p,I: &{)? ^tspatrir-SCpius [zT
LEXINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1921. NUMBER 33.
ro8B^?M*3U81E NO* 51 ?
flpCSlUT AGAINST
B STANDARD OIL CO
What is thought to be the largest i'
H^ratehage suit ever brought in Lexing^^Bl?f^u<toun
ty was last week hied with
of this county for $250,000 '
the Standard Oil Company of >
gp'''p-2?ew Jersey by Samuel R. Derrick of jl
J^^-Steedman, administrator of the estate jr
Ida. JJerricK, aeceaseu. t
'hfejjirtt grows out of the death of j
i^Jtfersick last February, due, it is <
ttiirifc;. toy the explosion of a lamp
$ .with oil of Improper mixture.!/
!/complaint alleges that the Stand- J'
.Oil Company of New Jersey, j
>ugh t. carelessness, recklessness j'"
^.wilfulness, transported from the
p^.of Batesburg to the town of 1
4i$&n a tank containing a mixture p
rasoline and kerosene, a part of >'
ch was later sold to Mr. Derrick, "
caused the lamp in which it was <
g burned to explode, resulting in
death of Mrs. Derrick and severe .
ries to several other members of '/
" '* **- Viinn?cTf' hpjne */
fliy, iUt", JL/Ciltvn 41AUU/Va? ? o
>ne spit has been filed so far, ?
understood that eight others j
>wf the combined total aggre- )
errick is represented by E. J. 'j
[ Qraydon & Graydon of Co- '
and the suit promises to be.'i
te biggest and hardest fought
ttles ever brought in this 1
and the outcome will be 1
with more than usual inter- .
id out of South Carolina. j)1
LEGGED ROOSTER j
SHOWN BY DR. HARMON
re B. Harmon, manager of |
ajp^; the Harmon Drug Company, tfte ['
Sf|*, Hexall store, who is ever on the alert!
[??& > to find things unusual and interesting
for his many customers, had the luck
, one day last week to run across a '
fC- three-legged rooster, which *he im- (
? ;. mediately bought and has placed on
display for the delectation and edifi- .
j&, cation -of the parsers by. -Hie vxoyfifci
#\ highness, the rooster, who boasts the \
^ proud possession of three legs where *
" only two ought to grow, is now oc
copying a coop just outside the store
Rjjjlp. of the Harmon Drug Company, Under
the stairway leading to the second ,
f; '' ' story of the Harmon building, and is j
? / apparently as proud of his unusual ,
f1-- accomplishment, or rather gift of
nature, as a monkey with a new red
/ cap. Evidently Monsiuer Chanteclier c
does not regard his tertiary extremity]/
" ?v? nf.n rk>" it dpfor- I'
?IS Clixit;r dii iiivuiuMiuitw v, .,
mity, but is as proud and self-satis- :
f*y fied as any other cook of like breed,
r."?
and carries himself with as haughty ,
an air as ever graced ,the boss of any
barnyard walk, and seems*- entirely;
uncorned of the comment c aused bv J
k . his peculiar formation. Drop by and |
?. >v \ ??ee the freak.
IS**
# t ?
TAXPAYERS PAY PENALTY
NEARLY FOUR TIMES AS LARGE J
g|% ' |
*??*- The people of Lexington county j
j will, when' all settlements for taxes j
have been effected, have paid in pen-!
i
alties on deferred taxes the sum of \
$5,142.24 for th^ iyear 1920. The
books have been closed and executions
are being placed in the hands
of the sheriff for a considerable ,
amount, but the greater part of this '
' i
penalty has already been paid. As j
will be seen from the table below, the ?
I
r* figures for which were furnished by .
Mr. W. D. Dent, the efficient auditor ;
c of Lexington county, the amount of '
, penalty chargeable against the
county's taxpayers for 1920 taxes was
nearly four times as much as was
listed for 1919 taxes when the total .
chargeable penalties amounted to
51,692.80.
Mr. Dent has been extremely busy j
lately entering up the returns on
which 1921 taxes will be paid, and 1
preparing for the settlement with i
the treasurer.
