The Dillon herald. (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, February 25, 1909, Image 1
-a Oittoti td. 1
1 ESTABLISHED IN IMS. DILLON. SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 25, 1909. " " " VOL 14 NO. 4. I
? ^ *
AfcOVERNOR FIXES
MARCH SECOND
f
I - ??
, As Date for Hearing Argul-v
seats on Amendment to
^ p~~ New Couty Petition.
Formal Notice has been
Ser/ed on Commissioners
. for New and Old County.
Granting of Amendment
Optional with the Governor.
The date fixed for hearing arguments
on the amendment to the
petition filed with the governor
( asking for an election upon the
question of forming the New
County is March 2nd. Comnissioners
Dillon and Mace have
been served with the nrder and
the governor will hear, through
advocates of the New County or
their attorneys, the reasons why
the amendment should be granted.
As stated in the last issue of The
Herald it has been found neces?
' sary to take back certain territory
given back to the old county some
weeks ago. It is necessary to
take bock this territory because
the surveyors made an error in
running the division line and did
not take in enough territory to
< ? -
iuiiuh new county under the constitutional
provisions. The New
\ ^ County people were not responsi1
ble for the error. The surveyor
* . was told to begin at a certain point
on the Marlboro line and instead
of beginning at the point indicator
ed he Began half a mile above it.
/ The result was that when the surveyors
were making their final
calculations it was discovered that
L the county survey did not balance
\ with the cross-country or division
line survey. More than enough
k territory had been left in the old
" county to comply with the constitution
while enough had not been
left in the New County, and there
was nothing left to do but petition
the governor to allow the New
: County to take back some of the
territory it had given back to the
jx. old county. In order to do this it
,'v was necessary to circulate petitions
and secure the signatures of
| two-thirds of the qualified electors
'residing in the proposed New
County territory. If the lines
shown- in the original petitions
were changed an inch it would be
| necessary to have petitions asking
for the change before it could be
L -^rie.
Tre law does not prohibit amend^
^ raents to New County lines pridf
to the formation of the county^
; therefore the amendment asked
fordoes not involve a question of
law, but is optional with the govj
ernor. The decisi on of the governor
is final and if he grafts the
V, amendment the resurvey ?will be
I made at onc^ and the amended
petition will be prese nted to him
r mm cariy aspossiDie, requesting:
k* that the election be ordered in '
Sir the time |pe6ified by law. If, on '
Pr the other Hand, should the gov-1
[ ernor decide adversely to the New
bL County petitioners the slate will '
W*. betted clean and the work will '
ktoH /to be done over again.
^ver, Gov. Ansel is a fair*
| '^hSnded man and whatever his dell^
vision is the people can rest ast
tared that it was what he con- '
ft waived to be right. Following J
* : |i a copy of the order served on '
} t Commissioners Mace and Dillon:
.! To Dr. J. C. Mace and Mr. T. ]
S* A. Dillon, Commissioners ap- ]
l, pointed in the proposed new
jjv. county *
n The petitioners have again 1
k [I' moved to amend the original !
? h petitions in this matter by changB
Ting the lines of the proposed
h county in the particulars set out
H in thfc petition, a copy of which
STEALING NEGROES |
CAPITAL CRIME.
Prominent White Man Executed
Many Years Afo
for Stealing Negro Slave.
j Law Severer in Those
Days Than at Present
The Administration o f
Justice Today Suffers hy
r nr*>i ti ? e
"Hjchdment has been filed with
meV and I will hear the motion to
amend on the second day of
March, 1909, at one o'clock P. M.
when you can appear in person
or by attorney in favor of or against
the said amendment.
Respectfully,
M. F. Ansel,
Governor y1
February, 16-1909. / i
\ Gone to His Eternal Home.
The subject of this notice, Mr.
E. H. McKenzie, after a lingering
illness of seven months died last
Friday night at his home in Dillon.
