The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, February 22, 1894, Image 1
VOL. XXII. PICKENS, S. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1894. NO 23
W1BEtt'8 WRONG-DOING,
WHILE SCHOOL^ COMMISSIONER 0
CHARLESTON COUNTY
IWe Forged and Dea~nsled.A Life of MUO'
Promiso Bimasted-The SuperIr&tideE
(of Educaiinas Damning R.p'arr-Th
Amnnut ot'Shcrtage..
COLUMBIA, S. C., Feb. 15.-Last sun
mer Mr. John D. Weber of Charlestot
who had been living in that city fc
many years, engaged in editorial wor
on the News and Courier, was electe,
to a chair in Trinity College, Nort
Carolina. He resignedf his position a
school commissioner of Charlestoi
County and his position on the New
and Cotirier and left Charleston stand
ing lilgh in the estimation of all th
people of that city. He was known t,
the world as a high toned, honorabl
and high cultivated man. He was we]
known throughout South jarolna an
every one was sorry to see him leav
though all were glad to know of hi
rise In life.
It did not take long, however, for th
terrible blow, whibh like the sword a
Damocles, hung over the young man
head, to fall. About two months ag
it came with crushing force, when I
became known to the State authorite
that something was wrong in the of
flee which Mr. Weber had vacated. A
investigation was started and soon th
+ worst was ascertained. The facts hav
been known to the press for weeks, bu
they have been waiting official actiot
before giving them to the publii
About a week ago Mr. Weber returne
to the State and went to Charlesto
upon the advice of his triends. Yet
terday Superintendent of Educato
Mayfield, who has been investigatini
-the matter, returned to the city an
submitted to Governor Tillman the fo:
lowing report,which the Governor gav
the press for publication. It tells th
story of Mr. Weber's downfall in di
tails:
State of South Carolina, Executive Do
partment, Office of State Superinter
dent of Education, Columbia, 8. C
February 13, 1894.
Gov. B. R. Tillman, Columbia, S. U.
Dear Sir: Under the law count
school commissioner are required t
report to the State Superintendent c
Education by the 1st day of Octobe
of each year, among other things, th
amount of money collected and expet
ded for schools during the year.
On tt42 3rd day of October, 1893. Joh
L. Web , as school commissioner f<
Charleston county, filed his aunual r
port with me, which showed the ex
penditures for the year to be in excei
of the receipts. Being diasaitasfed wit
the report, I sought an explanatioi
Mr. Weber has resigned and left tl
State to accept a position in Trinit
College, loceated at Durham, N. C., an
F. Horton Colcock has been appointe
by you as his succeksor. Mr. Colcoc
was unable, from the records in h:
office, to explain the discrepency.
therefore, prepared blanks and ser
them to the school trustees of the
county for the purpose of obtaining th
desired information. In making u
these reports, a discrepency was discoi
ered in ene of the school warrants.
I have made a personal examinatio
of the school commissioner's office, an
find that this particular warrant hv
been raised from $7 65 to 897 65, by if
serting the figure 9 in the margin I
front of the figure 7, and writing th
word ninety in front of the word seve
in the body of the warrant. I alsi Lin
other warrants that have been raise4
and others tbat were issued for labc
not performed, and for school suppit
and turniture that were not furnlshe<
The warrant for $7.65, raiPMed to 9
65, above referred to, is made payab]
to "1saac H ammond or order." Tit
correctness of the claim is sworn to I
him before the chairman of the boar
of school truster-s issuing it., and bot
of themi say the warrant was issut
. bor $7.05, and that that amount wi
-an'ually due. Isaac Hammond is
merchant of good financial standic
and reputation, and engaged in bus
ness on Broad street, in the city<
Oharleriton. He say s that he turne
the claim over to Mr. Weber to 1
countersigned by him as scbool con
missioner,and that Mr. Weber brougl
his $7.65 in cash, the amount due hir
The warrant was certainly raised bl
fore it was presented to the couni
treasurer, Geo. H1. Waiter, for paymet
for it was paid by him with a chec
drawn in favor of "Isaac Hammond<
order" for $07.05. The check was pr<
sented to and p aid by the Charleste
-Bank, Isaac Hammond's name heir
endorsed on the. back of the checi
The teller of the bank, who paid LI
money endorsed on the back of LI
check in blue pencil that he had phtid
to John L. W eber. Mr. Harmmonj
says that the endorsement of his niat
on the back of thie check is a forgei
and the experts in the bank say it
not his signature. The changes in tl
warrant appear to beo in the handwrl
ing of Mr. Weber. There was itsut
payable to "Isaac H1am mond or orde1
ianother school war'rant for $6.00 whit
was raised to $08.50. This warrat
took very much the samie course as tI
Sother above referred to, and LI
~hanges in it appaar to be in Mr. Wel
4ts hand.
