy suit o hair which was oil-Boaked was almos the Urst thing the Hames fastened on ..: i-.jcd v....li- ttgOUyf- willi tbe hi mp rope became a collar of ?n around lils neck. A thrill of horro ran through thc frames of the mor timid. Before the Haines had quench ed Cato's life, the rope was burned li two and his head swung from side t side as he endeavored to avoid th tiery tongue, by efforts almost supei human he writhed under the clos locked cbaius. For only about tb re minutes was be vis hie to the crow before the great pile of fagots made wall of Hame which the wind wipe around on Cat i's side and so hid hit from view. SA V Au KU Y IN DETAIL. Reed was the tirst to exhibit uncoil sciousne s and wus perhaps the hrs dead. After the Hames bad progresf ed very far up his body bis head san forward ami many believed that th Ure got Into his lung and killed h'm As Cato's bead swung lo and fro sim of the more exalted members of th party commenced thiowitig lightwoo knots at lt. As soon as it was seen that the me were dead tbs crowd commenced db persing. A large number remainc behind, however, p'ling more fuel o until the bodies were burned excer. the trunks. They employed then selves lu tb rasing out the lire wilie commenced spreading along ttl streaks of pine lleulles. Late Tuesday afternoon, after tl: last member of the mob bad left tl scene, hundreds of citizens who had I no wise participate 1 lu the executiti repaired to the scene and many ri nial ned until lung af ter nightfall plc! lng up whatever souvenirs they cou! tiuii. Conspicuous among the crow were a number of small boys in km pauls. HEED'S CONFESSION. Hot li negroes made statements b fore they did. Will Cato reiterate tho statement made a few days ai thal he was only a guard In thu cat patch while the. murder was teni committed. Paul Reed slid that 1 did all the killing and that, Will Cal told the ti nth when he said lie wato ed lu the cane patch. He said be d not kill the children; that they we burned lo death when he lired ll house, lie told how be found the ll tlc girl, Kittie, behind a trunk ai pulled ber out. She asked him wli he wanted aud bu told her moue She olfered him ? cents, all soe ba and be told ber be would not hurt b( She fell bick biibnd the trunk. I said he then piled tbe bod it s of M and Mrs. Hodges together and pour kerosene on then and thin lired 1 house. He said: "Centlemen tl is the last talk 1 will have and 1 a balling the tiutb." He said l'reacl: Tolbert and Bill Oolden planned t crime and that Handy Hell, W Hamey and his boy, Toni Neal, 1 John Hall, M isis Parish and Al Hall were all into lt That Cali told bira Tolbert an 1 Holden wi ring leaders and pluiind tho crime a the lot fell oil him tu do thc j jb, t if there was any money secured never saw any of it." TWO Ml ?UK NICO Ul ?KS KILLED. Two negroes were killed abouti miles west, of Slatesboio, Weduesi: night, a few miles apart, and t wounded. One nf tho dead men Handy Hell, and the other uan could not be learned. Two bull i were in one a.id eleven buckshot the other. Tue dead and wouiu were found Thursday morning. A pool of bloud and a bloody ti were near one corpse, but not 6 neoted with lt. The cause could i be located. Tbe two wounded ) groes are Albert Roberts, near seventy years old, who was shot In the leg, body and arm, and hlB son Baymon, eighteen years old, wbo was shot In tbe neck, arm and twice in tbe the leg. They are said by those wbo know them to be harmless, Industri ous negroes. A doctor bas attended tbem and pronounced their wounds painful, but not fatal. The old man and his boy were asleep in a house and were aroused by the shooting. After the attacking party left they crawled into a field and remained un til day. The killing is not generally regretted, but the wounding ot the Inoffensive negroes ls deplored and lt is believed that they were mistaken for Obliers. INSOLENT AND JUUILANT. The appearance of tbe militia here made tbe negroes insolent and jubi lant in tbelr manner. Some negroes circulated the Impression that tbe governor was at tbeir back; they con strued bis Interference not only as for their protection, but as an approval of tbe Hodges murder. A nc gr-, on a wagon blocked tbe road when he met a rural mail carrier and cursed him, tbe negro bas disap peared. Recent events have materi ally changed tbe behavior of the ne groes. Ttio.se of shady reputation are leaving town. About twenty-five are said to have left Wednesday. Every negro implicated lu the Hodge tragedy is from another state. The native Bullock county