Mr. McKenzie had not been
confined to his bed and on the
night of his death ate supper with
his family and retired at his usual
hour and in thirty minutes his
spirit had taken flight to the God
who gave it. Mr. McKenzie in
early was but a beardless boy in
the reserve force in the Civil War.
After the war he married a Miss
Dollie Spivy. From this union
ten children were born. His widow,
eight chileren and several
grand children survive him.
Rev. W. C. Kirkland conducted
the funeral services at his home.
His remains were taken to the
Cemetery at Dothan where many
of his family are interred, and Mr.
O. C. Hayes concluded the funeral
service at the grave where a
great number o f kindred and
friends had assembled to pay the
last sad tribute to this good man
who had lived among them for
sixty five years. Mr. McKenzie
had never united with any church
but his charities and blameless
life will count for more in the
judgment day than empty confessions.
The Herald extends heartfelt
sympathy to the bereaved family.
Unclaimed Letters.
List of letters remainiDg in the
Post Office at Dillon, S., C. uncallpd
fn Kn ^ T A
?% bV uv L IV/ IUC iy. JLtf V |
March 1st., 1969.
1 Miss Hettie Evans
2 " Dora Bouden
3 " Sarry Batha
4 " Molia Bethea
5 " Luever Mercord
6 " McKay
7 " Feeny Smith
8 " Maggie Freeman
9 '' Bitis Hulor
10 Mrs. Mayble McClerron
11 " n-..:- r * ?
4i ocliic unna -cviiora
12 " Eliza McNeil
13 Dilchy Mclver
14 " Edna Tohnson
15 " Charley Roberts
16 " Marry Thomas
17 " Mary jra
18 Mr. Thomon Jackson
19 " John Bethea ,
20 " J. W. McPowell j
21 " D. A. McAlister
22 " Nathon Jackson
23 " Redick Skipper
24 " R- C. Scomcer
25 " John Yates i
26 *' James Newton
27 " W. Bascemb Jordan
28 " H. R. Goodwin
29 " Nore Torrer
30 " A. Evans
31 " Jess Elliott
32 Willis Rouell '
33 " Willie Wright
34 " Joe Baunnis 1
35 " W. R. Ruler
36 " Thomas Bruce
Letters returned to writers from
Dead Letter Office.
37 Donnie Bill Bither
38 Fannie McCallenlar
39 Minnie Tinkler
10 Brookie David
11 W. H. Roberts
When calling for the above lettars
please mention advertised
giving date of list and number of
letter wanted.
T. E. HU8BANDS,
Post Mastk*.
comparison nun inai or
50 Years Ago.
The Laurens, S. C., News of
last week contains a full account
of the last legal execution of a
white man in Laurens county, together
with a story of the crime
and the trial. It is of special interest
now, as illustrating the contrast
between the administration
of justice then and now, and the
work of the courts in its relation
to crime.
The execution took place in
1854. The prisoner was one Dr.
Thos. Kinman, described as a
man of intelligence, of fine personal
appearance and possessed of
considerable wealth in land and
negroes in that country. The
crime with which he was charjp<?
was stealing a negro?a capi^ll
crime uuder the laws at that time.
He had been arrested in the spring
but released under bond, and
when his case was called for trial
on Monday of the October term
of court he was on hand, and was
then committed to jail.
The evidence against him was
purely circumstantial, and as given
in the recital seems to have
been weak. It was in effect that
a man had driven through the
country with a covered wagon, in
which he had a strong able-bodied
negro. This negro he sold, taking
the money, and then the negro
escaped from his new owner, joined
his old owner again at some
pre-arranged place, and was again
sold in another place. This performance
was repeated several
times, until finally Kinman was
caught. At the trial none of the
witnesses could positively identify
him, and he was convicted principally
on the evidence of three passes
which had been given the negro,
such as required at that time
of every unknown negro found on
the road. These were signed by
fictitious names, but the handwriting
was described to be Dr.
