YORK CO., SOUTH CAROLINA - NEWS - Too Late To Lynch December 21, 1886

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Contributed to the SCGenWeb Archives by:
  Linda Blum-Barton lab56@bellsouth.net March 12, 2006
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The Weekly Constitution, Atlanta, Ga December 21, 1886
A Sensational Episode in Yorkville
Mounted Horsemen Surround the Jail for the Purpose of Lynching the Goode 
Murders - The Sheriff Gets Ahead of Them and Moves the Prisoners to Greenville.
Yorkville, S.C., December 15.--The clatter of horses' hoofs alarmed the people 
about 7 this morning, and on rushing to the doors they beheld about one hundred 
riders, who bore neither mask nor devise of concealment.  At the word of 
command from their leader they galloped around and surrounded the jail.  
Sheriff Glenn, who was asleep at the time, was aroused to find himself 
surrounded by men armed with guns, pistols, axes and sledge hammers.

"We went the four murderers of Lee Goode," they exclaimed.

"They are not here," he quietly replied.

But the lynchers would not believe him.  They hammered down the jail doors, and 
entered only to find that the sheriff had spoken truly.  Having heard of the 
purpose of the lynchers, he had his prisoners removed to Greenville jail.  The 
lynchers had all the roads leading into South Carolina guarded during the 
night, but Sheriff Glenn had the prisoners sent around through North Carolina, 
where, taking the Air-Line train, they were taken to Greenville.

The Conspiracy Proved.

It has been proved conclusively that an organization exists among the colored 
people which contemplates murder in the event of the detection of any member 
accused of the crime of murdering young Good about a week ago.  The inquest on 
the body of the murdered boy before a discreet jury brought out all the facts.  
One of the negroes turned state's evidence and another admitted that he killed 
a man who was murdered in the county eighteen months ago.  Several of the 
colored witnesses at the inquest swore distinctly that they had a club, or 
clan, in the county, for the purpose of stealing cotton, provisions, whiskey, 
etc.  The members were to steal whatever they wanted and if detected were sworn 
to kill the person who detected them.  The club had different names, but was 
generally known as "Rising Star Lodge, No. 24, of the Grand United Order of 
National Laborers and Protective Society of North America."  The charter came 
from Charlotte, N.C. and is dated December, 1884.  The charter, however, would 
seem to show that the society had only benevolent and fraternal objects.  Among 
other things revealed at the inquest was a plot to waylay Elias Inman, who was 
thought to have money, but the assassin missed him.  One of the witnesses gave 
a detailed account of the murder of the poor boy, John Lee Goode, and also the 
names of his accomplices in the crime.

Columbia, S.C., December 17.--The six negroes implicated in the murder of the 
boy, John Lee Good, in York county, were lodged in jail in this city last 
night.  Both prisoners and deputies were very much exhausted when they arrived 
here.  They left Yorkville by private conveyance on Tuesday evening, for 
Gastonia station, on the Air-Line road, four miles from Yorkville.  The road 
was rough, and they were constantly expecting the lynchers to overtake them.  
The party missed connection at Gastonia, but took the next train for Charlotte, 
and missed connection with the south bound train over the Charlotte, Columbia 
and Augusta road.  They came through last night unmolested, but in fear of an 
attack at Rock Hill and Chester.  The delay of the party in reaching there may 
have thrown the lynchers off the track.