Mr. Weber ran an acc'oun with Me
era. Walker, Evans & Cogswell c
which he had charged the articles I
purcbased for his own private use, ar
also those he purchased for his ow
use as. school commissioner, and aht
those he purchased for the use of ti
public schools of his county. On Apr
9, 1892, he owed on tis account for a
purchases $100.50, and on the same da
the account was credited with 000.51
This credit of $06.50 was a school wa
rant isrued to Walker, Evans & Cogi
well originally, for $0.00, but raised I
$06.50. The changes a ppear to be I
-Mr. Weber's hand. Walker, Evans
Cogsweli collected the money. Fu
chases were continued, arnd on Apr
20, 1892, had increased $8.01, makin
the whole account 8108.51. On Li
same day, April 20, 1892, a secon
school warrant for $89.25 was issued
them and the account credited with tl
full amount of the warrant, they pa'
ing Weber $47.24 cash, the differen(
-between the amount of the two wa
rants and the amount of the accour
balancing the account. This wa
warrant was not raised, but wi
issued for more than the amount<
th purchases by reason of a muistal
in te bill rendered. Purchases wei
continued and on November 15th* 189
Weber owed 825.02, and ein thai de
his account was credited ... 8.
the amount of a third school warrant
issued to Walker, Evans & Cogswell,
and they paid him $00.00 in cash,wlhich
they charged to him on the account.
There is no way by which I can decide
whether this warrant was raised or
not, the igures and the body of the
a warrant being In Mr. Weber's hand.
t This left 29 cents due them; the ac
count was left open and purchases con
e tinued to June 17, 1893, the additional
purchases amounting to $51 21. Ad
ding the $25.92, the $00.00 and the
$51.21 together we have $137.13, the
1. amount (f the account. In the mean.
r time he paid $10.25. On June 17 a
I fourth school -warrant was issued to
I Walker, Evans & Cogswell for $41.88.
1 Adding the $85.00, the $10.25 and the
$41.88 together we have $137.13, exact
ly balancing the account. There is no
i way by which I can decide whether
- this warrant (841,88) was raied or not,
the figures and body of the warrant
) all being in Mr. Weber's hand. P'ur.
B chases continued, and on August 1st,
I 1893, the account amounted to 88.60,
I This credited with 86 50, the price of a
, school c mmissioner's book bought of
3 Walker,Evans & Cogswell and charged
to Weber before the $41.88 warrant was
e issued, but suLsequent to that time
f paid for by the county commissioner.
s Walker, Evans & Cogswell getting the
D money and crediting Weber a account
t with tne amount. The $0.50 taken
s from the 83.60 leaves Weber due $2.10
on the account, no other payment hav
n ing been made.
e .rh four warrants collected by Wal
e ker, Evans & Cogswell and the price of
t the school commissioner's book, paid
, for by the county commissioners, ($66..
. 51, $89.25. $85,00, 841.88, 56,50) make a
tctal of 8589.13 of public funds paid to
lk them. The total amount of all articles
I- charged on this account, including the
a school commissioner's book, that were
9 purchased for the public schools, and
: for which they received the benefit is
$84,75. From the 8289,13 take the $84.75
e and there is left 8204.38 paid out of the
e public funds to Mr. Weber's private ac
count.
It is, perhaps, but proper for me to
say, in this connection, that Walker
Evans & Cogswell do a very large busi
* ness, and that these transactions oc
curred in the.orinary run of their bus
iness, and that they are wholly innocent
y of any wrong intention or corrupt
0 dealing, having had confidence in Mr.
f Weber s honesty.
r The county board of examiners of
0 Charleston and Berkeley counties
t- agreed to hold a joint teachers' insti
tute for white teachers in the city of
n Charleston in the month of July 1892,
r each county to bear one-haif of the ex
penses; and thecounty boards of exam
- iners of the counties of Charleston and
is Berkeley and Colleton agreed to hold a
h joint teachers' institute for colored
1. teachers, to be held during4the month
.e of July at Summerville, each county to
y bear one-third of the expenses. Mr.
d Weber drew $200 from the School fund
d of Charleston as allowed by the law for
k this purpose. 1, D. C. Porcher, school
S commissioner of Berkeley county paid
, over to hi 805 from xbe public Made
t of that couh ty drawn as provided for
t by la w. I sent L. E. Parler, school com
e missioner of Collton a check for $30
P on the Peabo iv education fund in my
hands for insitute purposes, which he
turned over to Mr. Weber. I sent Mr.
a Weber a check for $60 for Charleston
d and Berkelev, on the sane fund. These
8 anounts, (8200, $05, $30, $60,) make
L- $355 in Mr. Weber's hands for institute
a purposes. The cost of the white,, insti
e tute was $155, and that of the colored
n $60, aggrewtating $215. which taken
d from the 8355 leaves 8140 in Mr. Weber
1, hands unaccounted for.
r In 1893 the county boards of examin
a era of Charleston and Berkeley coun
I. ties agreed to hold, during the month
-of June, in the city of Charleston, a
e joint institute for white teachers, and
a alsu one forThe colored teachers. From
y the public school funds of Charleston
d county was drawn $200, and A. II. De
h I~ay, school commissioner of Berklev
d county, paid over to Mr. Weber $115
is from the public school funds of his
a county, makldg $315 tn Mr. Weber's
g hands for institute purposes. The
1- white institute cost $135, and the col
f ored $95, making $230, which taken
d from the $315 leaves $85 in Mr. Webers
e hands unaccounted for.
1- In October 1891, Mr. I, eher drew
it from the public school funds, on gen
1. eral account,$186. I can find no vouch
.era showing for what purposes this
y money was expended.
it In August, 1891, a warrant on the
k school funds was issued by the trustees
ar of school district No. 1 to Minus Black
- for $0 for labor. This warranit was
n raised to $10, and the changes seem to
g be in Mr. Weber's hand.