The figures given below show the J
amount of penalty written against J
the taxpayers for the years 1920 and j
1921 respectively:
1919?
January, 1 per ent SOlM.Ojj
February, 1 percent ::7"?.:t 1 '
March. per cent 703.SI i
Total $ 1 ,092.<o '
1 920?
January. 1 per cent. . . .<! .7 >."?.(?7
February. 1 per cent.. 1.4 1 .7S j
March, 1 per cent l.lli!.9oj
May, 4 per cent 907.13'
Total $.".142.2 I '
I; /
if- &
SWYGERT CASE IN i
RICHLAND COURT j
The State. j
Solicitor Spigner started a ui& legal
fight yesterday in the criminal
court when he asked Judge Townsend
to issue a bench warrant for
the arrest and delivery in Richland
county of Job C. Swygert of Lexington
county who is under an indictment
charging him with killing Dr.
John C. Nicholson at Leesville l^.st
April. Attorneys representing the
accused made a strong effort to prevent
the move. Judge Townsend
agreed to the request of the solicitor
and he directed Clerk Hinnant
to turn over the bench warrant to
Sheriff Heise for execution. It was
announced during the hearing that
four attorneys will assist the solicitor
and that the defendant will be represented
by three lawyers.
Attorneys argruing resistance to the
motion to order a Bench warrant
urged the court to give their client
"constitutional rights." They declared
that the alleged crime was committed
in Lexington county and that the
trial should properly be conducted at
the county seat. Court decisions were
cited and the decrees in the case of
the state against McCoomer and that
of the state against Messervy brought
about considerable argument. The defendant's
attorneys directed attention
to the action of the Lexington county
grand jury in taking exception to the
movement to handle the case in Richland
county and referred to the special
presentment of the Richland
county jury in which it took the position
that the case should be disposed
of at Lexington. The records in the
* * - * -J /*Av?Annr'c
case were mtroauceu. j.hc ~
jury of Lexington county held Job C.
Swygert for the killing of Dr.' Nicholson
April 4 and Associate Justice
Watts allowed bail in the sum of
$6,000 April 12.
Commonwealth attorneys argued
for the issuance of the bench warrant
on the ground that an alleged
crime was committed in Richland
county. They contended that the
trial should be conducted in Richland
county by reason of the fact
that a mortal wound was inflicted in
Lexington countjv and that the injured
man died in Richland county.
In deciding the issue. Judge Townsend
said he would be guided by supreme
court decisions. He said an alleged
offense had been committed in
both counties and that the case was
triable in either. The judge ordered
the clerk of court to turn over the
bench warrant to the sheriff for execution.
It was announced yesterday that
foiinwinsr attorneys would assist
Solicitor Spigner in the prosecution:
C. L. Blease. C. M. Efird, B. W.
Crouch and C. .1. Ramage: for the
defense. Timmerman and Graham
and E. L. Asbill.
ST STEPHEN'S EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH
Arthur B. Obenschain. pastor.
Air. B. Heber Barre, Supt. of Sunday
school.
Divine services at 11:00 .a. in. and
8:K> ]). ni. Sunday school at 10:00 a.,
m.
On Sunday, June the 12th, the
morning theme will be: "The Recovery
-of A Lost Soul." The evening
theme will be: "Looking to God For
Care and Protection, But Doing Our
t,* tVir.ce cervipps the nublif
rai U XV VAAVWV ^v? . .V X - ? g
is cordially invited.
ARTHUR B. OBEXSCHAIX,
Pastor.
IjEXIXGTOX CIRCUIT.
Services Sunday June 12th, 1921:
Lexington?Sunday school at 10 o'clock,
W. D. Dent. Superintendent.
Preaching at 11 o'clock. A special
sermon to parents.
Preaching at 4 oVclock to men
only.
Preaching at S o'clock. All these
services by Rev. A. E. Driggers.
" o cr,v- Sfhool at 3 o'clock,
f I *. u t i? ^ i4 .. . - ?