negroes, as a rule, are of a different stripe. All are learning an important lesson. A negro barber at Claxton, twenty-five miles from there, was soundly thrashed Wednes day night for insolent, defiant threats against the whites on account of the buming there Tuesday. A number of negroes in that county have received the same treatment and it ls said that others are tu get it Thuisday night. The citizens are de termined to protect tbeir families and property. Tney will curb the ten dency of IILWIPW negroes at. any COSt. It is not the intention of any one to molest the law-abiding or to harm those who stay In their places. BABY'S SKULL CRUSHED By Pal) on UH Bf other's Heed lu Game of Bonnee Four-year-old Dora Elbrecht, a bu I man doll, was laughing in her moth er's eyes, and every time the strong arms tossed her In tho air the musical sound rippled out into the street from the windows of the Elbrecbb home, at No. 182 Stanton street, New York. "Here she goe9 over the moon!" Once again the childish laughter rang out, but suddenly ceased. The baby's head had struck against her mother's forehead as Bbe was falling into tbe eager arms, and the brown curls d- ppeel as a baby hand clutched .at Vuo ujOthe,r,a dreaai* "Ob, baby, did lt hurt you? See, mamma will kiss lt and make it well. Naughty old head to hurt baby sol We'll just whip the naughty old head. Just watch mamma beat ttl" There was a faint smile In the brown eyes and then the lids closed. The laughter was bushed. "Never mind, Dora's tired and she'll go to bed," said Mrs. Elb.-echt, smoothing the tangled curls. Hum ming a lullaby, the mother removed the little shoes and stockings, white frock and petticoat and gently laid the child In her crib. Monday night, when the father came up stairs from bis work and kissed the child, the only one that had come to brighten his home, the motlier told how tbe child had slept all the afternoon. Dora had been sick Sunday and both parents were anxious about her. "Yes," said tbe father, "The poor little girl is sick, and the sleep will do her good. She was down in the store playing with the tailor's needles, and I told her to come up and ask you to bounce lur." "I did, but she humped her little head and spoiled the game," said his wife. Little Dora seemed to sleep soundly all night. In the morning she was still sleeping. "Better wake ber," said the father, and tbe mother called to Dora, but the child slept on. "Come now, sleepy-eyes, wake up," said Mrs. Elbretch, lifting the child from the cradle, but she could not arouse the little one. A tell-tale red mark on the side of the child's head meant no more than a bump to the mother. Father and mother both became alarmed wh-n they could not awaken Dora, and 101 brecht ran|to Gouverneur Hospital and asked for medical assis tance. An ambulance was sent to the house, and Dr. Dusch saw at a glance that the child was dying. He found that its skull bad been crushed like an egg shell. He took the child to the hospital in the hope of saving Its life. Thursday afternoon, however, lit tle Dora died in the hospital, and the father, heartbroken went to his home, where the bhadow of death had blot ted out the light of a child's laughter, and the patter of little feet echoed only in memory, to tell his wife that tbeir baby girl was dead. The mother still belleve-t the child died of un illness. The father has not the courage to tell her that her kisses to make the little head well were'.lu vain. Mrs. Elbieeht is almost frantic with grief, and for fear of a c?mplete collapse was not allowed tu see the body of ber dead child. She must remember ber darling only as she saw b>r last-tho brown curls pillowing on one tiny arm, the other bare arm stretched above ber bead, sleeping a sleep fro.n which she never awakened. Klchly Deserved li. Alfred A. Knapp, convicted of tho murder of bis wife, Hannah Ooddard Knapp, and wbu confessed to live murders, was electrocuted In the annex of the Ohio penitentiary a few minutes after midnight Thursday. Knapp, who weakened when he found lils last hupe for Ufo had gone, ex pressed a fear that be would have to be carried to the death chair, regained bis nerve and met bis fate with little show of fear or emotion. The elec trocution was performed without a hitch, the lirst shock being applied at 12.02, tbe second a minute later, and at 12.09 he was pronounced dead. THE CRIME For Which Cato and Heed Were Burned to Death. AN ENTIRE FAMILY MURDERED And Their Bodies Burned in their Former Hume, Which Was Bet on Fire by the Hu man nevile. The