Kinmau's by witnesses.
In the charge of the judge to
the jury he made a strong summing-up
of the evidence, as was
the custom at that time, and th?
jury returned a verdict of guilty
within thirty minutes. Kinman
was sentenced to. death. A new
trial was petitioned for and refused
then the case was carried to the
court of appeals which reviewed
it and sustained the verdict. And
within a short time after the first
trial the sentence was executed.
Seated on a wagon beside the
driver, with the coffin in the wagon
behind him, the unfortunate
man was driven to the place of
pnblic execution, where he mounted
the scaffold in the presence of a
vast multitude, and himself giving
the signal for the fatal drop. On
the scaffold he confessed that he
was guilty as charged.
This is in strange contrast with
the administration of justice in
our courts at the present time.
To convict a man of wealth and
octal standing, even of the crime
of murder, is simply impossible
now, and so is a speedy trial in a
criminal case, where the defendant
has money enough, or can
raise it, to employ a lawyer. There
are law's delays, the resort to
technicalities, the appeal from one
court to another, and all the red
tapeism of courts, until it has hecoma
almost impossible to sscuxu
> conviction in any enminal. case.
| and if the case is of such a natur
that a conviction cannot be avoic
ed, the pardonin? power of th
governor is held ready tocomplet
the defeat of justice.
Before the Civil War the court
of South Carolina ranked highes
in the country for swift and sur
administration of justice accorc
in? to law, as the trial of Dr. Kir
man illustrated. And at that tim
in no State in the union was lif
\
and property safer, and less c
crime than in South Carolina. No1
under the administration of th
law which only in few cases it
suits in conviction and in no cas
in speedy enforcement of the lav
South Carolina leads in murdc
and slaughter, and has the repi
tation of being: a lawles
country, where crime is rampan
And the same applies more or les
to every State and especially t
the Southern States.
If there could be a return to tli
sure and swift administration <
the law, as it was a half centui
ajzt>, it would stop the delude c
lawlessness which has swept ov<
the country and still grows wors
from year to year.?Agusta He:
aid.
S A MARION VIEW ^
Of the New County Proportion.
Correspondent Registers a Kick in
The News 4 Courier. Don't.
Ukr the Way Commissioner
Mace has been
Treated by the
Surveyors
A Marionite is kicking throug
the columns of The News & Coui
ier over the new county propos
tion. The writer seems to t
very much displeased with th
whole "garl darned thing:*' froi
beginning tc end. He complair
because the surveyors have see
fit to withhold certain informatio
about territory etc., and makes
roar about the cost * of the surve
which the county treasurer refuse
to pay and which had to be pai
by the citizens of Dillon before th
survey could be started. It is ir
teresting to the' outsider but ?
musing to the insider. Listen:
The division of the old count
of Marion for the formation of Di
Ion County out of its upper poi
tion is the all absorbing topi
throughout the county, It will b
remembered as slated in this coi
respondence that the Dillon Cour
ty advocates having ascertaine
in December, before the survey c
of the county had been finishe
that the territory was very close
that the whole county containe
hardly enough territory for tw
counties, the governor was pcti
titioned to allow an amanrim<*nt o
the proposed division line acros
the county which would giv
back to the old county a section c
territory east of the R. &.C. Rail
road, containing about 19 squar
miles. It was thought by ther
at that time that the proposed nei
county contained 420 square mile
and they knew that that woul
leave less than the constitutions
requirement in the old county
Another reason for wishing thi
change as admitted to the Govei
nor by their attorney was thi
thsy knew the people in this ter
ritory were bitterly opposed to
division of the county. They wei
thus accomplishing: two purpose
?getting: the territory fixed 1
suit them as they thought, and i
the same time getting rid of
number of voters whom they kne
would vote against them. Hov
ever, the Governor allowed thei
to make the change in the lin<
Bat when the surv ' ors ran tfc
line to the corn l(xl ation of tl
_... .he .