D. I j. !Ia?mon. superintendent.
Preaching ar 4 p. in. Subject: "I)o
Not Sin Against the Child."
Tied Dank?Sunday school at !<? a.
in.. .1. ! '. Shnrpe, superintendent.
T'leachin.:: nt s p .in., followed by the
reception of members.
Von are i-ordially invited ti> all
these services.
H. A. V/DiTTCX. Pastor.
! COUNTY COMMISSION!
AUTHORIZE AND
WORK BEFOi
The board of county commission- 1
ers, at the regular monthly meeting
Monday, took a decided step towards '
holding the county funds back for ab- 1
solutely necessary road work, when i
they decided that hereafter they 1
would absolutely refuse 'to pay for 1
any road work which had not first i
been authorized and inspected by a
member of the board. The system
heretofore obte .ning was for differ- i
ent persons to perform the work they
believed to be necessary on the roads
in their immediate neighborhoods
- ? -?A ? 1?il1 -..'U ' nU AV?
3.no. prtscni u uih, wuitu ?ao ally
paid without inspection of the
work done.- The new board, however.
has decided to sit flatly down on
this practice. It proposes that whenever
work is necessary it shall first
be authorized by a member of the
board and- later inspected by such
member in his respective district.
With all the talk about good roads
it may seem unusual that the board
has found it necessary to warn the
people of the county to refrain from
working the roads, but, as will be *
seen by referring to the advertising
columns of this week's paper, they
are giving due notice to all concerned
LEXINGTON SHRINERS |
HAVE LARGE TIME, i
[ A party of Lexington Shriners went |
16 .Charleston last week to attend the
'spring festivities customary to this
fun seeking order. All who were fortunate
enough to be present are loud
in their praises of the reception ten- j
dered them by city officials and others
in the City by the Sea. The party
left here Wednesday and returned
Friday evening. The old Shriners report
an excellent time, the city being
made an "open,, house" for them, and .
the Isle of Palms being turned en
I tirely over to the visitors. The "fresh
1 i
meat" delegation from here also say
fthat there was a good time had, but{
f fail to state whether they participated '
I in this as fully as the old members
did or not.
Those composing the party were:
M. I*. Podie, Dr. >.*. E. Sawyer, Dr.
Norman Geiger and .1. E. Kaminer. .
Dr. J. H. Mathias and John T. Sox ,
were given the Shrine degree at this
meeting.
9 ^
;COTTON CROP BEING
DESTROYED BY SOME
Due to the presence of a great number
of boll weevils farmers in several j
sections of the county are plowing up I
their cotton and planting the land to
other crops. It has been reported
thai the weevil has been found by
the hundreds in some localities, and
j
rather than take the chance of hav- '
ing the staple completely destroyed by :
the pests the farmers have decided to
beat the insects by substituting other:
crops.
ItOAD XKKDS UKPA1KS.
1
Depot street is in need of repairs,
'being very rough in places. This is.
lone of the most traveled roads in or '
around Lexington and it would be well
if the town and county authorities
could get together on som?* plan by
which this road would be kept up.
An evidence of the value of good
roads is the fact that most of the
Columbia wholesale houses are now
delivering their goods in Lexington bv
truck in preference to shipping them j
by freight, and some of the Lexington !
irnis have adopted the same system, j
ptlie Lexington Cotton & Fertilizer
J Company having delivered cotton at,
j'the mill door in Columbia the past
I week by truck.
- a j
MKTIIOIMST UKVIVAIi SKIl VI( T.S. j
' ^ I
Mci-f than the usual interest was
manifested in 'he revival services i
I'whirl i begun in the Methodist churehj
^Sunday evening. The church was
[well tilled at the lirst service. Th<* I.
I music led t.v Mr. \V. .1. Smith of!
: * '
j (lilhert was of a high order and ;
{proved both interesting and inspiring.!
: The interest continues to grow as!