Hodges murder, for which the two negroes, (Jato and Reed, were burned near Statesboro, Qa., on Tues day of last week, was one of the most brutal that has ever been committed any where. Au entire family, con sisting ot the husband, wife and three children, were cr? Hy murdered in cold blood and their former home set on lire and burned to the ground. The devilish liends threw the bodies of their Innocent victims in the burning building and thus attempted to bide their crime by cremeatlog the bodies. ? There was no happier family in,all the section around Statesboro than Henry Hodges, a "well-to-do farmer, and his wife and three children. He was industrious and economical and had managed to accumulate some thing for a rainy day. His accumula tions, following a small deposit he had made In one of the banks, began to be talked about and soon reports of hoarded money were told, lt was even said that Hodges had a pot of gold hidden in his front yard. With the coming of the dawn on Friday, July 21) the whole community was shocked by the story of the crime. Shortly after midnight neighbors dis covered Hie home of Mc. Hodges, in dames. Thc. home is just six miles from Statesboro. Rapidly neighbors and friends gathered to reuder assis tance. Instead of a home just afire they found thc house al must destroy ed. Members of the family were no where to be seen. SCENIC OK HORROR. Closer investigation, as daylight opened the way, showed a horrible Bcene. Mr. Hodges was found with bis skull crushed in as though from the blow of au axe. Mrs. Hodges' head and body had been beaten with some blunt instru ment. The body of a little girl was horrib ly mangled. The two other children's bodies did not show any signs of violence, and it ls supposed they were victims of the (lames and not the murderous blows of their assailants. On pieces of timber In the yard were found many blood stains and bloody finger prints. STRUGGLE WITH ASSAILANTS. Tt developed fcbav Hodg??went to a neighbor's about 8 o'clock the same night to bring his little child back, who had been spending the day. It ls believed he was met at the gate by the assailants and murdered lhere und that his body was dragged into the house. There were many In dications of a struggle at the gate and blood stains were found on the gate post. A lamp was found sitting on the gate post. A horse and buggy was alto found, hitched to a tree in the back yard. The body of Mrs. Hodges was found near the fireplace. The body of Hie oldest child was discover ed on the front porch. All the bodies were dressed, indicat ing that the crime was committed early in the night before the family had retired. IILOODUOUNDS ON TRAIL. As soon as the crime was made known, a large posse was formed and bloodhounds put on the trail. As reponed at the trial, the blood hounds followed the trail during the day to a picnic, at which several hun dred negroes were assembled. With out warning the dogs pounced on two negroes. The otllceis ran to the dogs and In attempting to arrest the two negroes they were Immediately sur rounded by the crowd. The crowd sought to prevent the arrest of the two men and the officers drew their guns. r Within a short time thirteen ne grees were placed under arrest and carried to the Statesboro jail. Prior to the arrest of the thirteen, Paul Heid and lils wife and Will Cate, other negroes, were placed in jail. In a confession made later by the wife of Paul Reid she declared her hus band and Will Cato committed the murder. NKORO WOMAN CONFESSES. The woman told a harrowing tale of the crime. She was anxious, she said, to make a clean breast of the whole matter and would have done so before, when she heard of the murder being planned, but she was afraid, she said, that her husband would kill ber. The woman said that her hus band Will Cato were Impressed that Mr. Hodges had about 91100 In money and had planned to kill him and rob the house the Saturday night before. They went to the house, called Mr. Hodges out, but their courage failed them and as an excuse asked for some spirits of turpentine. They were still resolved to try the murder again, the woman stated. She heard them plotting during the week. She said her husband and Will Cato left the house together on the night of the murder aud she thinks there were two or three others with them, but did not know who, as they never caine into the house where she was. They were gone about an hour and a half. When they returned, her husband said he had committed an awful crime, and was In trouble about it. They said they