University of South Carolina Libraries
iDiflori Heratd. ESTABUSHED IN 1895. DJLLON. SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1909. VOL. 15, NO. 39 SUNDAY NIGHT TRAGEDY AT MILL VILLAGE. [, . Young Stanley Hamilton Scoots Elihu Blackwell to death. Tragedy the Result of an Altercation Over Hamilton's Attentions to a Young Lady. Coroner's Jury Says Justi fiable Homicide. The mill village was the scene ^ of another tragedy Sunday night / when young Stanley Hamilton shot and almost instantly killed ?4 Elihu Blackwell, a young white jf man about 28 years of age. The killing followed an altercation between the principals over the attention Hamilton was paying to a L young lady of the mill village. Hamilton is but 18 years of age and is the son ot Ira Hamilton who owns a valuable farm near the Dillon mill village. He wore knee pants last year and is scarecely > * more than a boy. The victim of the tragedy was ?8 years old, married and the father of three small children. jl "v itoiuuuiiy at 111^ <JlMUUt;i inquest held Monday afternoon tended to show that young1 Hamilton was returning fromjthe home of the young lady in question ; - where he had been a visitor that evening. He had been paying the young lady some attention and es' corted her from church Sunday afternoon. There is another [ young man in the mill village by i the name of Dave Blanton who mk had been paying the young lady W. some attention also. Blanton is a K kinsman of the dead man and iHfc there had been a previous diffi. I culty between Hamilton and BlanJf^Vton over the affections of the ju young lady. Sunday night when Hamilton was returning home he p Jwas accosted by Blanton. Some / words were exchanged but the ttv- differences between the two von no1 F men were settled .without a cil)n(*\ cu1ty. Just about this time BlackA wen came up and sought a quarrel with Hamilton in defence of his kinsman, Blanton. There was V. much eursing: and when young: k Hamilton moved off into the midk 'die of the street Dlackwell began Ev to thr^w rcn.1 fv Vt him. At this 1$ ''filled his pisaaay Much interest was t* hibition as was shown i\ a* "1S as" |V anoe of about .'100 pooplcots entered IS awarding of prizes. Mr.^ the large 1 tured 011 the selection , . rom the heart ' Jurv (lives Verdict ^kwell turned lj Lanaagip-'' ^ street -ibout a Ij^^P^^ards when he fell upon ?<=es, pulled his pistol and nIC * several shots in the direction of Hamilton. Then lie staggered bock to the spot where he had been shot and died. He told some companions he was mortally wounded and was dying but he made no statement concerning the k difficulty. The weapon used was a 22. cal jure pisioi anu ueatn resuiiw wiui] in 30 minutes after the shooting. { tfBlackwell ,*ras a son of the old iptpflbaan BfecJkw*>ll who was killed bv | train ira&r Maple Swamp trestle ' B. several years ago. He, has severL| al sisters living on the mill village. ? The family moved here from ^ [ North Carolina. He was not an J employee of the mill, but worked k: fctodd jobs around town, jp.. Hamilton lives with his father ji ' v^\is known as a peaceable, hard. egtabliSWJndustrious boy. f agitated by 9teL Jury returned a jj\ noons of the Elfiable homicide, pony of Elyin If , rocks were kV put ?n a plant Hr Several local hu^d man s body. A . ready become intd^lences of hav\k. i*?* *n<* svjb^frib.veral times. ft,' thought that the reT_ money will be raiaet #) 1 $1.50 a year* FORGED JEFF DAVIS' IRJWS. Blacksmith Tells Tale of Confederacy's President. ' 1 Claiming: that he made the shackless with which President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy was ironed while a prisoner in Fort Monroe, Henry Charles Arnold, the village blacksmith of Granville Center, near here, this week told a newspaper man the interesting story. He was a blacksmith then, and has followed his trade ever since, and he vividly remembers his experiences with the noted prisoner, says a Wilkesbarre special to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He contradicts the story that uavis submitted t o the irons meekly, and tells how force had to be used to get them on. Said he: ' A "I am the son of William Arnold, and was born in New London county, Conn., on July 4 (a singular date), in the year 1840When the war broke out 1 did not hesitate in responding to the call to arms, and I became stationed at "Fort Monroe, where I worked as a blacksmith. Well I remember, toward the close of 1865, when President Johnson issued a statement in which he offered a reward of $100,000 for the capI ture of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States, and it was certainly enjoyable news to the occupants of the tort when it was announced that Mr. Davis had been captured by Col. Pitchard of thi> Rnnrtli I ? ...v ?. VM*. w?* iuiviii^uii cai" vary at Mitchelville, Ga., where c he was in the disguise of a woman N and was going to a spxing for a pail of wter. The dress he wore 1 was too short, with the result that c his i(Jentify was easily discovered.