; evidenced by the attendance. The'
j " i
! pastor prearhed three strong ser-1
! mens. I'.eginning tonight liev. A. j
| K. Driggers of ('lenison <"olleg?- will j
j do t he preaching.
j
ERS MUST jl
INSPECT ROAD |
917 n A IMC ADC DAin!
lit LLrtimj ml i mi/
t
I c
that they intend to pay only for such 5
work as is authorized and inspected. 1 ]
Many believe that in taking this ac- t
tion the commissioners will go a long 1
way towards solving the county's |'j
financial difficulties. Such a system ,?
will give the commissioners accurate
knowledge of just how much of the ,|
county's money has been spent and;?
how much more is available at all
times. In this way it will be pos- A
sible to avoid a deficit, though some .
i1
of the roads may have to be slighted
e1
for a while. U
No Bids for Supplies. j,
Although the commisisoners adver- i*f
(
tised several weeks in advance that |
they would receive bids for furnishing
supplies for the county not a
at the meet
M4V4 TT V?K/ *
c
ing last Monday, and the board was
forced to do the best it could under
the circumstances.
The first Monday in July falling on , J
the 4th, a legal holiday, and for the
further reason that the new treas- *
urer, Willie J. Smith, will take office ^
July 1 and several days will be nec- .
essary to complete the transfer, the 1
regular July meeting of the county ,
commissioners will be held on the *
11th. 1
- t
TREND OF THE TIMES 1
PROVEN BY THE HEN J
l i
For months past people have heard f
of the hard times, talked of the hard < ^
times, and lived the hard times, but?
I i
few ever dreamed that conditions <
I (
would or could ever descend to the I
I }
present level. The last notch in I
M
"tightness" was reached in Lexington.
county this morning when a hen be- ^
longing to Weather rropnet jiiw
Snelgrove laid an egg with a string ^
tied to it, it being the evident purpose
of the hen to hold her product..
I <
for higher prices. For those doubting !i
I;1
Thomases who have to see before
they will believe we will state that j
the string has been broken and the
1
egg i removed to The Dispatch-News
office and is on display here.
I JtL. ??DEATH
OF MRS. (TPSTID. J
i
In remembrance of Mrs. S. F. Cup- (
stid. Pelion. born April 3. 1Sr>3. died '
.Tune 1. 1921. j;'
We have surely lost a dear one.!^
I 1
for she was loved by all who knew
her. always wore a pleasant smile, I'.
M
was kind-hearted, faithful and true. <
She was a faithful church member''
and Christian, always ready to serve |
(
Jesus in any way. L
Though, we miss her all the while,'
we recognize the right of "Him who *.
I <
doeth all things well." It being a f
distinct loss to us. there is another j ^
angel in Heaven, and we hope to meet
her there. She leaves to mourn her
i i
loss, one brother, Mr. D. L. .Tefcoat:;.
i i
lour sisters. Mrs. Sophrona .Tefcoat, :
Mrs. Eliza Johnson. Mrs. Henrietta j
Iteeder, Mrs. Annie Von. All living!
in and near Swansea. |
!' <
Three daughters, Mrs. Mary Laird, j
Swansea: Mrs. Alice Cooper. Colum- j;
bia: Mrs. Annie Laird. Pelion. Five j
sons. Mr. J. H. and .T. F?. Cupstid j
Snvnnnnh fin.! Mr. .T . F.. H. C.. i
and D. C. Cupstid of Pelion. S. C. J j
Also thirty-one grand children and j |
six great grand children, besides a |"
hoest of other relatives and friends. j <
knt ert.unment at \\
white knoll school j
There will be a minstrel and comic '
songs also refreshments will be served
i <
at White Knoll school house on Katur
day night, June 11 at S:30. A small J
admission fee will bo charged for the'
benefit of the school. The public is j
cordially invited to attend.
DEATH or MTss^oiutii: !
EVE It SLICE, j
i
Miss Orric Ever Slice, daughter of ';
.Mi*, and Mrs. ft. 1. Slice, was born
December 1S, IJ'Ol'. and died May 2.
10-1. Sho leaves an a.ued father. ??n? .
brother and two sisters.
Miss Orrie was is years. 1 months
and 1-1 days ohl < n February I'd.