had killed Mr. Hodges and wife and two children, but remembered that the little girl had escaped and would tell who they were. According to the woman, the ne groes then returned to the house and found the little girl hid behind a trunk. She pleaded with them to spare her life, hut her pleadings were In vain. A blow from an axe ended her life. The woman then said the bodies of the live victims were then piled In a heap and the house set on tire. There was great excitement follow ing the woman's confession and threats of lynching were heard on al sides. A publie meeting was called at tbe court house and the cooler heads .finally persuaded the enraged citizens to allow the law to take its course; Later, under military escort, the two negroes, Paul Reid and Will Cato, were carried to the Savannah Jail. To a party of Statesboro citizens, who visited the prisoners in the Savannah jail, Reid confessed that the Hodges murder was planned by a black mafia society known as "Before the Day Club." He said the mem bers of Lue dub, whloh included many neg roe?. In the neighborhood, had marked several victims. The meet ing nf -tiie club were held after mid night end adj urned before day. BEAR KILLED BY TRAIN. Tho Animal Wan Knocked From a Railroad TreBtlo. A special dispatch to tho Atlanta Journal says on Wednesday morning the southbound Georgia Southern passenger train ran over what the engineer supposed to be a man at Sandy Run trestle, near Bonaire In Houston county. Engineer Yates left Macon several minutes late and as bib lirst stop ls Unadllla, 44 miles below ^aoon, he was running ata high r&te of speed, when an object whlcb.hd suppose to he a man stood erect arid was knocked headlong on the ground several feet below. The train was stopped as quickly as possible and a flagman was dispatched to stop'the nortn bound train, if lt should coin? along before the man was reached and either carried to tbe nearest', physician or otherwise cared for. Tiie train was in charge of Cap tain Rbbert Flournoy and Train master-Scott was ia the sleeper. When the supposed mau had been found the engineer blew for the flag man Lu i eLurn. The iuUd blowing of the whistle and the train being still aroused ..Mr. Scott from his slumbers and he eagerly asked Captain Flournoy why - ta? train had st -pped. The negro porter was the first who reach ed the supposed dead man and ima gine his honor when he found instead of a dead man a half-dead black bear weighing nearly three hundred pounds offering tight. The bear? died before day and the next ,tral? brought it to Bonaire where .it was on exhibition from the depot { platjt?'rn all day. Engineer Y ate3,'&?auotor flournoy and Train master Scott are all delighted at the killing o' a bear Instead of a man, as they flisti supposed. ArPECfJLIAR STORY. Ht?- ' id Wife Thinking Each ?.inoj/^'tfau ?lari'ic-? Awaiti. Quite a peculiar story has developed In real life near Greensboro, Ga., rather a series of events, in which years have passed and all the years full of' happenings; In it a woman of Georgia,'and a man now of Texas, but a former Georgian, are the principal characters, but living for twenty-five years totally oblivious of the esAateuee o? the other, each believing the other - dead. Thirty-two years ago In G reene coun ty B. T. McElroy and Miss Tarpley were married, lived together four or Ave years and had several children born to them. During the s'xth year of th ir married life Mr. McElroy de cided to travel in some of the Wes tern states, and to he left his wife and children In Greene county and started on his Journey, Intending to return soon. However, after getting out West he remained longer than he had antici pated, and information that he be ll, ved to be thoroughly reliable was brought him that his wife was dead. She, not hearing from him, also con cluded that he was dead. Eventually, Mr. McElroy discontin ued his travels and settled in Texas and began preaching. Believing bis wife dead, and ten years having elapsed, he married again and now has living lu the state of Texas a wife and eleven children. Mrs. McElroy, also laboring under the belief tbat her husband was no longer in the laud of the li /mg, mar ried again, this time Ben Wray, who died several years ago, and who was a farmer in that county until the time of his death. Two children blessed this union of Mr. Wray and Mrs. Mc Elroy, she a'sb taking care of and raislug her children by ber lirst hus band . Now, after a lapse of tweuty-tlve years, Mr. McElroy decides to revisit the scenes of his youth ami