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• \ " r ^ / “ ■ i THE CHRONICLE Strives To Be a aeon News paper. Complete, Newsy and Reliable. VOLUME XXIV CLINTON, S. Cl THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1924 TWO MEN GET REPRIEVE Governor Says Action Necessary To Make Thorough Probe of Case. Reprieves Until Dec. 5. Columbia, Nov* 15. tiai ‘■Mortimer. N. King and Frank Harrell, under sen tence to die at the state penitentiary here next Friday for the murder of Major Samuel H. Me Leary, today were reprieve! by Governor Thomas G. McLeod until Friday, December 5. The governor issued a statement in which he asserted that the re- GOVERNORS CLOSE SERIOUS PROGRAM prieve was granted by him in order , _ t* allow .dditi9Mi.tit.wJor ,Cfcamb«r of Commarce gation and consideration of the cases. . “It has been impossible,” the gov ernor said, “for J attom'eys who are earnestly representing these unfor tunate men to present .the cases to me until yesterday, and I have just received a transcript of th$ testi mony in the case. “I feel that I must and I will give to this case every consideration; and in order to do so, in order to inves tigate the various angles presented, more time will be needed. Engage ments at the governor^’ conference, nmde some time ago, will take me away from my office for the greater rt 'of next week. The -reprieve, ted as of the day set for the exe- ion of the sentence, allows two ks, exclusive of next week, for investigation and consideration of the case. “The allowing of the reprieve does not presage the granting of clemency as asked, but the enforcement of law and the lives of two men are at Stake, and as in all o'l er cases, I must make the fullest and most com plete investigation of all the facts available to me.” Major Me Leary yas slain on the Raleigh-Columhia highway on the afternoon of July 2, about 12 miles south of Cheraw, S. C., after he had given King and Harrell a “lift” in his automobile. About a week later the War Department instituted a search for him which extended over the* Southeastern states, resulting in Chief Executives Discuss Accidents At Grsde Crossings and Deplore Recklessness. Jacksonville, Nov^ 18.—Governors who attended the sixteenth annual ference here yesterday and today were tonight aboard the St. Johns river steamer, Osceola, bound for San ford, having completed the discussions before them and adjourned during the noon hour. They are the guests on the trip of Governor Carey Hardee and the people of Florida. The party will disband at Miami Saturday. Just prior to their departure from Jacksonville the governors were the of Jim At hi, >me ne,r TO Canton, N. C., and later of Harrell "l«Hwnthin th* With his brother near Nashville, Tenn where he had fled. ' Leading a party of anpy officers, state officers and a newspaper man to the spot where the murder occur red, King identified a heap of bpnes as those of Major McLeary. It was brought out at the trial in Chester field, S. C., in which county the mur der was committed, that Harrell had signalled when the army officer’s car had reached a lonely spot, at which King drew his pistol and ordered Ma jor McLeary to halt the vehicle. Both King and Harrell, it was : testified, drove the major ahead of them into the woods, Harrell returning to shut off the engine and to watch for pass- ersby. After robbing the major, ac cording to the evidence, King shot and killed him. Both were convicted of murder /without recommendation to mercy and were sentenced by Judge C. C. Feath, 1 erstone to death by electrocution at the state penitentiary here op Novem ber 21. For several weeks the governor has been receiving communications from citizens writing pro and con in re- ! gard to commutation of Harrell's sen tence. Friday, a petition signed by 800 citizens tf Chesterfield county and 11 members of the trial jury, was presented by defense attorneys, ask ing commutation of both sentences to life imprisonment. The death house in the state peni tentiary late today was the scene of a little drama when the reprieve was transmitted to penitentiary authori ties by State Detective Hart. B. E. Evans, captain of the guard, entered the death house and announced: “King and Harrell, the governor has reprieved you until December, 5.” “Gee, that’s good,” exejaimed Har rell. “I’m sure glad of it.” The only other occupant of the chamber of the condemned, Edmund D. Bigham, convicted of slaying five members of his family, listened with intercs to the announcement^ it is said. King and Harrell were visibly cheered by the temporary respite. atff Governor named yesterday as chairman of the executive committee, declared today that it would be the aim of the com mittee between*now and the next meeting to create more interest in the conference and bring about at tendance of every governor in the United States. He said, too, that the committee would strive to arrange for a meeting next year that would lead more to an actual business ses sion and pay less attention to social functions and" entertainment