<- In February, 1892, a school warrant
.e was issued by the trustees of school
e district No. 3 to one D). A. Bell for $9
it for school supplies. The supplies were
d never furnished and the warrant was
Le raised to $98.75.
y In February, 1892, a school warrant
Is was issued by the t.rustees of school die
e trict No. 2 to one D. A. Bell for $6 for
t- school supplies. The supplies were
d never furnished, and the warrant was
'" raised to $09.45.
hb In February, 1892, a school warrant
it was issued by the trustees of school
ie district No. 1 to one DL. A. Bell for 8
ae for school supplies. TIhe supplies were
D- never furnished, and the warrant was
raised to $80.
s- In February, 1892, a school warrant
n was issued by the school trustees of dis
ae trict No. 4 to one 8. A. Cunningham
d. for $0 fcr school supplies The supplies
n~ were never furnished, and the warrant
0 was raised to $063.50,
a I cannot find either D. A. Be~ll o0- 8.
iiA. Cunningham, nor can I find any one
Iiwo knows or ever heard of either of
). The changes in these last four war
r- rants appear to be in Mr. Weber's hand
;. and it also appears that he collected
o the warrants after the had bee
n raised, the three Bell warrants being
aidy thetreasurr in oneuh kl, No.
I Mr. Weber told them he had purchased
g these supplies and that they would be
e sent out to the schools.
d In November, 1892. a warrant Was
o issued to Prince Brown, for $9, for
e making desks and benches, by the trus.
!- tees of school district No. 4. The war.
e rant was raised to $97.50, and the chan
r- ges appear to be in Mr. Weber'4, hand.
it In April, 1892, a warrant was issue
-. to Henry Wilson for $0 for repairs on
5 a school house, by the trustees of school
f district No. 4. and in Septemaber 1892
e the trustees of the same district issued
ea to him a warrant for $49 75 for repairs
i, on school houses and furniture. The
amounts in the body 6? these warrants
appear to have been written by .
Weber. There are only two schools in
this district. Inspection of one of the
schools, and information as to what
work has been done, and furniture fur.
nished to both, indicate that these
claims are without merit, the work not
having been performed..
A warrant has been sworn out
against Weber, charging him with vio
ating the laws of the State, and he was
arrbted in the city -f Charles'on on
the 6th day of January, instant, and
gave bond for his appearance to auswer
any charges that may be preferred
against him in the court of General
Sessions for the county of Charleston.
Not being a collecting oficer, and
having no power to recover the money
that has been thus wrongfully taken
from the public schools, I, therefore re
spectfully ask that you direct the prop.
er steps to be taken to recover tne mon
ey. Inquiry elicits the fact that Mr.
Weber's bond is good.
The amount to be recovered and
turned into the treasury for the use ol
the public schools is $1, 237.83, and tli
amount recovered should be distribute
among the districts in proportion tc
their losses reepectively.
While it is foreign to the issues here
in involved, I beg to here call your at
tentien to the fact that the amount ol
poll tax collected ia Charleston county
while very much in excess of th(
amount formerly collected, is still ver5
much less than it should be, and te
urge that the law be enforced, if possi
ble, against those persons liable tc
this tax.
Respectfully submitted,
W. D. MAYFIELD,
State Supetintendent of Education.
The Work of Fiends,
HOUSTON, Tex., Feb. 9.-L-ist nigh
at the high bridge over White oak 13 &., ou
train wreckers removed raIls and 'ist
plates on the Missouri, Kansas au
Texas railroad. When the pa3senge
train came along the englue passed sale,
ly over, but the baggage and mail carr
jumped the track and rolled down th(
embankment, followed by the smoket
which landed on top of them. The wrect
presented a frIghtful appearance. Jo<
Elliott, brakeman, was sent back to flit
the freight train, soon due. le had no
proceeded a hundred yards when a vol
ley from ambush was fired up*u him
Four bullets took effect in his body
The crew In the meatime, aided by pas
sengers, were at work extricating met
buried in the cars and feared to go to thi
flagman's assistance. Heo, however
crawled, bleeding and wounded back t
the train and now lies dying. In th
mail car was Low Morris, agent, badl
braised with several bones broken. 1i
first, thought was of his mail and he re
queseted a reporter to go to the postol
flee and notify them that he had a bi
run of reelstered mail. H. Hatton, ei
press messenger, was found in his cc
with his ribs broken and in a critlei
condition. J. W. Carter, baggage ma
ter, injured about the head and internall'
A relief train was made up here an
sent to the scene. The wounded wer
brought in and taken to the hospital
Posses are now on the scene and grea
excitement prevails.
The I, .mance of an Orpinavat.