so de cides to come back to Greensboro, which be had left S J many years ago. The state of alfaiis that confronts him ls a most peculiar one, his lirst wife living here, her becond husband dead, his children that he left when little, uow grown to be men and wo men, the children of Mrs. McElroy's second union also being grown, and, as stated, he also having a wife and eleven children in Texas. iii)>ti for F?rm Work. The State says Commissioner Wat son expects two boys from the Chil drens' Aid society of New York city in a few days. These boys will go to Abbeville and later on In the year others will be sent. As has boon stated, these boys are not inmates of reformators, but are foundings cared for bv the society until an ago of discretion has been reached, when they are sent out to make their own livh g.s. They are under the supervi sion of the State for two years. Any one wishing to secure some of these boys as laborers, farm hands, etc., should write to Commissioner E. J. Watson, care the department cf ag riculture, commerce and Immigration, at Columbia. Wornt mi Keoord According to the Railroad Gazette, the recent wreck at Eden, Col., was the worst railroad disaster in poiut of loss of life, which has ever occurred In this country. It is believed that more than 100 persons were killed In the Colorado disaster. In August, ios7, at Chatsworth, IU., 85 lives were lost in a railroad wreck, und this was the record until last week. There were a larger number injured in the Illinois wreck, however. GOES UP FOE LIFE. A White Murderer Sent ta the Penitentiary from Paluda. A GOOD EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW. Judge Watta Tells the Convicted Mau of the Knormlty of his Crime and the Justloe of the Sentence. A special dispatch from Saluda to The News and Courier says the notice of motion for a new trial in the Tbralltf.Ul case, was abandoned by de fendant's attorneys, and the prisoner arraigned for sentence, in passing dontence Judge Watts said: "You have been tried and convicted by a Jury of your country of murder. It is now my painful duty to pass sen tence upon you. 1 am always s?rry for any one who is in trouble and dis tress. But you have violated the law of your country. A jury of your coun try have found you guilty of murder, and have recommended you to the mercy of the Court. 1 am of tbe opin ion that the verdict was warranted absolutely by the facts of tbe case. I do not see how the jury could have done otherwise under the testimony in the case than to have found tbe verdict they did. I think it is going to have a happy effect throughout the State of South Carolina, because the people of this State will learn that a man of respectable character and with property can be convicted when he commits a crime, the same as the poor, the ignorant and the unlettered. There has been too much shooting in South Carolina. Men too much have taken the law in their own bandB. You cannot pick up a newspaper but what you will see that somebody has been killed. Defendants cjme in Court and make an effort at self-de fence. 1 he&rd the Solicitor of the Oth district say he was absolutely afraid to blow his nose in the Court House because he carried his handker chief in his hip pocket and was fear ful that somebody might take that as an excuse for Bhooting him. There ls no doubt in my mind that you went up to Munetta with malice in your heart and blood on your mind. You went up there to pick a row, it seems to me, with the school teacher. What the cause of trouble was between you and him I do not know, but he (the teacher) seemed to be a very Inoffen sive and Quiet young fellow. You had no right to take the law In your hands. The worst feature of your whole case, to my mind, is tbat you loaded your shotgun with buckshot and you gave your eighteen-year-old boy a pistol, and carried hlnyfalong with you. A boy, ..especially one 18 yeera old, will do an*l?htag|h?B lather ? JL ht^i'j ?-J. i-z ; our wa is more to be pitied than to be "blamed. He was acting under your orders. You went up there to harm the school teacher and got Into an altercation with tbe brother of the man you sub sequently killed, and as far as I can learn you shot him for no cause at all, and you concluded you would clean up the crowd. When his brother came down, as lt was natural that be should '??,-\u^h?