features. This expression followed the read ing of papers by Governor Branch of Indiana, and Governor Cox of Massa chusetts, relating to automobile acci dents at railroad crossings, responsi bility for them and compensation for the victims of automobile accidents on the highways. Governor Cox placed before the conference the provisions of an act introduced in the legislature of his state which he said is now under con sideration. It presented, he stated, some carefully worked out features which he briefly sketched: That ,nq car should be registered unless the applicant has taken out a liability policy with $5,000 and $10,- 000, for personal injuries or death and $1,000 limit for. property damage aris ing out of suck ownership, operation, maintenance or use of the automobile upon the highways of the state, or, Filed a bond executed by a surety CREMATED BODY FOUNDINFURNACE Charred Body of Minister's Wife Dis covered in Basement. Clue Still Missing. Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 18.—Police tonight admitted they were without a clue to the mysterious cremation of Mrs. Eddie Sheatsley, 50 years old, wife of the Rev. C. V. Sheatsley, pas tor of Christ Lutheran church of Bex ley; a suburb, whose charred body was found in the heating furnace in the basement of their home. County Prosecutor King, with Police Lieut. Shelienbarger, spent the entire day questioning members of the family and witnesses. The tragedy last night was declar- TTkrtda-inppdqirtg fgneheon. ^ —: ___L 1 ■ ' disrnm r ernor E. L. Trinkle, of Virginia, Unwilling to accept the coroner’s The^ Bfue Sox were sdhdfful^fl To" t P. C. FRESHMEN UNDEFEATED -JL ‘ Blue Stocking and Furman First Year Teams Still Undefeated . In State.* . The freshman championship is still dangling in the balance and even when the season is over there might still be some doubt as to winners. INHERITANCE TAX BUSINESS OF STATE Denny of Deleware Talks At Meeting of Governors’ Conference in Florida. * Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 17.—The es tate or inheritance tax is one which should be levied by the state govern- mehts and it is to the interest of the So far only two teams are serious state governments to arrive at some contenders for the state honors with' understanding with the federal gov- each other. Furman has not been de feated in the state yet,, neither hair P. C. The Blue Sox tied Carolina after making more first downs and gaining twice the ground. Against the Clemson Cubs, Coach McMillian’s men were confronted with very little trouble and easily piled up forty one New Manager For Clinton Oil Mill above limits, or. He has a deposit with a state of ficial of $6,000 cash or securities out of which demands up to $5,000 for death or peAon&l injuries, and up to $1,000 for property damage may be satisfied. Heavy penalties would be provided for operation of an automo- oile without insurance or forging evi dence of such insurance or bond. He deplored the reckless manner in which human lives are being snuffed out daily by irresponsible drivers, ad ding that it is a serious matter for the head of the family as he goes about his daily duties to be crushed under wheels of an automobile driven by some reckless and irresponsible person. * Little less serious, declared Govern or Branch, was the question of grade crossing disasters. He had about con cluded, he said, £o recommend to the legislature of his state that authority be given the public service commis sion to designate certain crossings as dangerous as a step designed to les sen the number of such accidents. At f.uch designated crossings vehicular traffic would be required to stop. At a safety conference recently held in his state, Governor Branch told the conference, 132 representatives of rail lines, automobile associations and other interested organizations discuss ed every angle of the “prevent and save” movement. They afterwards adopted resolutions which he propos ed to make the basis %r recommenda tions to the legislature. The resolutions were placed in the record of proceedings at the confer ence and will be distributed to all governors. UNION SERVICE THANKSGIVING Clinton People to Hear Dr. B. R. Tumipseed, President of Lander College. Following an established custom, a Thanksgiving union service will be held next Thursday at ten o’clock, to which the public is cordially invited. The services this year will be held in the First Baptist church, and-the Rev. B. R. Turnipseed, D. D., president of Lander College of Greenwood, has ac cepted an invitation to deliver the annual Thanksgiving sermon. Dr. Turnipseed is one of the most popular speakers in the state and will doubt less be heard by a large congrega- version of the affair, Prosecutor King said a complete investigation would fce made. Each member of the family was questioned during the afternoon. Clarence, a son of Mr. Sheatsley, twice questioned as to why he did not-'report the finding of his mother’s body in the furnace shortly after 3 o’clock. Testimony showed -that