Dillon county I t was font
that .the Dillo .ty territoi
was short Vm (square miles.
* Maa IQM
* DEATH CLAIMS
'? A GOOD CITIZEN
:e
s Mr. J. L Sprunt. for Many Years Closely
,t Identified with the Business and So'e
dal Life of Dillon. Dies Friday
j at Noon. The Town
t Loses One of its Most
? Useful and Valie
e uablc Ut>f
*""
IV
e Death ?t all times is sad, but
i- especially sad is the death of Mr.
;e J. E. Sprunt which occurred last
r, Friday at noon. Few men have
:r lived more valuable and useful
i- lives than has Mr. Sprunt. He was
?s one of the pioneers of Dillon and
t. even before the coming of the
>s railroad which marked the birth
o of our town up until his death he
was so closely identified with the
ie business and social life of the town
if that his death has left a vacancy
y which can not be filled. As a
U A.1 1 -f 1 J
'l man nc was me suui 01 iiunor anu
;r as a citizen he was so full of genie
erous impulses and kindly deeds
r- that he won the love and esteem
and good will of all who knew
him. There was a daily beauty
about his life which won every
\ Jieart. In temperament he was
pnnoillinfnrv i n rl <->o t-irlirl
^ and yet remarkable for an uncompromising
firmness. He gained
confidence when he seemel least
to seek it. Although he was a mar
of marked individuality and nevei
hesitated to express strong convictions
on matters of public policy
yet no man ever spoke aught
against him.
h For more than twenty years
r. Mr. Sprunt had been a eonspij.
cues figure on the cotton inarkei
)e at Dillon and his business aclC
quaintance extended for a radius
:n of many miles. Everybody knew
ls him and to know him was to have
n implicit confidence in him. Six
n years ago he contracted an incura
able disease from which he suf*
i? v..a -
,y ieigu iiiiciiaci;, uui uc wab u man
of iron constitution and he cond
tinned to be active in his accuslC
tomed pursuits until about two
weeks ago. On the day of his
t. death he had just completed his
midday meal and in response to
y an inquiry from his wife he said
l_ that he was feeltn? better. These
r. were the last words he spoke for
[c a few moments the summons came
? ?uu uia spun WCllt UdCK to tne
One who gave it.
. Mr. Sprunt was born in Kenans
ville, N. C., 54 years ago. Short,?
ly after attaining: his majority he
d went into the mercantile business
at Warsaw, near Wilmington, but
later abandoned this business to
0 accept a position as cotton buyer
>_ with Alexander Sprunt & Son.
the well-known exporters of Wil8
mington. After some years of
e service in North Carolina he was
sent to Oillon and the remainder
of his life was spent on this mar11
^ ?
? *u uiv ui Alexander
Q Sprunt & Son. He was one of
v the most efficient men in their
,s largre corps of buyers and several
^ times in his career had been oflfertj
ed more lucrative fields, bat he
loved Dillon and preferred to live
g here among his friends. In 1878
, he was married to Miss Eleanor
lt Wallace, of Kenansville, N. C.,
who with one son, Mr. James
a Sprunt, assistant cashier at the
Bank of Dillon, survives him.
,g The funeral services were held
G Saturday afternoon and he was
laid at rest in the Mt. Holly Cema
etery, the last sad rites being atw
tended by a large concourse of
people?mute but eloquent em
deuce of the love and es***
e which he was held bv i Bridge nt
knew him best. *eet *n len
ie . pan 220 feet, r
Ie In his death Dilloic 4tone arch ta
kI tire community whit rimes,
ry so faithf1
best and
? Uo his n
AT THE BANQUET BOARD.
