The Terror at Home

[News items, first column]

Thirteen citizens of Beach Island were arrested Thursday and marched through the heavy rain to Aiken where they were placed in jail and kept without fire or food. One old citizen who was not only not able to ride horseback but could not even walk, was among the arrested parties. As an evidence of the peaceable spirit of the people it is only necessary to state that a gentleman represented by the Radicals to be continually thirsting for blood, was arrested in his own house by one of the deputy marshals without an escort.

The Upshot.—Chamberlain and Corbin Back Down!—No Warrant Blanks—Trial Postponed.

Special Dispatch to the Chronicle and Sentinel. — Aiken, October 13.

All parties gone home, as the authorities had no warrant blanks. The negro witnesses were paid $1.50 for swearing. The parties bailed are summoned to meet in Columbia, at the session of the United States Court, on the fourth Monday in November. About fifty negroes from Ellenton come to swear. The town is quiet. Chamberlain has been invited to meet Hampton here on the 20th.

The True Story of the Ellenton Riot.

The New York Herald has sent down a reporter to Aiken for the express purpose of investigating and reporting the Ellenton riot. This reporter is not only a sensible man, but must be one of immense energy. His account, published in the Herald a few days back, makes a truthful and splendid showing for the white people of Aiken, Edgefield and Barnwell. It is full, minute, careful and exhaustive, and bears upon its face the imprint of truth and accuracy. There is nothing to justify warrants by United States commissioners or arrests by marshals. In the light of this document, the programme of Corbin and Chamberlain is seen to be wholly unwarranted and infamous to the last degree.

And we would not be surprised if it were this very document, given to the world by the Herald, that has frightened Grant and caused him to put a bit in Mr. Chamberlain’s mouth—causing him to weaken in the knees as regards these arrests in Aiken and Barnwell.

Transcribed from the Edgefield Advertiser, October 19, 1876, page 3. Weeks after white paramilitaries killed dozens of Black citizens at Ellenton, the county’s paper covers the massacre only as a story about the injustice of arresting white suspects — the “true story” is the one that exonerates the killers, and Black witnesses are dismissed as paid swearers. This is how terror was normalized in print.

Lynch Law in Edgefield

TWO NEGROES PUT TO DEATH FOR THE MURDER OF MRS. ATKINSON. — Another Negro Has Probably Also Perished for the Same Cause — Two Hundred and Fifty Armed White Men Present at the Inquest.

The first inquest was adjourned to accumulate more evidence and to give time for the angry passions of an indignant community to become pacified. The adjournment was until to-day, and when the church doors were opened fully two hundred and fifty white men were present. They came from miles around. There were young and old, plain farmers, rich planters, even the country plough boys, and the conspicuous feature was that they were armed, heavily armed. It may have been prudent for arms to be brought along, and it may have been with bloody intent, most likely both. But it would be hard indeed to imagine a more miscellaneous assortment of arms; there were shotguns, hammerless, breachloading and muzzle, rifles and sixteen-shooters, even the old cap gun was there, and pistols that stuck out of pockets and belts were as thick as hops.

In the centre of the church building Magistrate Glover had arranged a table for the clerk, and around were grouped the members of the jury of inquest, who were as follows: P. B. Latham, J. F. Adkins, W. J. Harling, R. W. Glover, John Floyd, M. D. Lyon, Thos. E. Miller, B. F. Renew, Wm. Hudson, Tom N. Timmerman, Jas. I. Reece, Dan McLendon. The jury was a representative one, disposed to get at facts, but to some extent imbued with the prevailing sentiment, although it did all possible to save the negroes.

At the first hearing considerable evidence was taken, and to-day from 10 until 5, with half an hour recess, additional testimony was taken. It was all the evidence of negroes from the neighborhood. At first it looked very blue for Andrew Lee. Jim Mackey swore that Andrew Lee had told him he killed Mrs. Atkinson. He wove a splendid story. The jury put the matter to the crucial test. Lee and Mackey were brought face to face. Lee was charged by Mackey with killing Mrs. Atkinson. The fire of Lee’s retort, his denial and his refusal to criminate anyone else with false evidence, appealed to the jury and all present, and in the few moments Lee faced his sworn accuser he purged himself of guilt. All along the crowd in the church building thought Jim Mackey guilty, and suspected his lies as being directed towards self-preservation. Luther Sullivan [several words illegible]…

[The prisoners were taken toward the] back door and secreted, and in time [to] be taken to the jail at Edgefield. Great and energetic were the appeals that nothing be done, as the time was not yet ripe. The Rev. Mr. Mealing got up on the church steps first and pleaded that the prisoners be allowed to go to Edgefield. Mr. J. Monson Smith, who conducted the examinations, begged that the case be adjourned, and that all go home and justice would be had. There need be no fear of the guilty escaping.

The Rev. Henry McMillan made a pathetic appeal. He said he had wept to-day for the dead, but there was no humanity or righteousness in vengeance. The crowd was not convinced of the guilt of anyone, and fuller justice would be done by waiting. The crowd said he was a preacher, and a man went up to him, and taking him by the hand, said: “Mr. McMillan, I love you, but I can’t do what you ask. I’m thinking of my wife at home.”

Sheriff Ouzts said he appealed as a friend and as sheriff that no harm be done the prisoners. He would protect the prisoners to the bitter end, and he appealed to his friends, for they were all such, to remember the position it would place him in if ill came to his prisoners. He asked for God’s sake that the negroes be left alone, if for no other reason. A voice: “Sheriff, tell us about that poor woman over yonder in her grave.”