his elder brother and both sisters came home more than an hour earlier than the father, but that the younger boy did not report his findings to them. Milton, the older boy, related that he attended classes at Capitol Uni versity during the rtiorning and that all members of the family were pres ent for dinner at 12 o’clock. He and the two girls left home about 12:15 p. m., leaving Clarence, his father and mother alone in the house. Testimony established that the min ister left home about 1:30 p. m., and Clarence said he left about fifteen minutes later. Milton returned home about 3:15 p. m., and smelled a pecu liar odor before he had entered the house. He did not investigate, think ing it was rabbit pelt burning, he said. ~ ~ ~ Not until his sisters returned from school about 4:30 p. m., and were at tracted to the furnace by the odor did Milton investigate, he said. He ac companied them to the basement and opened the furnace door a trifle but hurriedly closed it when a volume of smoke and fumes poured forth, he aaid. . % .. ... Questioned olosely as. to why, he did not investigate further when he open ed the furnace door, Milton said he though perhaps a rabbit pelt had been thrown in with the garbage. Police said no member of the fam ily was considered as a suspect. Another angle was injected into the case when Clarence testified that he had missed a bottle of acid which usually was kept in the medicine closet. Questioning of other members of the family failed to throw any light on the matter. Each of' the witnesses was psked concerning a certain stucent in the university, who now is ill in a local hospital. The minister told the police he visited hen yesterday while on his regWiar iwund of mercy. Officials are unanimous in their be lief that the woman could ended her own life in the furnace, which is the usual type. The door is J about fourteen inches square and is two feet from the floor. When the body was found the back was toward the opening with feet and head on either side of the door, the coroner reported. Officials tomorrow will consult au thorities on the length of time Acces sary to reduce the body to the state in which it was found. x were meet the Wofford “Pupa” last Sat urday, and after a large crowd had assembled to see the match the “Pups” failed to show up.* The only remaining game on the schedule is with the Newberry Papoosds in New berry next Friday. They are slated to win from Newberry and were fav ored to win from the “Pups” also. Coach McMillian’s men are in fine shape for any contest that might arise and they are eager to prove that are state champiohs. At present the Blue Sox have one open date on their card and plans are being made now to fill this. If a game between the Little Hurricane and the Blue Sox could be arranged it would settle the championship right now. However, this is merely a sup position and contest of this sort could probably not be arranged. Neverthe less these two teams will have a chance to fight out their claims next year when the varsity of these two institutions meet. emment as regards this tax; declared Governor William D. Denny of Dele- ware, in a paper he read at the sec ond session of the governor’s confer ence, which assembled in sixteenth session here today. Governor Denny with Governor Clif* ford M. Walker of Georgia, led the THANKSGIVING Sets Aside Last Thursday in Novem ber and Calls on Nation to Show Gratitude. McLEES MEETING IN^GREENWOOl Well Known Evangelist Receives * Number of Additions Into Church. The Rev. R. G. Me Lees, of Chatham, Va., well known here and throughout the Southern Presbyterian church as the “blind evangelist,” has just clos ed n successful two weeks’ meeting, forth® - First Presbyterian church of Greenwood. Accounts of the meet ing state that Mr. McLees was heard by the largest congregations ever gathered together in Greenwood and that his earnest presentation of the Gospel truths made a profound im pression upon all who heard him. As fruits of the revival, 33 additions W the church were made at last Sub- day morning’s service. During the two years of Mr. McLean’s pastorate, the Greenwood church has added 204 new members. Mr. McLees is well known in Clin ton and is pleasantly remembered as having conducted an evangelistic cam paign for the First Presbyterian church here several months ago. „ot have J P• C. AND FURMAN TO MEET AGAIN Several Federal Jurors Drawn The following have been drawn to serve as Federal jurors for the De cember term of court which convenes in Spartanburg: Week beginning ‘De cember 9th, W. E. Griffin, Cross Hill; J. L. Kellett, Fountain Inn. For De cember 15th, James C. Todd, D. H. Wilson, and W. P. Sullivan, of Lau rens. Next Year’s Gridiron Schedule to In clude Game in Greenville With Purple Hurricane. The Presbyterian College and Fur man University will resume athletic relations next year, the 1925 gridiron schedule calling for a game in Green ville between the two teams on Octo ber 31. These two rivals did not meet this year and more than usual inter est