SPARTANBURG, Feb. 10.--The sud
den death of Mrs. Joseph Jennings, th
founder of the Jennings Orphanage
caused sorrow and regreat thrOughout
our county and town. Her history is ai
unusual one. She was the daughter o
Mr. Monsel Jennings, who died at hi
home near Cedar Spring a short tim
ago While very young she married
her husban being killed in the vai
She was eighteen years of age whe
left a widow. A few days later sh
married Mr. Joseph Jeuningn. LIe
health was wretched, but a little chili
was sent to brighteni the househoiC
God soon claimed it again however, an<
despondency seIzed the mother. Oai
day she heard of an orphan babe in
forlorn condition being at Glenn'Sprin1
She persuaded her husband to take he
to see it. They found tbe little outcaas
sick, dirty and scantily clotyrd. Afte
a short consultation Mr. and Mis. Jon
nings decided to take the baby hionm
with them. It soon filled the place i
their hearts of their dead baby. Fret
this time Mrs. Jennings gathered thli
little waits into her heart and home
until there were fifteen at the time- o
her death, and from this time, the Ir
valid of years standing, was a well wc
man. Her little cottage had only fly
rooms but they were kept in spotlei
condition, and a neater set of childre
is not to be found in our county. WVh
will fill her.place ? She was big-heari
ed, strongc-minded and affectionate I.
manner-she was a hiumanlfarian.
State. _______
A liehop en Trail.
LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 9.-Fdr th
first time in the history of the Ujatholi
church a bishop was arraigned before I
civil jusice of the peace to answer t
the charge of criminal libel preferred b:
a priest. Thomas Bonacum Is th
bishop, and the charge against him wa
founded on a letter sent to the parish a
Palmnyra, notify ing the congregation tha
Father Michael J. Corbatt had beel
suspended and warning all Catholhc
not to hold communion with him
Bishop Bonacum Was represented by
large array of attorneys, while with lb
state attorney sat, Father David 8. Phe
lan, of 8t, Louis, editor of' the Watch
man, and famous as an ecclesiasticai
lawyer. Oa a motion to quash, Fathe
P'helan, after expounding the canoniena
law, turned to Bishop Bona umi and1
pointing his finger at him, said: "Bu
what we want to show is that this bishoi
has lied. It was a lie in that he hai
never suspended Father Cor bott." Ir
this strain Father Phelan continued fo
half an hour, hurling invective after in
vective at the bishop, who e->loredI al
each thrust.
A i- pansary conveniton.
CHIESTER, b. C., Fob. 13.---Chatri
Jaggers andl Gus lRichards, who wera
arrested here Saturday niuht by Police
man Williams for bringmii liquor iat<
State were tried today bfre TIrial Jis
tice Leckie. Assistaint Attorney Gen
oral Barber for the Stale, an i Pau
Ilomphihi for the defendant~s. The caisi
lasted about six hours and tihe jura
5tayed in ten or fitteen minutes anc
brouight a verdict ofguilty for Gus IWeb
ards, poop!e hero wvere niot surprise<
at the ve1tdict as Jargers claithcd thi
tMauk which contained the 11qu or an<(
gave the sheriff' the key to open it. 111ii
sentence was to pay a inoto $100 or g<
tojail for thirty dais, Hie was taken t<
iail tn serve hi M. ene...jun
HERE ISA ME SS
detins as it The State Tox Maoblaery
ParalTzed.
COLUMBIA, S. C., Feb. 14.-So1
bungling has been done by the last L
islature, It. seems, which is liable to cai
the State serious trouble. It looks n
to a good many who have made a m
careful examination of the county g
ernment act, passed at the last sees
of the Lsgislature, as if It has cause
paralysis of the tax machinery of
State gover.ment, as far as the mak
of assessmenta for taxation are c
corned. The man who drev up the b
Mr. John Gary Evans, it is suppos
as far as now appears, has made it re
so that after January 1, 1895, all
present laws on the subject o1 inak
assessments, etc., conflicting with i
new act shall be considered repeal
and the duties of the officers made aw
with be devolved upon a county supei
sor and a county board of road comn
sioners. Of course existing laws h
good until the date mentioned. So
so good.
The man who prepared the law. b
ever, goes on down to Section 6 v
says that all the duties, powers, ei
of the present township boards of ass
sore are "now and hereby abolishe
There have evidently been some seri
omissions, and the interesting situat
is presented of all this ground work
machinery - being abolished "not
while no other provision is made fore
other scheme until January 1, 18
And in Section 7 the county boards
equalization share the same fate. Ti
again It conflicts with it wlf wher
provides for the election of a c)ui
supervisor and fixes this election at
next general election; requiring in
meantime that the new county boat
which the Governor appoints, taking
powers of the abolished boards, can
do anything unless he is present.
There is only a short time remain
before the township boards will have
act and it Is now a serious question gre
ly puzzling the State officials to kn
what to do. There's no way of gett
the Supreme Court to decide upon
matter, and unless that body she
consider the repealing clause, in
matter of time, as applying to the wt
act, every taxpayer could rush into ci
and play havoc with the governmi
A prominent man, whz is N
a much concerned in the mat
said yesterday, that it appea
to him that the only remedy was for
Governor to appoint the new boa
but then would come the trouble rete
to about the supervisor.
It Is thought that Governor Till
r is for once in his life badly puzzled
Li does not yet know what steps to t
Every one seems to be completely al
. as to what construction to place u
d the garbled act, and all the officials a
e afraid to act, for they cannot tell %
. will happen if the matter is carrie
t any taxpayer to the courts. It me
everything to the State government
is a vitally important matter.
The Sherif Killed.
