1915 Election Mob Scene

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Description:

Photograph of a mob scene in front of the portion of the Great A & P Tea Company (addressed then as 325 King, now a Pottery Barn at 321 King) building that was located on a section of George Street. The photographer has set his camera up at an elevated height to capture the scene of several police officers guarding the entrance to the room where the ballots were being recounted. The letter "S" is located in the left bottom corner, presumably put there by the photographer as an identifier. It is unclear whether this image was taken before or after the shooting of News & Courier reporter, Sidney Cohen.

After a hotly contested mayoral election on October 12, ballots were sealed in a room on the corner of King and George, awaiting a recount. During a meeting of the Democratic Executive Committee on October 15, supporters of both incumbent John P. Grace and challenger Tristram T. Hyde, forced their way into the meeting causing a riot to break out which resulted in the accidental death of Sidney Cohen, who was shot through the lung. In the aftermath, Governor Richard Manning, sent the South Carolina Militia to Charleston to guard against further violence.