will be manifested throughout the state in this announcement that the strong Freshmen teams of the two institutions, developed into varsity ag gregations next season, will be seen in action. The P. C. schedule for next year has practically been completed and to date includes games with ^Erskine, Fhr- man, Davidson, Newberry, Oglethorpe, Wofford and Citadel. As is the case this year, the P. C. and Citadel con test will be the 1925 Thugksgiving Day climax. E. C. Culvem of Kershaw, Succeeds H. L. Taylor As Head of Local Plant. E. C. Culvem, of Kershaw, has as- ^ sumed the management of the Clin- ton Oil Mill, succeeding H. L Taylor, ^ spec}al offering to ^ uken of Laurens, resigned. r. u 15 w ;n be divided between the denomina- an experienced oil mill man and has tional on>hana2eB of the 8tate . made a number of fnends since ar riving in the city. He expresses him self as well pleased with Clinton and expects to move his family’here the first of the year. Ifr. Tafrlpr, the former manager, has returned to Ms home in Lau rens. ON THE SICK LIST Dr. L. Ross Lynn has been.confiTi to his'home the past week on account 1 of illness. His friends unite in wish-1 mg for him a speedy recovery. SYMBOLS OF SATISFACTION . A Swede who couldn’t speak English went into a store, pointed to a beehive on a can of honey, and grunted his desire for that particular brand. The beehive had become to him a symbol of satisfaction. Advertising has developed for numerous wares a kind of universal language. You can identify them readily, and know them good even before you try them. Each one has become a symbol of satisfaction. The advertisements in these columns help you buy judi ciously by describing goods worth while. / Read them. . Remember the widely advertised is always the widely tested. , . ... READ THE CHRONICLE ADVERTISEMENTS AND YOU WILL PURCHASE WITH THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON THE CLINTON CHRONICLE “The Paper Everybody Reads” pied the entire afternoon, session the conference, except for a brief exe cutive session that preceded adjourn ment for the day and ~at which the decision was made to increase the executive committee to five members, and selections made to fill these places. Those named on the commit tee were: Gov. W. W. Brandon of Ala bama, Ralph O. Brewster, governor- elect of Maine, Gov. E. Lee Trinkle of Virginia, chairman, Govi Alex J. Groesbeck of Michigan, and Roland H. Hartley, governor-elect of Wash ington. In support of his suggestion, Gov ernor Denny declared that th$ states now are in an excellent strategic posi tion to effect a definite understanding with the federal authorities with ref erence to levying inheritance taxes and “thus to get a v*ry real benefit for our states without giving up any thing of intrinsic value.” He believ ed that congress could be induced to leave to the states the field of in heritance taxes, if the states would support a constitutional amendment restricting further issues of tax ex- «mpt^ securities. He pointed out that there are now in the country more than thirteen billion dollars of tax ex empt securities and that they are in creasing at the rate of about one bil lion dollars annually, mostly in state and municipal bonds. , In this connection Governor Trin kle of Virginia warned members of the conference against writing into the constitution any measure to pre vent the taxing of any class of people. Declaring that he did not refer par ticularly to the recently adopted con stitutional amendment prohibiting the levying of income taxes in Florida, the Virginia executive gave it as his .opinion that a measure of this charac ter would disrupt the tax systems in Other states. “There are many men of wealth,*’ Governor Trinkle asserted, “who will go to any land, anywhere, to get rid of taxation.” He was almost con vinced, though, that the public gen erally was practically “persuaded ihat any state tax that is properly spent is a good investment.” Governor Groesbeck of Michigan believed that it was not so much a matter of fonn5y of taxation that in terested the people of the various 'tates. On the contrary, they had just about concluded that “the more forms of taxation, the more money will be spent.” The more important problem facing the state officiaDs, the Michigan governor thought, was to stabilize governmental expenditures, “keep expenses within reason and if that is done I don’t believe we will have much trouble with the kind of taxes to be levied.” He was of the opinion that gross extravagance existed in some instan ces and that the “taxpayer really did not get his money’s worth.” “Place the tax burden where it can best be borne,” pleadftd Gov. Henry fc. Whitfied of Mississippi. Governor Whitfield said the people who consume the state’s resources should pay; therefore, he favorer! an income tax, and a similar view was expressed by several others, although some said their states had voted against it. A measure adopted by the people of Florida in the general election, November 4, was described by Gov. Hardee as one which he believed would result in bringing about ways to reach Intangible assets, because it gave the legislature authority to classify property so as to get at these holdings. The best way to reach in tangibles, Governor Trinkle suggest ed, was to tax them at time of issu ance, and thus prevent the possibility j of allowing them to he hidden away somewhere in a safe. ( The afternoon discussions followed those of the morning session which rwere devoted to suggestions for the [ 1 conservation of natural resources. Seventeen governors and two gov- ernors-elect ^ere present at the open ing sessions of th conference, the lat ter being Ralph Brewster of Maine and John W. Martin of Florida.’ The party will leave here tomorrow after noon on a St. Johh’g river steamship for Sanford, and from that point will continue a trip through south and east Florida. Washington, Nov. 12.—President Coolidge has issued his annual Thanks giving gay proclamation, setting aside Thursday, November 27, a^ a day of gratitude for continued prosperity throughout the United States. The proclamation urged that thanks be given because the year has been marked by a continuation of peace whereby “our country has entered in to a relationship of better under- t- ^^l^jyth all other nations pf the [earth/ amThecause atTSoBfir^e continually had an improving state of health,” with industrial production large and harvests bountiful It fol lows: . . r* “By the President of the United States of America. ' “A proclamation. “We approach that season of the year when it has been the custom for the American people to give thanks for the good fortune which the bounty of Providence, through the generosity of nature, 'has visited upon them: It is altogether a good custom. It has the sanction of antiquity and the ap probation of our religious convictions. In acknowledging the receipt of Di vine favor, in contemplating the bless- , ings which have been bestowed upon us, we shall reveal the spirituaT strength of the nation. “The year has been marked by a continuation of peace whereby our ’ country has entered into a relation ship of better understandng with all other nations of the earth. Ways have been revealed to us by which we could perform very great service through the giving of friendly coua* sel/through the extension of financial assistance, through,the exercise of a spirit of neighborly kindness to less' favored peoples. We should give thanks for the power which has been given into our keeping, with which we have been able to-leader these serv ices to the rest'of mankind. “At home we haye continually had an improving state of PVhhc health. The productfon of out Yndustries has been large and our harvests have been bountiful. We have benj remarka bly free from disorder and remarka bly successful in all those pursuits which flourish during a state of do mestic peace. An abundant pros-- perity has overspread the land. We shall do well to accept all these . fa vors and bounties wrth becoming hu mility, and dedicate them to the serv ice the righteous cause of the Giver of all good and perfect gifts. As the nation has prospered let all the peo ple show that they are worthy to prosper, by redcdicatlng America to the service of God a.nd man. - “Therefore, I, Calvin Coolidge, presi- dentof the United States of America, hereby proclaim aiftf’flx ‘Thursday, the twenty-seventh day of November, as a day for national thanksgiving - . 1 recommend that the people gather in thrir places of. worship, and at the family aitars and offer their tnanlw for goodness winch has been shown to them in such a multitude of ways. Especially I urge them to supplicate | the Throne of Grace that they may . gather strength from their tribula tions, that they may gain humility from their victories, that they may bear without complaining the bur dens that shall be placed upon them, ar.d that they may be increasingly , worthy in all ways of the blessings that shall come to them. “In'witness whereof, I have here unto set my hail’d and caused to be affixed the great seal of the United States. “Lore at the city of Washington this fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-f^ur, and of the independence of the United States, the^ne hundred and forvy-ninlh. “By the President, “CALVIN COOUDGE (Seat) “Charles E. Hughes, Secretary of Stale.” Woodruff Plays Here Tomorrow The Woodruff high school football team, headed by Ja-. k Wilson, one of P. C.’s former star, will in.ade Cl n- ton. tomorrow afternoon to meet the Clinton Hi in what promises to be one of the season’s finest battles. The team under the effective training of Coach Wilson, has made a Tine show ing this season and will doubtless give the locals some stiff opposition. The Clinton boys are in line trim and aSe laying for the Woodruffites tomor row. The season will close next .Fri day, November 28, with Newberry, and Clinton meeting on the loc$l field. v • •••’ Mrs. Henry Young left Monday for Enoree where she will spend some time with her mother, Mrs. Sarah Stroud. « '