WHARTON, TEXAS, Feb. 9.-N
has just c)me to town that Sli
Hamilton Dickson was killed ab
town at3o'o.lock. In company 3
Sheriff Townsend, of Columbus
Deputies Hope, Hearatt and Wells I
had located Braddock, the murdere:
1 Constable Townsend at Weimar, W
3 entering a thicket on the east sid
the river, about three miles be
I R cho Grando, Braddok was sudd
ly discoverc& Hie began drning at cl
quar tors upon Sheiril' Dickson, who
killed instantly. Immediately one of
posse made short work of Bradd<
SThe murderer was shot and killed I:
instant. Mr. Dickson was'married o
ra toew weeks ago. B3raddcck, the d
. desperado, had been arrested for ti
e robbery and killing two negroes,
r elea -cd. A lew weeks ago he was
a oil an execrsion traln'and fired inti
ibfo which he was locked up at Weii
When Constable Townsend went to
i him Braddcck cut him to pieces
escaped. Constable llearartt retur
at, 10 o'clock to-night. lie reports
0 when HI. H. Mo)ore, who had been h
inmg Braddock, was called on to sari
de(ir he fired on the offioers, hut witi
Seffect. They returned the fire, kil
Moore. The negro who has been i
plying Braddock with f.od was bro.
im and jailed.
Judge Brawley Qutma Orngregu,
WAsH INCTTON, Feb. 9,-J..f
SBrawley has served his last day in
53d1 Congress. Hie is going home
night, and lhe will send his resigna
as member of the 1st district to 'jo,
nor Tillman from Charleston. Yes
Sday and to-day Judge B'awley has;1h
Sengaged in taking leave of his mni
warm friends in the House. The vete
Judge Hiolman took an affectionate ft
well of the Charleston member, thr<
. ing his arms around his neck and say!
"Brawicy, I sincerely regret that ;
-are going to leave us. I have not
.ways been able to go with you in all
measures you have advocated, bu
have takeni a strong fancy to you, an
1wi~h you God-speed always."~ Iit
resentatives Mc~reary, Bourke (Jo
ran. Chairman Wibson and, in ft
nearly all of the leading members
bo1)th sides of the Ihouse are perso
friends of Judge Brawley, and 11
parted with him with profound regi
Hie has been regarded as one of
stan~chest Administration men and1
a member of the select committee
fifteuen known as the "steering coma
toe" in the ihouse. Judge IBrawley
qialify andi~ ontor up~n his judicial
I ies at, once.
Deah of Representative Je f lee.
- JONESVILLE, Feb. 10.-Ca p t, John
JTeffries died here this morning. Cv
,Jeffrie~s has been to Columbia to atti
a meeting of the board of trustees
Slemison College, and was taken a
here on his return, lie suffered inti
sely for a week with blood poison, ce
traictedI in nursing a sick son after h
lng a finger hurt on a wire fen
Capt. Joefre was a member of
Legislature from this county, and St
lecturer of the Farmers' Allian
Many old soldiers in Kershaw's bi
ade wilirecollect him from Manassas
Annnm attarx
THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.
is-_____
IT WILL BE KEPT OUT OF POLITICS
IN FUTURE.
no
Return cfisecretary iDuncan F.omn the
ISO
DW Meling of the N % I n ali Aliance at To
Dot Pekh-The Co'idition of the 0 dr I a
)V.
On South Cal ol-ia.
a COLUMBIA, S. C., Feb 14.-Col. D. P.
the Duncan, the secretary of the National
Farmers' Alliance, has just returned
ig from the annual meeting of that body
ad, at Topeka, Kan., and he gives much in
ad formation about the meeting and tne
he general condition of the order,sas shown
og by the reports presented from the dif
he erent States.
ed The most interesting feature of the
information afforded by this oflicer
ay yesterday was the announcement of
the exact strength of the Alliance in
s' this State, as shown by the oilleial re
Old port. The Alliance has all along been
far considered an important factor in
South Carolina politics, and it will sur
w- prise a great many to know that the
nd president of the State Alliance report
c., ed that there were 15,000 members of
e1. the order in this State who had kept
3,in their dues paid up to date. le further
Mu reported that the entire membership
ion of the order in this State, as shown by
the rolls, was 38,000.
,, Col. Duncan says that twenty-four
States in the Union were represented
ny at the national gathering by thirty-filve
)5 delegates, and several States sent in
of full reports. North Carolina reported
'en a membership of 26,000 paid up men.
it Col. Duncan says there has been no
ity real increase in the membership of the
the Alliance, viewed as a national order,
the during the past year, but that it has
,do, held its own better than they thought
the it would. A great umny had gone into
not it expecting a hasty business revolu
tion. lie says the Alliance is now
pretty strong in the following States:
l North and South Carolina, Virginia,
to Georgia Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala.
at- bama, lexas, Kentucky, Tennessee,
OW Pennsylvania, Oniio, New York, Indi
ing ana, Michigan, Colorado, South Dako
the ta, California, Iowa, Missouri, Nebras
uld ka, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah and Illi
the nois. The secretary says it is in a
Lole much stronger and more healthy con
ourt dition in the South than anywhere else.