&,iVerg- that hlB brother had been shot, yen shot him down with out giving him a dog's chance. He might have been a had man. I do not know anything about that. The testimony developed the fact that he bad had some fights in his life. Unfortunately and unluckily all of us have done the same thing. I suppose if I was on trial you could rake up some tight 1 have had and so far as tbat ls concerned, most' every body else in this Court room. The older a man gets the more he realizes that lighting does not pay. I would take a great deal before 1 would tight under any circumstances. The man who wins his light usually gets the wurst of lt. I would rather be the dead man than the live one-that is, 1 would rather be dead than to have to kill a man. I do not think a man bas much happiness when be takes the human life, unless he does it acting strictly in self-defence. Tbe The law ls that no man can claim self-defence unless he ls without fault in bringing on the quarrel and diffi culty, it seemed to me as If you could feel it in the air around the Court House that those people around about Munetta seemed to be afraid to testify in this case. It actually looked as if they bad been terrorized some how. You are the most determined man 1 ever saw. You went to Monetta for a certain purpose and you carried it Into effect. I think the jury deserve great credit for Und ing the verdict they did, and I think it is a happy omen tor this coun try, going to show that thc peo ple ol' Saluda County are tired or lawlessness, are tired of so much bloodshed, and in fact they are deter mined to cut it. down and place this 'county on an equality with other coun ties lu this State so far as law aud good order are concerned. This is one of the tinest counties 1 ever saw in my life. Its people, white and black, are courteous and polite, and 1 cannot understand, why there should be so much shooting. I am sor ry for you, 1 am sorry for your wife, 1 am sorry fur your children. 1 have got live children myself. I have frequent ly wished, on occasions of sentencing defendants, tbat the punishment could fall upon the guilty one. Your wife and children will suffer because of violation of the laws of the land. Nothing that we can do can bring the dead man back to life, and his wife and three little children, lt is one of tho saddest cases that 1 ever saw In my life. 1 trust you will make your peace and repent of your misdeeds. Let the prisoner be arraigned for sen tence." Tiie prisoner was arraigned and re sponded that he had nothing to say why sentence should not be passed upon him. Judge Watts then senten ced him to hard labor in the State Penitentiary for the period of bis nat ural life._ Nook Hrokcn. dare noe Dorlder a cyclist, wits killed while attempting to "loop-tbe loup" at a local resort at Salt Lake Wednesday night. He reached the upper side when the wheel left thc track and he droped. His head struck the wheel and his neck was broken. YOUNG ANSEL KILLED In a Railroad Wreck on Thursday Morning Near Central. ?' A speolal from Greenville to The State says in a head-on collision near Central Thursday morning a local fre'ght and a dirt train were badly smashed up and seveial of tbe train crew injured. Claiborne Ansel, fireman on the local freight, was oaugbt between the engine and tender and remained in that position for ove/ two hours until an engine could ba sent for from Greenville to pull tbe wrecked locomo tive off tbe suffering fireman. Mr. Ansel bad both legs broken Just below tbe knee and was slightly scalded by the escaping steam. Engineer Hanks of the' dirt train received a cut in the head and was burned and badly bruised by the shock of the collision wbioh threw him 20 feet from his engine. On ex amination by the physicians it was found tiiat amputation of one of Mr. Ansel's legs would be necessary and probably the other one also. If tbe artery in the other leg cannot be saved the limb will have to be taken off. Mr. Ansel ls a son of M.'F. Ansel. As soon as a train could be made up Fireman Ansel and Engineer Hanks were brought to the city and taken. to tbe Greenville sanitarium where Dr. E?rle took them in charge. En glneer Hanks was not seriously hurt as he was able to walk from the am bulance into tbe house. The extent of bis Injuries were bruises, burns and a gash on the fo ehad. Fireman Ans?l was remarkably cool for one so badly injured. When placed on a stretcher at the depot tie reccg nized Die doctor and other friends and exchanged handshakes and told them about the wreck. Report says that Engineer Hanks of the dirt train was sitting in his cab in a out when the local freight came down the traok, hitting the front of his engine and knocking him up on the side of the cut about 20 feet. A later dispatch from Greenville brought the sad intelligence that , young Ansel had died at (1 30 p. m. ? at the Greenville sanitarium. He was about 20 years old, only son of , Hon. M. F. Ansel, and a popular j young man sooially. Mr. Ansel had ] ambitions to become a locomtive en gineer and Thursday's trip was his first regular run in the full capacity ( of fireman. KILLED AT MEGGETTB. ( Popular Young Busslnesa Man Fatal- ( ly Shot by a Negro. < A special dispatch from Meggetfs \ to The", News and Courier says Allen neathtngton, prominent young white , man, was shot/?ndkT"led at his brr "V ' 'ric.T-? juill l' "'~ -?