DHIon Lodge No. 54. K. of P., Enjoy*
it* Annual Banquet at the Price Court
Inn. The Occasion is Graced
by Many Loyal Knight*
and is One of the
Pleasantest i n .'
the Hisory
o f the
uraer
Gathered at the banquet board
at the Price Court Inn last Friday
evening: were three-score members
of Dillon Lodgre No. 54 Knights
of Pythias to celebrate the annual
banquet which the local order has
gfiven since the year of its organization.
Accompanying: many of
the members were their wives and
daughters or sweethearts and the
presence of the fair sex added a
lustre and brilliancy to the occasion
which has never been excelled
before in Dillon. The banquet
hall was artistically decorated for
the occasion, the Pythian colors
being used with charming effect.
and suspended on the wall directly
behind the toastmaster, Dr A.
J. Evans, Chancellor Commander*um,ai
of the Lodge, was a large Pyth-> moth'
ian shield made transparent b? niako
> the glow of incandeseant I'^uickinss as
! upon which stood out in and bo
lief the letters "F. C. b."
I A sumptuous repast wasI dc
fully served by J. C.. 3ones, 1
i ger of the hotel, and while
' courses were bei''g served delig
ful music was rendered by Me.'
Douglass and Joe McDonald
: Miss Kate McDonald. ..
Dr. A. J. Evans preied b>
i and a t the conclusion of'1 Provi
, . . f the ma'i
repast he arose and after . by rui)ln
ly reviewing the history of m the wron.
ianism the first speaker of ther :i hot iro1'
. * . , , or thev may
entng was introduced- ,vith rornnil,.,,
The toasts proposed in t/ed.
lowing- manner were hajJ ve,vet- if n?t
, , , , , ?d. is freshened
sponded to and for two hoUo down close to
was a "feast of reason amir or ^ ieli
of soul" none the less enjo;
than the sumptuous dinner its*
Our '"own?The Pearl of ti
Pee-Dee, Her Past Present r th^
Future, Mayor A. Jordan. ''.d-spo
Our Sister Orden -If Fraterr<lua, PLove
Held All Men Bound, H and water
Beautiful This World Would b. to clean
T. B. Gibson. * ? v,>ry
Pythianism?Be thou the raii*^* 1' |*
bow to the Storm of Life, the evard or ta
r.ing beam that smiles the clcof the P11'
away, the Rev. W. C. Kirkland^l"e
Woman?O Fairest Creatui>r v>ut not
last and best of all God's t^orthis would
Creature in whom excelledC.
, , , ilA-.ind someever
can to sight or though over a hot
found?holy, divine, good, amitely necesble
or sweet, L. A. Manning. , ,
_ Ight satins
The Press lBV n cori
And by the power of Printer's
We'll make men act and ma
men think. E. D. Sallinger
Entertainment at Little Rock. ^
In spite of the fact that tho ?
weather ^was unfavorable a large lko the
crowd assembled in the Little ome cut
Rock school bui1 ijng Friday nighto a rlr*
where they were most pleasantl'qj j
entertained by the school children m.
with songs, plays tableauxs, etc. can to*
A special feature of the entertainment
was the Male Quartette com- uTt
posed of Messrs. Garrett, AmitNbiespoonBarrington
and Britt. at'- Allow t?
? . .. , -hick as decess
of the quartette was due
the careful training of Prof. Gar--f>ur orrett
recently a member of the,.' hr. one
Wofford Glee Club. . * /'from
t. iic uiiiu iux ciiui i? 01 miss water
Taylor, the efficient and accom* ?uaar
plished assistant teacher contri- *-red
buted largely to the success of the
? 'M&w P^Srram will One cup
e 1 C molassek, ^arly date; lool?tter t#u?
large walnutv "-one level
tabieapoon aof?01*- n two cupe
?r Wash- flour, sifted. btCTATOB add last one
gth. with cup boiling wutf _<t well ani oake.
epute?i to Put together ' 'tu boiled froatlnjc
exlste ico. made from tha> boite of one egg and
one cup granutf 75 .sugar.
( to
iv