PLAY AT I'll A PIN SCIIOOI..
A plav. "I'nder the Ulue Skies." |
will 1 ?< jdven at the sehool auditorium
in Chapin Thursday nipht of this
week. Everybody invited to attend.
Admission 1 and lb" emits.
I
NEW LAW FIRM FOR
BATESBURG TOWN
It will be of interest to the public
:o learn that T. C. Callison. solicitor
)f the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of
South Carolina, and Hon. McKerrdree
3arr of Leesville and a member of
he house of representatives from )
Lexington county, have formed a
partnership for the practice of law,
md will open offices at Batesburg next
VIonday, and will engage in general
practice in all of the courts, both
state and federal.
Mr. Callison was for a number of
ears associated with the firm of Timnerman,
Graham & Callison in Lexngton,
withdrawing from that firm
md opening an office to himself since
issuming the duties of solicitor the
irst of the year.
Mr. Barr is a recent graduate of
:he University of South Carolina law
school and is a member of the house
pf representatives from Lexington
county.
In an interview Solicitor Callison
states that at the present he will
continue to live in Lexington, but will
spend a portion of his time in the
Batesburg office. He is loath to
eave Lexington, although he believes
hat there is a fine opening for the
practice of his profession at Batesjurg
since the death of Barrett Jones,
,vho was the only lawyer in that
hriving town. When he was first ap>roac*hed
by a number of the citizens
of Batesburg to establish an ofice
in that city he declined to consider
the mater at all, but people of
Batesburg have been so insistent and
lave offered him so many inducements
to go to Batesburg he has been
:onvinced that it will be to his advantage
in some respects to make
he change. Mr. Callison does not
vant the people of Lexington to feel
:hat he is deserting Lexington, but
hat he expects to remain a citizen of
:he county and has only decided to
move his office to Batesburg after
careful consideration, and after convincing
himself that such a move will
lot in any manner affect his work as
i public official. If he should find
:hat he can not properly perform the
luties of the office of solicitor from
his Batesburg office he will return to
Lexington, ilS lie 1".\1ICI.IS IV anvil
aothing to Interfere with the* proper |
lischarge of his duties to the public*,
rte feels that as Batesburg is the
geographical center of three of the
ounties in his Judicial circuit, it will
)e the logical and a convenient location
for Lexington. Saluda and
Edgefield counties, and this is one of
:he causes which lias prompted him
:o make the move. AVith the present '
lay conveniences, such as telephones,
lutomobiles and good roads he can j
reach either of the three County
.-ourt houses within one hour if any
emergency should arise to require his
presence at either place.
For the present Mr. Callison docs
:tot expect to spend the entire time '
n the Batesburg office, but that office
will be kept open every day after
June 13 by Mr. Ban* and Mr. Callison
can be seen at Batesburg several
lays in the week.
NKWT KtXLKY OCT
OX $2..">00 BOM)
Clerk of ec?urt C. K. Minnant lias'
i
approved the bond of .J. M. Kelley.1
L-nr*?-n ? "Wwt" Ivellev. charged I
with the killing of David Shull. of f
Columbia last December, and the ac-i
cused has been released from the I
Lexington county jail, his bond being
?2,500: Kelley's sureties were .J. .1.
E. Turner and W. D. Drew.
The killing occurred in Lexington
county. Kelley's attorneys. ('. L. '
Blease and It. .1. Wingard, appeared
before Associate Justice Watts last
week and petitioned for bail for their
client. Judge Watts granted bail in
the sum mentioned and his order in-!
structed the clerk of court of ftich-!
i
land county to approve tin- bond. I
Kelley will be tried in t hit- court of i
general sessions for Lexington county.