^ , c Leading up to the arrival of Mr. N Davis at Fort Monroe, the smith said: "Gen. Nelson MiksV was then in charge in Washington and it was he who issued the orders that shackles should be placed about the ankles of the Confederate president, and it was Capt. 2 Tidlaw who ordered me to make t them. Capt. Tidlaw was of the Third Pennsylvania heavy artill- ^ ery, which never took f>art in an t active battle. "As the captain and myself en- 2 tered the room where Mr. Davis S c tiroes pnnnorl 1 ? 1 ? ? it?? wuiiuvu iauci wi^ lying upon an iron bed. He was reading an Episcopal prayer book. ^ Seeing the shackles in my hand, ^ Mr. Davis said: "My God, your're not going to iron me?" To which Capt. Tid- S law replied: "Yes it is orders ^ from Washington." "Mr. Davis said: Such is unnecessary, for you have everything guarded, even the windows." "But the captain replied that ^ such were the orders from Wash- ^ ington. Mr. Davis got up from his bed. He spoke of the disgrace he would experience if the irons were placed on him. "Telegraph to Washington and see if the orders were not a mis c take,'* i&Sd Mr. Davis. lCapt. Tidlaw, turning to me 1 and said: "Go on with your r work." , ^ "I got down on my knees and c started to place the shackles, but t Mr. Davis resisted. Several \ moments passed, during which i the president said that it was un- \ lawful to place a man in irons. I J told him to lie down on the floor, and he turned to me and remark- j ed: "Who made you spokes- ^ man?" At that instant several i men were passing on the outside, xand I told the captain to call them [ in, .which he did, and in* a few < minutes Mr. Davis was lying* on y rt'irini NEW COUNT] TO BE f News is Received in Dillon v Good News is Shouted Citizens Express th Bon Fires and Fire ? The fifteen year's fight for a New County is about to end. The governor has ordered an election jpon the question of forming a New County out of the upper por:ion of Marion for Tuesday, December 14th. This good news ,vas flashed over the wires to Dilon Friday afternoon and there vas a demonstration by the citi:ens seldom equalled in the his :ory of the town. It has been a lard-fought fight and now that rictory seems almost at hand enhusiasm runs high and "The Mew County" is the all-absorbing opic. As announced briefly through rhe Herald last week the New bounty has won out on the quesion of territory. Prof. Colcock, vho was appointed by the goverlor as referee in the matter when he question of territory arose, reported that be h^d found 501 [plus) square miles in the New bounty. This is a very narrow nargin, but it shows enough territory to enable the New County o come within the constitutional imits ancf the governor has order :d the election for Dec. 14. The >ld county has conceded to the STew County enough taxable prop:rty and population t o comply vith the constitution and the setlament of the area question renoves the last obstacle in the way >f the election. It will be noted that Prof. Col:ock says "501 square miles plus" vhich is taken to mean that the Did County may contain more' han 501 square miles, but not tSyfloor, while I fastened the ihaekles about his ankles. "Mr. Davis said: "You might is well shoot me as to put on hose irons," but nevertheless hey were soon on. "About one week later Mr. Davis complained of being sick, several physicians were called to ittend him. but he declined the iervices of all with the exception >f Dr. Craven, of New York, and he latter ordered the irons taken kfT urhiVVt tuQC r1r>n p K\r \.fter the shackles were removed | dr. Davis was transferred to anther building, where he was trongly guarded." One of the men who often took dr. Davis out for his daily exerise was Loren Leonard, now lead, husband of Sophia Leonard, vho corroborated the story. Mr. VrnoM said that after the war he iccompanied M r . Leonard to Jranville Center where he has ived as the village blacksmith ver since. t Only a Possum. On historic Maple near the inorporate limits, two young lad1 es from nearby towns wore visitng at the home of a lady friend vhose vine clad cottage nestled lear by this densely shaded stream; vhose rippling water in the days >f loner aco echoed manv dorlr leeds where human gore stained he rich soil on which peace and >rotherly loved now reign supeme. Near the wee small hours vhen long since the low murmurng song of the crickets had jrought sleep to the inmates of he home excepting Miss Les, her jeart and thoughts were faraway with him to whom her busy pen vas pouring out the richest treasures of her loving heart. The >ther viritOF- -WIS sleeping the deep that only tY** - 1 *n know, and & vould now and th/ y ELECTION^ iELD DEC. 14. ' i^__? w nth Great Rejoicing. The through Trumpets and c eir Joy by Kindling ir I Sending off il] forks. A p< any less. When he was making