mnt. He says this is due to the fact that in a
ery large measure that the Alliance did
ter, not in the South leave and go into the
red Populist party, as it did in the North
th a West, Some States thought that
d it was an order for political purposes
rds, only, but now their ideas have beer
!red changed, as is shown, he says, by the
following address issued to the Alli
man ance people of the country by a com
and mittee on the good of the order o
ake, which the new president, Marion But
sea ler, of North Carolina, was the chair
ipon man:
Dam To the members of the N. F. A. an<
rhat I. U., and'to all whom it may con
y cern:
'by Since the Inception of this wrand or
uas ganization there have been those who
and thought that when soen political par
ty championed our political demands
that then the mission .f the organiz I
tion was ended. This belief is based
3we on the belief that a political p:arty will
. take care of the interests of the farm
eri ra. This is a fatal mistake. Basides
ove itis proven by the acts of every other
rith class of citizens (except politicians)
nd that they do not rely on parties alone
hey but organize for iniluence on any and
ot all parties.
bile Every wealth producer of Amrimca
a of should ever keep the follo wing truths
low before him:
en-. First-That sooner or later all pohlt
ose ical parties are controlled by politcians.
vas Snecod-haolican never serve
ick. ense of justice, but aiways through
an Therefore the class of citizens reprea
uly sented by the Farmers' Alliance and
ead industrial Union can never hops for or
'am secure rellet or justice from any polit
but ical f.arty, not even from one that
mit, claims to champion and endorse itt
it, every principle and demand,unless i hey
nar mamntain an organization that will ever
'od stand as an effective support to the'
and man and tihe party that darest t~o do
n18( right, and a-constant menace to thos'
ntwho dare trifle with the rights ane
d-liberties of the people. Hiene the
Supreme Council solemnny warns thos
01who are true to the principles of thi
out Alliance that they would make a most
hing fatal mistake if they give uip the or
mip- ganision which is thme only power that
aht can force these reforms through any
political party, and if indeed we were
living under a perfectly just govern
ment today, the organization would
*ige still be absolutely necessary as a great
temoral force to keep it so.
to. But our Supreme Council calls upon
~iyou to ever remember that the organ
nization has a great mission perform
per- outside of political reform.
ter. If the wealth producers of America
een are to keep place with the march of
my oivilization they must do it through
ran social and intellectual contract. We
re- have not only gro wn in mind and heart
>W. bysuch association and contact but we
ug: pool our intellect for the mutual ad
fou vancement of oar best interest. We de
al sire political reform to enable us to
the carry out the mission.
t i Therefore, in couclusion the Supreme
Council appeals to every one who be
lieves in the principles of the Alliam~
Sto stand by and extenti the organmzation
-not only to secure thme benelits that
jet, come fronm organiz itioni but iais o to
0n make certain that some political party
nal shall enact their demands unto law.
icy Col. Duncan says that the Ailiance is
et. much stronger in South Carolina th ai
Ihe anywhere else, owing to the ex
was cellence of the work of the cx
of changes, Hie says the exch anges have
it been doing better work in these two
vml 8tates than any other in the United
u- le says the Alliance, as at body, ini
tends to keep clear of politics. Alli
ancemen, Col. D~uncan says, intend to
vote for the best men-that is men who
-~ favor their demands an:J measures
pt. which they think for the best inltent s1s
dof the country at large.-State.
Lck nialli.
- CHAT1TANOOUA, Tenn., Feb. 14
SJustcs Gillespie rendered ai d~cisiou to
day-m the p.-eliiInary trial cf George
he N. Hlenson, charged +ith the rmurder'or
at Jacob B. Wert. The justice admritted
ee the delendant to bail, lplacmng '.Lhe bond
1g. at $10,000. The banker p.romptly exe
to cuted the bond and was released from
cuntwdy
SOLVING THE QUEST ION.
Attrney Osneral'd Orinlon on the Tax
Muddle.
COLUMBIA, S. C., Fab. 15.-The
trouble referred 'o yesterday in regard a
to the bungling of the new county gov.
ernment act, created quite a stir among
the StAte officials at tue capitol. The
seriousness of the condition of affairs
was not exagnerated, and it is still a
matter which is causing the Governor
considerable worry. l1e yeaterday morn. ,
iug officially requesLed the At torney r
General to give him an opinion in re- u
gard to the matter and that ofloial did ff
so. This. however, is simply the opin- u
ion of the State's attorney in the omtter, P
and of courae I that opinion would not
effect the decision of the Supreme Court, tt
if the matter ever reaches that body in L
the proper form. It 18 the custom of 9
the couri, however, as shown in past ,
decisious to look at the general objects b
01 the legislatures in making a law, and t
no doubt it would be construed as the i
Attorney General construes it. II) - 0
ever there is plenty of jurisdiction for a
the court to render a dieision oi the L
other side, and then there would be a a
serious state of allairs. Here is the opin
iou of the Attorney General, and it
speaks for iselif:
eis Excellency, G~varnor B. Rt Tdl- it
Mil 0
.Daaa Sir: Your note asking if the a st g
approved January 4, 189 1, c mtemplate 0
the immediate devolution of the duties !
of township tud district boards of asses
sors upon the olilers me.ntioned in s
act, received. In reply would say that 0
if section 6 be taken and c )ustrued itself, g
a meic cursory exa'niation miht leave M
the impression that a hiatus exists, but ti
an examination of the whole act giving
effect to every section, regarding the ii- c
ter-depondence of every provision, wil
n
slow beyond all doubt that the act con
templated the change "from and after v
the first day of Janu iry, 1895," as myi. 0
tiotned in section I providing for the ap.
pointment of county supervisors.
