Local councils take part in state leadership training
COLUMBIA — City council members from the City of Liberty and the City of Pickens spent last week in Columbia More »
Hot-shooting Hillcrest keeps Easley winless in region play
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com EASLEY — Holding a 60-57 lead entering the fourth quarter of their matchup against More »
LWVOP receives empowerment grant to expand local voter education efforts
UPSTATE — The League of Women Voters of Oconee and Pickens Counties (LWVOP) is excited to announce that it has More »
PC Native Plant Jubilee returns on May 2
LIBERTY — The Pickens County Native Plant Jubilee will return for its second year Saturday, May 2, bringing together gardeners, More »
Would justice be possible?
31 men arrested and put on trial in Earle’s death
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
Last week, we began a review of William B. Gravely’s book “They Stole Him Out of Jail: Willie Earle, South Carolina’s Last Lynching Victim.” The just-released book from the South Carolina Press (uscpress.com or axland@sc.edu) is the most thoroughly researched book ever on the 1947 lynching of Willie Earle, a black prisoner taken from the old Pickens jail and brutally killed and left on the side of a road across the Greenville County line outside Easley.
The Brutal Murder of Willie Earle
Greenville taxi drivers Roosevelt Hurd, Marvin “Red” Fleming, Griggs, Woodrow Clardy and Hendrix Rector went to Willie Earle’s cell at the old Pickens jail and grabbed him out. Driver Rector grabbed Earle by the collar. Griggs jerked him down steps, and Earle was shoved violently into different drivers. Drivers Hurd, Clardy and Fleming, with help from another driver, threw the prisoner into the lead taxi cab. Hurd was in the front car holding one of the shotguns. He was still partaking of whiskey and was becoming more inebriated as the long night unfolded.
The official drivers’ statements gave different versions of who questioned Earle about knifing cab driver Thomas Brown. Fourteen of the statements from those arrested said that Earle confessed before dying; other statements contradicted. Of course, a confession under such circumstances means little. After passing into Greenville County, the seven remaining taxis stopped to question Earle further. Hurd pointed the shotgun at Willie Earle’s head and Clardy called out not to kill that “negro” in his cab. “That’s where I make my living,” he said, according to statements. Clardy then led the mob to a more secluded spot near the property of the judge who would later conduct the trial.
Gravely writes in a sobering manner, “Arriving at the spot … the central actors gathered around Earle for the last time.” Driver Red Fleming “tried to talk nice to the n—–,” according to driver Charlie Covington’s statement to law officials. Fleming reminded Earle that he didn’t have long to live and coaxed Earle not to “die with a lie in his heart.” Someone shouted that they should take Earle to the hospital and let Thomas Brown identify him. Remember, driver Thomas Brown died after Willie Earle. At this time, Brown was still alive at St. Francis Hospital. The drivers pushed hard to get Earle to identify the other attacker of Brown. Wanting his breath of life for any extended minutes he might get, Earle begged the men to take him where he could identify a person.
Gravely writes, “Suddenly, the talking ceased.” Driver Griggs hit Earle hard in the face. Driver Rector took the shotgun that Clardy
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Prayer and praise event set for Saturday at amphitheater
PICKENS — An event designed to “answer the call to unity in our community in order to usher in the presence of God” is planned for 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Pickens amphitheater.
“The goal since its inception has been to unify the church,” according to event coordinator Joy Benoit. “It seems that our community’s foundation is its churches, but the denominations have built its walls. We want to knock down those walls, blur all the denominational lines and come together as one people intent on experiencing God in a new way and being a better example to those around us and in the community.”
Benoit said the Prayer and Praise Event has been organized based on three things — music, scripture and prayer. She said there will
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DAR members host tea
Members of the Col. John Robins Chapter National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century helped the South Carolina Society NSCDXIIVC hosted the tea at the national headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mari Noorai of Seneca and Jeannette Taylor of Sunset were the co-chairs for the tea. Col. John Robins Chapter of Pickens had four members at the tea: co-chair Mari Noorai, co-chair Jeannette Taylor, hostess Ellen Zaki and hostess Rooche Field.
32 Young Appalachian Musicians honored for work in YAMs program
COUNTY — Congratulations go out to 32 Young Appalachian Musicians who’ve shown outstanding hard work and achievement in the YAM program.
The winners are from the YAM after-school program (more than 300 kids), the Evening Program, and YAM Camp.
Each child had to write an essay, do a recording of their playing and have two letters of recommendation. Each of the students will
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Courier Community Calendar 5-15-19
• Reece reunion planned for May 26
The family of John S. and Ada Cantrell Reece will host their annual family reunion on Sunday, May 26, at Mountain Grove Baptist Church.
The group plans to eat at 1 p.m. Cups, plates, napkins and silverware will be provided. Everyone is asked bring a well-filled basket.
Mountain Grove Baptist Church is located at 644 E. Preston McDaniel Highway in Pickens.
• Legion Post 67 seeks members
American Legion Post 67 in Liberty is accepting applications for membership from all U.S. military wartime veterans.
For more information, call (864) 787-2322.
• Mile Creek Baptist to host May days
Mile Creek Baptist Church pastor Kevin Kuykendall and the Mile Creek church family will welcome all in Christian fellowship to their
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Courier Legal Notices 5-15-19
NOTICE OF HEARING
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF PICKENS
IN PROBATE COURT
CASE# 2019ES3900306
RE: JAMES PERRY
Mary Perry PETITIONER,
TO: ALL HEIRS AND INTEREST PARTIES:
YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above captioned action was filed on April 18, 2019, in the Probate Court for Pickens County, South Carolina. This action seeks the determination of the heirs of the estate of James Perry, who died on or about March 10, 1999.
A hearing has been scheduled in connection with this matter on the June 18, 2018 at 9:30 A.M. in the Probate Court for Pickens
Courier Notice to Creditors 5-15-19
The publisher shall only be liable for an amount less than or equal to the charge for the space of the item in error in the case of errors in or omissions from any advertisement, and only for the first incorrect insertion.
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES
All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on Form #371ES with the Probate Court of PICKENS COUNTY, the address of which is 222 MCDANIEL AVE., B-16 PICKENS, SC 29671, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the
Courier Trespass Notices 5-15-19
In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code.
Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. All persons are hereby notified and warned not to hunt, fish, cut timber
Courier Classifieds 5-15-19
Announcements
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019 is the last day to redeem winning tickets in the following South Carolina Education Lottery Instant Game: (SC1040) MIGHTY JUMBO BUCKS. SW
Free
FREE: Ten acres of beautiful hay, free, midway between Liberty and Pickens on Highway 178. For more info call 864-878-4773. 5-15
Yard Sale
YARD SALE: Saturday, May 18 at 8 a.m. at 517 Rices Creek Rd., Liberty. Items include: dishwasher, gas cooktop, formica
Hagood Mill director fired
McDaniel resigns as foundation chair
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County administrator Gerald Wilson said Hagood Mill Historic Site director Billy Crawford was terminated with cause on Thursday.
“We had a personnel issue we had to address,” Wilson said.
Crawford became Hagood Mill’s director following the death of director Eddie Bolt in 2013.
Wilson said the Hagood Mill director position will be filled at some point in the future.
“After all the dust settles, we’ll regroup and put a plan in place,” he said.
Crawford’s termination will not cause any
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