Mr. N. G. Evans said no one had gone further than he to find the guilty parties… It would be unfortunate if some innocent person should be killed… Mr. P. B. Lanham, foreman of the jury, said that the jury had not yet sufficient evidence on which to fix the responsibility on any particular persons. He appealed to the manhood of his friends to let the law take its course and to sustain Sheriff Ouzts. A voice: “All they want is to make speeches, and before they know some one else around here will be killed before Saturday.”

Representative Strom, Ex-Member of the Legislature Getzen, Glover, Sheriff Ouzts, Dr. Robert Mackay and many others circulated in the crowd, and begged the men to go home and let matters rest. Some did go home, but they went very slowly. The plan of taking the prisoners out of the back door failed, as men were on the lookout on all sides of the building.

…It was during this lull that Wash Mackey made his escape, if escape he did. Then in another instant there was another crash of guns, another and another and another, until there was a general cry to stop shooting, and even then there was a spasmodic fire into the dead bodies as they lay in the road to Edgefield. When the smoke cleared the bodies of Luther Sullivan and Jim Mackey lay in the middle of the road. Wash Mackey had gotten beyond; he barely escaped the repeated firing, and was perhaps dead in the straw around the road.

…[No per]suasion could have been effective. They said they had seen too much of negroes proving alibis, and it was too far for them to go to court to see that things went right, and meanwhile it was dangerous not to act for the sake of an example. It is thought there will be a complete calm after to-day’s storm, and that all will be quiet hereafter. —August Kohn in News and Courier.

Transcribed from the Edgefield Advertiser, November 2, 1898, page 2. Original spelling and punctuation retained; bracketed words supplied where the scan is damaged. Note the reporter’s framing: the jury itself doubted the victims’ guilt, and the killing proceeded anyway, “for the sake of an example.”

The Lowmans on Trial

The Murderers of Sheriff Howard Placed on Trial Yesterday.—Verdict will be Reached Today

The case against Clarence and Son Lowman and Bertha, Rosa and Bridie Lowman, charged with the killing of Sheriff Howard was called yesterday about 11 o’clock. The defendants were without counsel and Judge Rice appointed the following attorneys: Ashton Drummond to defend Clarence Lowman, supposed to be the principal; John E. Stansfield to defend Son Lowman, Thos. L. Hahn to defend Bertha, and Wm. M. Smoak to defend Rosa and Bridie Lowman. The Solicitor and Messrs. J. B. Salley and R. L. Gunter represented the State.

The court was filled to overflowing, and Judge Rice issued orders that when the court room was filled comfortably, that others be denied admission. Many people came to Aiken to hear the trial, but they failed to gain admission.

The jury was selected quickly, as follows: H. L. Lake, foreman, C. A. Eubanks, H. C. Brown, M. R. Summons, C. C. Whittle, Robert Willis, J. E. Timmerman, J. P. Gantt, R. H. Kneece, L. L. Hill, O. R. Toole and W. J. Baggott.

The first witness called was Dr. B. F. Wyman, who examined the dead body of the Sheriff and stated that he had found ninety-three wounds in his side and back.

After dinner the first witness called was Deputy Sheriff Arthur Sheppard. His testimony as a whole was the same as given at the coroner’s inquest. He described their arrival on the scene on that eventful day; how Robinson with Howard went to the right of the house, he to the left and McElhanney through the front door. How he exchanged shots with Son Lowman, and the scene when Annie Lowman advanced upon Robinson with the axe, and she later turned on him, and how he shot her dead, in defense of his life. He described the part he took in the chase of Clarence Lowman, and his capture.

Nollie Robinson, now sheriff, was then called and he corroborated the testimony given by Sheppard as to the scene when they first visited the Lowman farm, and each one took position as described by Sheppard. He saw McElhanney scuffle with Son Lowman, and the Sheriff ordered him to McElhanney’s aid. He described how he exchanged shots with Son Lowman, and described the fight with Bertha Lowman, in which he shot Bertha through the stomach. The latter had made an effort to shoot him, and it was only by his quickness in grabbing the pistol that saved his life. His thumb alone prevented the discharge of the shell.

He told of the part of the fight in which Annie Lowman advanced upon him with an axe, and how Sheppard shot her dead. He later found Sheriff Howard dead at the side of the house.

He described how the trip was made to Monetta to get more ammunition and the fight and capture of Clarence Lowman, which was made near the Monetta school house. His testimony did not differ from that given at the coroner’s inquest.

This witness was followed by Robert McElhanney, who took the stand just as we went to press. His testimony in the main was the same as given at the coroner’s inquest. When we closed our forms the State had several more witnesses to examine, and with the testimony that might be offered by the defendants, with the numerous speeches, it seems more than likely that the case would continue until Wednesday.

Transcribed from The Journal and Review, Aiken, S.C., May 13, 1925, page 1. Note what the article records without comment: a plainclothes raid in which officers shot Annie Lowman dead and shot Bertha Lowman through the stomach — reported entirely as officer testimony, with the surviving Lowmans on trial for their lives. The next year, after the Supreme Court threw out these convictions and an acquittal was directed, a mob took Bertha, Demon and Clarence Lowman from the jail and lynched them. The same front page carries a second headline: “Black Killed at Gloverville.”