?Tlie Itecord.
i im: oats.
t
Mi*. T. W. lieoder of Edmund j
brought tn Tin- Dispateh-Xews >i*- j
lire tliis week :j bundle ??t" oats nu-as-!
uring six and one-half feet itt length, ;
jtrowti on liis farm near Edmund. Mr.,
Herder did not state what variety the J
nats were, hut judging from the'
i
height thev at e evidentlv elose re
I
lated tu cane.
i
j
ELECTION TO FILL
OFFICE OF MAYOR
The town council has ordered an
election to be held June 21st, for
Mayor of the town said position having
been made vacant by the death of
Mr. Barrett Jones which occurred
May 4tli. Thus far no candidates
have been announced for the position.
Books of registration for the election
are now open at the town hall in
charge of the clerk, Mr. Ira Cm Carson.
A levival service whieh has been
going on at the Middleburg Baptist
church for the past two weeks will
continue through this week.The meeting
is being conducted by Rev. Mr.
Haggard, pastor of the Brookland
Bapust church.
Mr. ana 3irs. 1. t>. jtv.erziagna.ii,
Mr. and Mrs. B. P. "Whitehead are
spending the summer at Hendersonviile,
N. C.
Mrs. L .H. Wright and son, Leon
C. "Wright, spent Friday with relatives
in Columbia.
Mrs. L. M. Mitchell returned Satuiday
from a visit to Bamberg, where
she hod been the guest of Mrs. W.
J. Snyder for several days.
Mrs. N. A. Bates has returned from
an extended visit to her daughter,
Mrs. W. H. Nicholson, of Greenwood.
Miss Jessie Malpass. daughter of
Hon. J. M. Malpass. is attending
the commencement exercises this
week of Greenville Female college.
Her sister, Miss Julia Malpass, is a
member of the Junior class of the
college.
Mrs. J. B. Holman and Miss Edna
Bates were the guests of friends in
Columbia several days last week.
Mrs. J. B. Ballentine is the gue3t
this week of relatives at Ninety-Six
her former home.
Mrs. J. S. Fair is visiting relatives
at Williamston.
John C. Crouch of Atlanta is
spending a few days with relatives in
town.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Garber and Mr.
Milwee Cook spent several days last
week in Charleston.
Miss Virginia Cullum is visiting:
relatives in Atlanta.
Miss EHen Perry is at home for
vacation from Columbia College.
W. H. Cook visited relatives in
Ninety-Six Sunday.
Dr. P. K. Monroe, president of Summerland
college, attended commencement
exercises at Newberry College
Sunday.
Misses Pliny Timmerman and Vera
Merchant visited friends in Newberry
last week.
Mrs. Ida f'ook. Mrs. I.. C HartIcy
and Mrs. McKcnnie Hartley entertained
the Woman's culb last
Thursday at the home of Mrs. Cook.
A very interesting program was arranged.
This was the last meeting
Mrs. 10. P. .Jones would attend before
leaving town. The Club presented
her with a beautiful friendship
book and a for-get-me-not pin
as a token of their appreciation of
her valuable services and interest in
the welfare of our town. Each mem- i
her gave her a little basket containing
a card on which was written expressions
of best wishes and regrets
I
that she was leaving.
AGED FORK LADY DIED
LAST SATURDAY MORNING
Mrs. Rosa Meetze. wife of Michael
Meetze. died Saturday morning at 5
o'clock at her home near Ballentine,
and was buried Sunday afternoon at
4 o'clock at St. Michael's Lutheran
church. Mrs. Meetze was XS years
of age. and a member of the Methodist
church, her pastor. Rev. Mr.
Klecklev, conducting the funeral services.
Mrs. Meetze is survived by
her husband and three children as
follows: Mrs. I. F. Stack and Mr.
James Meetze of Columbia and Miss
Frances Meetze of Ballentine.
WF. HAVE THE ONIONS.
NOW FOR THE PEAS
Tic Dispatch-News is indebted to
Mr. <>. ('. Price of near Gilbert for
.1, ,.f tin,, on ions crown on his
I ? ' <1 I I* I I * ' I ? 4 * ? X
farm whi'io In- raises a great variety
of truek for loeal and ('olumhia markets.
The onions are of the "Prize
Takers" variety, and they are all that,
the name implies, one of them weigh
ing i "-1 pounds, another _ pounds 1
otinees.