a test survey of the lines alleged ta to be short Prof. Colcock said he ai could not determine the exact number of square miles in the ^ county without making a survey ^ of the entir county, but that he ,, could say w hether or not Messrs. ^ Hamby and Beatty had found enough territory to enable the New County to comply with the constitutional requirements. When it was learned in Dillon f Friday afternoon that the gover- ]j, nor had ordered the election for Dec. 14 the joy of the people knew Tin hnnnrlc onrl tVio MV WM41UO uiiu IUW UWlllv/liMl (ILIUII J^, that followed and lasted until a . is very late hour manifested more ^ eloquently than words than the en- j thusiasm of the Dillon people over <r; the movement to establish a conn- ^ ty of their own. The opponents ^ of the movement have fought the ' New County inch by inch and jj, thousands of dollars have been spent by both sides in the effort . to win but in the matter of tcrri- r, tory the New County has won a tj. most decisive victory as those who -s know the situation well feel confi- j dent that the New Countv will prevail in the election to be held j, on the 14th. In the event of a New County al victory no time will be lost in the fr effort to get a bill before the next r general assembly creating the m New County and giving to the jj. commissioners to be appointed by tr the governor authority to erect B the public buildings and put the at county machinery in motion. 1 ?? P?. lovely face suggested an enchant- V* ed listener to the mystic swells ec that floated out from the angelic re choir in the realm of bliss far cj, above her. Tnen without warning or premonition that a tragedy ce was on the eve cf fullfillment the th old Shanghi rooster and hisexten- Bi sive family waked up the silent jn sleepers with their piteous squalls for help. Like a knight errant of old the charming Miss Les, heroic 011 soul that she is, forgot for the an time the distant lovtr and with a sic lamp in one hand and an iron poker f,? in the other she rushed to the res- Uc cue, with the intrepid Miss Pearl close at her heels. When the lo1 coop was reached, lo, and behold! wl a gigantic possum was in the act Lti of murdering the hostess' speckled pullet?one that would have ^ made President Taft lick his chops in unfeigned admiration. With- on out any hesitancy Miss Lo lit on- ne to him with well aimed blows and walloped the life out of him in vj] short order. Like the great Cae- j sar "She came, she saw she conquered" and the fair Miss Pearl's ' admiration was so profound that nu she patted her on the back and yo said "bully for you!" Hy this ne time the entire household had , reached the battle field and the praises of the heroic slayer of the chicken thief was sung m unmeasured terms. Robert the young lad of the household lugged this trophy of a midnight hunt over to his neighbor, and two days after, ^ Bill Blunt, an epicure of the first A water, had a feast famous in our South land as the par excellence Di of good living-Possum and 'tater. - ex ^ ^ _ ...1 rrank oethea, a very worthy colored man who worked on M r. j ^ A. M. Bethea's place, died at McLeod's Infi rmary last Saturday gland the body was brought to Dil- wl Ion Sunday. Bethoa was suffer- c er ing from uric acid poisoning and fu was taken to the Infirmary for an wj operation but he died before the Vi ODC^wtion could He performed. th ff] :ear. tw \ M Is Latt3-Branch Kailroad to be Dis continued? News: Vou cannot help your neigh Dor ithout helping yourself, you canot hurt your ncighbot without urting yourself. The Atlartic oast Line Railroad Co. in fightig the town of Latta has publicly Jvertised for competition. If 'illon was to be fastened by the . C. L. to build it up at the ex:nse of Latta then the business orld is not slow to see advanges to be gained by putting in lother railroad to the happy, -osperous town of Dillon to tare in the handling and hauling its freight and passengers. !?on there is to be open a cotnletc line from that thriving town Dillon through the most pros%rous section of the State of uuth Carolina via Clio and .ccxjii, ?-> ana uaniiet, in.C. here is also to be added to this ne a mail car for the benefit of ? patrons. More than this, the railroad 0111 Bcnnettsvillc to Brownsville making every arrangement to tild on to Latta to aid her in her . nigh ted state and Latta should ive all possible encouragement > this project and also all its finncial aid possible, especially in ivinj? a free riirht-of-way. This ne and its extension on b> Maim is the only hojie and salvation Latta, for the Latta-Braneh tilroad is going to be a thing of le past here-before long, or that the opinion of one of the best asiness nan I have heard talk. It has already been discussed by le Post Office Department the ivisability of putting Bingham id Mallory 011 a Rural Route otn Latta and Dunbar on Rural oute from Clio. This would be uch saving to the