--"*' l r-1?- i" x . j^. _JBaj\\\fc?^ Thursday morning. Thealayer'was a negro teamster, Sam Brown, who was in the employ of the mill. A difflcul- 1 ty arose over the tardiness of the ne gro in going to work. Young Heath- 1 legion fired two or three shots and In- 1 jured the negro, though it is not { thought seriously. A bystander stated t that the negro fired but one shot, which was fatal, the bullet entering a *Av4. tatt, <??e ot LVt-aalUmgum.:tcuL "JLUR- I lng death In a short time. ] I News of the tragedy spread like ! wildfire and in a short while about all the white men and several of the ne- i groes were armed and In pursuit of < the fugitive. 1 Sheriff Martin, of Charleston, was telegraphed to for bloodhounds. A special train was chartered and Officer , Burton and two assistants arrived , with the hounds about ll o'clock. , Up to late Thursday evening it ls ? not thought that the hounds have \ struck tlie right trail. in view of previous troubles In this j section the Governor has wired to Sheriff Owens, of Walterboro, to call out the Campobello Rides to protect ? the fugitive if caught. There are two posses out, each In ? charge of a local magistrate. Every thing ls orderly, but serious, and no effort will be spared to capture the negro. Mr. John M. H-iathlogtin, b other of the deceased, has offered a reward of 8500 for the capture of the culprit, Sam Brown._ Cream Katers Poisoned. Reports from Pleasant View, Am herst county, Va., where 25 persons were poisoned Thursday afternoon by eating ice cream, are meagre, owing to distance from telegraph lines but it is known that all of those affected are considered out of danger save one young lady, Miss Lawborne, whose address ls not known, and who ls said to be in a critical condition. There were more than 2,000 persons present at the sessions of the Piedmont Baptist association and those who were poisoned ate of the cream after the afternoon session adjourned. In less than half an hour the church was turned Into a hospital and four phy sicians were working heroically to counteract the effects of the poison. Well Taken Care Of. The State says: "Morgan W. Tbrallklll and bis son have been in Saluda Jail for several months charg ed with the unprovoked murder of Benj. Burton, but our correspondent reports that 'neither looked the worse for confinement.' And why should they, living in comfortably furnished and well fortified rooms, taking their meals at the sheriff's table, having the liberty of the honse and being well armed!" Over tho Falls. Just before ten o'clock Wednesday morning au unknown woman commit ted suicide by going over the Ameri can Falls at Niagara. The suicide was witnessed by hundreds of people, ti ve hundred feet from tlie precipice. She was about forty-live years old and wore a black dress and skirt and a champagne waist. It seems that the woman was of good circumstances from her clothing. Burned to Death. John H. Frazier was burned to death at Columbia Tenn., Thursday morning iii a ure which destroyed tue planing mill plant of the N. F. Vaughn Mercantile and Manufactur ing company. Frazier was cut off while attempting to save tools stored In the mill. The property loss was $10,000. MANY JAPS KILLED. Several Bloody Battles Bsged Around Port Arthur Last Week. WILL DEFEND IT TO THE LAST. Tba Kassian General Grew Profane at the Japanese Demand fur tbe Surrender of the Portress. A dlspatoh from Ohefoo says a bat tle of huge proportions raged around Pdrt Arthur August 14 and 15 and was resumed August 17. The Japan ese ,Jt ls reported, saoriQoed 20,000 more men but gained Important ad vantages In the matter of position. The above news was brought to Ohe foo on junks, one of which, having on board three Russians concealed in the baggage of Chinese to escape from the Japanese, loft Port Arthur Thursday night and was blown rapidly to Chefoo by a gale. The main force of the at tack was directed against the left wing and resulted