Section 7 provides for county burJs
of commissioners, and section 8 declares
that "tlhe county supsrvisor, ozether
with the chairman of the boairds of com.
missioners in the several townships, ap.
pointed by the Governor, shal enasti
tute the county bardof commissioners,
of which said board the coutity supsryi
sor shall be chairmtn.
It is to be remarkeI that there can
not be a county board of conmission
era without the appom',meat of a coun
ty suparvisor. S- there coming into
existence as such board is to be incas
uned by and coexistent with the time of
his appointatut-beginning at the same
time.
-I )w let us see the time of his olec
- tion )r appointment, and the beginning
of his duties. Section 2 declares that he
shall be elected at the "next, general
election thereafter, whose term of of
dIco shall be two yeArs and until his sue
cessor shlil have been elected and quali
fled.
Section I provides for the abolition of
the oflices now known as county comn
nislioners, devolviig their duties upon
the county supervisors, etc., from an(
after January 1, 1895. Now, it is very
plain to be seen that such county boarit
created dependent upon the eleotion of
a supervisor, cannot come into existence
until af,,er the nexi general election, at,
which general election he is to be voted
for. The term of the boards of town.
hip commissioners by section 5 ts made
conterminal with that of the Governor by
whom they aire app~ointed, and such sec
tion is also to be read mn c munection with
sectioni 2, shoinig their appomutmxnt, for
thbe same tcerm.
As a result of thim construction I have
tile honor to rep~ort that, ii my judgment
these officers do not come into existence
until after t!he next general election Un
til which tiic thbe presenlt, machinery of
cou'n. government contmunes.
Riespectililly,
OSMUND) W. BUCIfANAN,
Aitorntey Gesnerai.
i"%nnd1 a M1[ilgoni.
SAN FRiANCi8CO, Feb. 10.-1f the
story told by ,John F. Rtyan, a subman
rino diver, is true, the steamer lBrother
,Jonathlan has att last been found, after F
being almost 30 years at the bottom of 1
the sea.
The lBrother JIohnathan was lost oin a
July 3, 1865, aboiut 10 milles northwestt
of Cresenit City, with 147 passengersr
and crew and $1,000,000 in treasure on i
board. Numerous unsuccessful at-t
temlpts have been made to locate her. c
Ryan's story is alpparently substantiat-t
ed by the produiction of one of the sli p3 &
fixtures bearing tihe name Brother ,Jon..
athian in brass letters, which he picked f
up on the deck of the wreck.
".Several yearas ago, while captain of ap
steamer running oni l~nget Sound," s tys c
Ryan, "an 0old man named G. WV. Hill1 a
told me that lie Was a passenger on thc f
Blrother .Jonathan when she foundered r
and wvas one of the 19t survivors of the t
disaater. lie said(1 he couild take me to ij
the scene of the wreck, andl~ was sure he r
could locate the exact spot whore she a
went down. A few weeks augo he came t,
again and I accepted his offer. a
'After arriving in the vicinity of 'j
where the ship wont dowvn we located t
her in a remarkably short time in soy- e
eratl hundred feet of water. I went 11
(towni to the vessell aiid walked across a
her deck and all around her. There n
wasi not light enough for mue to see, and t,
I had to feel my way everywhere. Ap.
parently the Brother Jonathan Is in ex.
cel lent condition, an-i I have hopes of
raining hor.t
1Freom what I learn, the gold in the n
ship1)li locked up in different parts of 1
the vessel, andl with the aid of light I la
anticipate no difficulty in locating it. v
In the spring I shail make preparations 11
to recover the lost treasure."
- -------t
16u00me Tax (Pppasadi.
CH ARL ESTrON, Feb. 13,-Th., Ch'.rl-es- C
ton Chamber of commerce celebrated I
its 110th auniversary today Wvith a hand. 1
some banquet. At the meeting in the '.
morning resolution was unanimously <
passed requesting the Senatora of South I
Carolina~ to oppose the income tax cla- 1
use of the tarif bill, unless by doing sot
the passage of the whole bill should be s
jeopardized. Th'le chamber also appoint
ed a special committee to take suitable r
action in opposition to ,the Pattersonit
bill, amending the interstate con~merce I
act, and to attempt to secure some t
charge in discriminations in freight e
rates ngainnt the Southern ports.
IYST ERY OF TH E SWAMPS.
GHASTLY AFFAIR WHICH PUZZLE8
THE CORONER.
'inding of the Doad 1ndIy of ai- Uk'l-wa
White MnU Nea- the O:ty-A- Uaav1n.
Aug Seaurch Yesterd ay j
COLUMBIA, S. U., le. 12.-&t noon
04terdiy a negro girl named Ellie Mey.
-s. accompveied by another named Car.
e Jefferson, came to Police ofil .er Jones
pon the atreets apptren,ly very much
ightened, and told him they hal walked
, the Atlantic Coast Line ,rack trorn a
:>at ubout five miles iroam the city.
hey told- him that just bayond, the
astle, at Hampton's pond, about tweu.