Government. ;t. it would save the entire conaet of mail haul by the 1-atta ranch railroad, also the receipts the -1th class Post Ofliees would } thrown into the presidential offices, and the presidential >st masters being salaried oflfis the Government would get the ceipts, whereas, now the 4th iss post masters got these reipts. This will do away with e mail entirely on the Latta ranch railroad?the Clio mail be? carried from Dillon. Now th the MeColl and Dillon road one side and the Bennettsville d Brownsville road on the other le, and Brownsville, by building' ur more miles can cut off prac:ally all the receipts from Mal*y on the Lattf. Branch railroad, lat use would there be for the itta Branch railroad? Now, these are business facts as ked to your correspondent by e of the best, up-to-date busiss men of the country. If the BennettsvMle and Brownsle road comes on to Latta, it; _>ks like "(rood bvo" totho T.atta I ancli railroad, and shall I say) ly Latta wish it God speed. If i u are not ffoin.tr to help your I iffhbor ffet out and let somej dv else come in that will help. Edd Riddle. ^ i>? Miss David Recites. The followinff from the Adair >unty (Kentucky) News will be; interest to Miss David's many illon friends: "Miss Edna David, teacher of pression, and Miss Eliza Gibbs, io is the instructor in music, ew a large audience to the asey-wuson chapel last Satur- j y evening. An interesting pro- j am had been made out, and all io attended were well paid for dimbing the hill." Asa read-j , Miss^avid is easy and grace1, and'- < an imitator cV<e ranks th th an<l re<* KP?f!i aPPear irtm' every night. What would y e 3 iac me to do for itt" l)octo ,tiytop playing bridge, madam." Les 1 p chi ... V v REPORT OF GRAND JURY. To The Honorable R. C. Watts, Presiding Judge. We the Grand Jury of Marion county, beg leave to submit our final report: We have acted upon all bills handed us by the Solicitor, We have also investigated all other matters that were brought before us that we deemed worthy of action. We examine the jail, the County Home, the convict camp (ehaingang), the offices of the county, and wish to submit the following report: JAIL We find the jail well kept; prisoners say they get plenty to eat- We reccomend that the walls o! the jail be calcimined and the wood work be painted where neccessary. We also reccomend the sale of the old jail property to the best advantage. This matter has been reccomended before, but not carried outCOURT-HOUSE We find ne court-house seems in a dilapidated and unsanitary 'condition. We recommend that j the board of county commissioners do proceed at once to have the i walls of the entire court-house (including all offices on the lower floor) covered with a coat of calcimine or some hard wall finishi ...:n i?1u-? % mm. win in ikmen inc wans, ana have all the woodwork painted where neecessary; have all the furniture in the court-house repainted and varnished, and a new carpet on the floor, and new furniture placed where neecessary; and that the Clerk of Court keep the ecurt-house locked except when court is being: held. COUNTY HOME We find the poor-house is well kept, lands well cultivated, and the houses are in good condition, except that the chimneys all need new backs and hearths, and a piazza to each house; which we ! reccommend that the County Com-, 1 missioners do at once. KOADS AND BRIDGES We find the roads in fair condition throughout the county, but the bridges are generally in a bad condition; and we reccommend that the Supervisor notify the overseers in the various portions of the county to have this work done as soon as possible. CHAINGANG The committee appointed to investigate the chaingang commend Mr. Martin, the County Supervisor, for good judgment and consideration displayed in his general management of the chaingang. CLERK OR COURT We find the office of Clerk of v^ouu Kepi in me most Dustness like manner. We find the office entirely satisfactory for the transaction of the Clerk's business and records. AUDITOR AND TREASURER We find these offices well kept. We have investigated these offices and find they are in perfect condition. JUDGE OF PROBATE We find this office also well kept and the office building adequate to meet all its needs. MAGISTRATES We have examined the books of the Magistrates. Two magistrates in the town of Marion, but with this exception there has not been a single magistrate in the county who has displayed to the grand jury his records or examination required bv law. We nre sent them for non performance of this duty (except Mr. S. L. Page who is violently sick.) We present Mrs. Addie Cornelius and J. W. Beacham for li"ing in adultery. Witnessess: C. V. Blackhait, Ulius Moore, G, G. Green, W. J. Foxworth, C. C. Davis, C. R. Moore and Charlie King. We present John Bell and Joe Moore for high and aggravated a r: 1 'seasoned o^tery. Witnesses: * 1 has been well pepper?T?, -Mosstn. 1 V