In the capture of Pigeon bay positions and Borne of the forts at Liao Tiesban. At ral ur. Obang the Japanese hastily mounted guns which did excellent service In aiding the storming of the right wing where the Japanese are said to have captured two forts of minor value, mounting eight 4-lnoh guns, twosslge guns and six quick firing guns. BURRENDER DEMANDED. The position that the Japanese oc cupy on Liao Tiesban peninsula ls not clear but numerous Chinese sources aver that the Japanese have been seen in force in that section. Apparently an attack originating in Louisa bay -7 swept through the Pigeon bay posi tions into the peninsula, in the doing of which a majority of the Uvea of the expedition were sacrificed. On the night of the 15th the battle lulled gftiwAwhftfc mhon the J?pscjssc sent who terms of surrender to Lieut. General Strossel. The torms provided that the garri son should march out with the honors of war and j fin Gen. Kuropatkln; that Edi civilians be brought toa place des ignated by the Japanese admiral; that the Russian warships iu the harbor, numbering seven namely, the butHe rn 1 ps lt et vi/.ar., Sevastopol, P?ble da, Peresviet, polt a va, the armored cruis er Bay an and the protected cruiser Bailada and 12 or more Torpedo boat destroy era and four gunboats be sur rendered to tho Japanese. Lieut. Sen. Steossel la alleged to have re seived the terms with a burst of won derful profanity, his habitual tacitur nity .deserting bim. He strode the the floor, nntll he became calmer and rendarked that If the Japanese propo ?il?tr*-. a joke V inJjn" 'ste. tallowing dispaU a-from ita T-^io cor respondent on Thursday: I am informed that the Mikado, las received from the commander of ils forces at Port Arthur the Russian reneral's reply to the imperial de nand for the surrender of the forces. "In his reply, Lieut. General Sto'e lel expresses his thanks for the ' hu nanitarlaa offer to grant safe conduct K) an '?au--mm??Aij\jitA *vf\ cm n?JiA. Rus sian Unes. - "The demand to surrendor Stoessel refuses uncompromisingly, and de clares his garrison will fight to the last man In defence of the fortress." FROM rm EON BAY. According to news received at Che Too the Japanese have begun to bom oard Port Arthur from Pigeon Bay, bo which the right wing of the army lias penetrated, this being less, than Lb ree miles from the fortress. The coal yards of Port Arthur have been set afire by the Japanese shells ind are now burning. The centre of the beselging force bas been moved to Paling Churg, two miles north of the town, and all the line has moved closer to the doomed fortress. Passengers on board the steamer D?cima, which anchored off Port Ar thur Thursday night, witnessed the bombardment from Pigeon Bay. A TERRIFYING SPECTACLE. The Japanese shells were visible during their whole course. They cir culated comet-like to the town and their explosions were marked by great splash \s of tire, which shoe up into the sk]. The bombardment from this and other points began at midnight and lasted until morning. The Russians did not reply to the Japanese lire. Major Seaman, formerly a surg on In the American army, was a passen ger ou the D?cima. He says the spec tacle was most brilliant and awe in spiring. The Dccima weighed anchor from Port Arthur at 5 o'clock Friday morning. At some distance out she saw live Japanese warships guarding the harbor. Chinese refugees from Port Arthur, who arrived here last night, report that the Japanese have captured the position at Ballchuang, three miles out on the main road from the for tress. Horrible Aooident. The Augusta Herald says Mrs. Ma role Jackson, an employe of the Klug Mill carding room, while working Wednesday morning had the scalp torn from the top of her head by her hair becoming entangled in a belt. While passing under a belt her hair was caught up by the moving leather band and she was jerked from hor feet and the scalp torn before the machin ery could be stopped. A physican was immediately summoned and had Mrs. Jackson removed to her home at 185U Hicks street. Sho ia reported to be In a precarious condition. A Trolley Tragedy. At Chicago four people were killed, another fatally hurt and tweuty-thrce severely Injured in a collision late Thursday afternoon between au ex press train on thc Chicago Great Western railroad and a train of three cars bound for the Hawthorne race track. i - Pools tho Hiv tin. An English farmer has had several cats killed, stuffed and placed in branches of hts fruit trees. Not a bird will come anywhere near the or chard.