,-live or thirty feet distant from the
ht, side of the trestle, ithey had found
ie body of a white man lyin 1 [a the
*'ar patc'i near th3 water. They fic
r stated that his pants ware off, but
a still had his shoes and other clothins
a. They said thut he looked like
tram p, ba had evidently been dead for
)veral days, .j sdging from tie swollen
ppearance ot his face. Ofler Jones
otiled Chief of Polica Iidcliffsi, and
to chief of police forthwith notidlad
oroner I0ac'. In a short tin the
ews sprea' over the city, and consid
mable excitement was caused. It was
nerally supposed that the mn was
ao o' the desparadoas who, iAI rb a:1
1e houses oil the H ampton placa dur.
ig the early portion of list weak. [t
'ill be ro'mbared that this patty
E desparai oes was fired into and ths
aneral belieC was iCat this man was
'ouuded and crawtledl ofl int-m the swamp
Abiat 2 o'clock Cero-se Ruabh, ac
>mpanied by Deputy Pollock and D:.
'rank Greci and several ' newspap3r
ion, departed in the rain to hold a s in
estigation. They drova t) the scene
r the supposed trauble anl bagan to
3arch for the reualins of the mina. This
earch was very complets, and coatinad
)r several hours in the pariug rain, but
iltho.igh several miles of the swamp
nd was gso over by the searchers,
ever a trac3 of the alleged dead mxn
ould be found, Coroner, 1bawh, at'er
ctting wet througjh to thn ski-a, stated
'hat it was tha tieat timxi in htis expari-.
Buco as coroner that he had ever had to
search lor a devl ba ly. Hs~at tore, ha
savs, the exact location has al ways been
pointed out to him, After a search of
about three hours, the coro'er and those
assisting him 1lnally gave up the search
and returned to the city, reaching here
at about 6 o'clock.
Upan his return to the city Coroner
It)ac' who, when h- left, had no fur
ther information th ai that given him by
the c'iel of p->hee, a mzht 0:lher Jones
and obtained1 from him the whereabuts
and names of that oiber's inform-.nts.
This morniug the coroner will take
charge of these witnosses an] carry them
(own with him for the purpose of locat
img the body. Ie is determined to solva
the mystery, let it cost what it may.
HXe tieleves that the body Is to be found,
Und if I" is not some one will very lIke.
[y be made to suffer for tihe chase which
the oflicers ot the law were campelled to
lead yesterday aftern )on in the puring
lown rain.
The coroner and all others who heard
Lhe story of the two women are inclined
a the belief that this dead man, about
*hom there is so much mystery at pre
eant, is one of the desperadoes refbrred
o above.
There wore some vary amusing mci
enuts at the search yesterday afternoon,
nd, not tha least was the disappoint.
nut of the newvspaiper men, who wasted
iearly all of' the day in such a fruitless
ear th as was shown by the statements
nde at the vary damp conference held
mider a dripping tree at tbe completion
dl the so arch tar the purpose of deciding
vhiether to return to the city or resume
lie search untiI dat knees fall. Every
nan in the crowd was pretty wet, and
Lot a single one wished to remain longer,
Vr even accompany the coroner back this
Iiormng.-f8Late, _____
A Mountatu,.v~,(detta).
( R ENV ILLE, Feb. 14.-Another kill.
nig hasi occurred in the D~ark Corner.
>tyO Ihoward, a brother of the cele
Iratedl Big Hill1, who died with his
loots on), killed Uly Pittmsan on 'sunday
.ternooni near the house of' John Rec
or, Gin Glassy Mountain. On Sunday
norning J.ittmann who is a young man,
ad a fight with old Shack [Howard, but
he two were seperated before any
amage was done to either. Later in
he day Mitchell Howard, a son of
hack, and the two went out to hunt
19 Pitiman. About 4 o'clock they
oundi Plttman and his brother Ander
on). Steve Ho ward and Uly Pittmsan
ot Into a fight, and as they fought the
thier two stood with drawn pistols to
ecuire fair play. Howard and Plttman
all in a clinch, and while down Pitt
san dIrew his pistol. howard twisetd
hie pistol out of his hsandi, and they
oth rose from the ground. As they
ose Ilo ward putlled his own pistol and
tot Pi'ttmnan twice, the first bullet en
3ring his arm, the second entering
have the eye, and LPIttman fell dead.
'rial Justice Mitchell commenced an
aquest oin Monday. Howard was pres
eb at the Inquest. More blood will
ow, as the Pittmani family are fighters
ud this Is the locality where twenty
son have bean killed (luring the past
an years.-News and Courier.
W ITJwsnARRw, Pa., Feb.13. 'a ex.
misive cave in occured at the Gaylordl
line of the Kingston Coal Company at
'lymouth this morning, A large numn
or of minors and laborers were at
rork under a section of the roof which
as for some time been considered weak
vithout ony warning whatever, the
oof, consisting of rack and coal, fell In.
t is not known as yet whether any
f the men were killed outright, but It
e known that thirteen of thems are
emmed In in one of the gang ways.
'hse air supply is now shut off and the
hance of living for any length of time
S very small. An army af rescuers are
ard1 at work trying to reach tihe en
ombted men. TVha relatives of the men
hut In the mine are gathered about the
'lace and their lamentations
,re pitiful. The section of the mine, 10
vhich the men are Imprisoned, 1a a
ortlon of the Baltimore vein, whiah at
his point is very thick, and they were
ngaged In placing large timefd' a
rap and support for the roof.