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Chronicle NUMBER 9 CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1924 VOLUME XXXVI autoist kills two people Spceda On and Claim* Ignorance When Placed Vnder Arrest. Kingstree, May 26.~The running down and mortally wounding of Mr*. W. H. Koon and her daughter, Mary, and the injury of her son, Isaac, by a big Nash sedan, alleged to have been driven by Mr. Jake Weinberg, of Lake City, occurred on the Kingstree Santee highway about nine miles from Kingstree last night at about 8:15 o'clock, Mr. and Mrs. Koon and children were on their way to Greeleyville to attend the commencement exercises of the Greelyville school and took the wrong road, coming within nine miles of Kingstree, where they got direc tions from parties in the road as to the w*y to Greeleyville. While turning his car around Mr. Koon's car skidded into the ditch and it was necessary for Mrs. Koon and the children to get out in order that the car might be gotten into the road again. Mr.< Koon had driven his car up the road a short distance and was returning for the family when the big car, alleged to have been driven by Mr. Weinberg, came along at a great speed, it was estimated by wit nesses of the tragedy, when it struck Mrs. Koon and the two children, mor tally wounding "Mrs. Koon and her daughter, Mary, and severely bruis ing her son, Isaac. They were attempting to cross the road to the car in which Mr. Koon was making the trip from Lanes, where Mr. Koon is principal of the Lan^s school. As soon as possible after the ac cident Mrs. Koon and the children were- given surgical attention but it was found that their wounds were too severe in the case of Mrs. Koon and her daughter, Mary, to save their lives. . The big car after running ovei Mrs. Koon and the children did not stop but continued on its way at a high rate of speed. Sheriff H. SJ Gamble, of Williams burg county, was notified of the tragedy shortly after its happening and began an investigation to ascer tain who was the driver of the car. This afternoon he arrested -lake, Weinberg, of Lake City. When questioned Weinberg denied any knowledge of having struck any ?>erson on t^e" highway but admitted having been to Charleston and re turning over this route at about that hour Sunday night. One window was broken in the car on the right side and the left lamp was not burning, it was stated. In the car with Weinberg was his wife and a Mrs. Libbert, a connect.on of tho Weinbergs, and Mrs. Libbei ? younger sisters. Mrs. Libbert was placed on the stand admitted that they parsed a group , of peop e a about the place the tragedy took place and that on passing them Mr. Weinberg swerved his car from side of the road to the other with such force that the window was broken but stated that he did n f know that anyone had been struck she thinking, she stated, that the> wore being held up and had bJ fired upon, the shot passing through the window and that she uige berg to speed ahead. She also stated that Weinberg had told hei t reaching hake City that he believed that he had injured somc one bSck at the point where she thought they were being held up. Other witnesses testified to seeing the Weinbeig . being-driven near the scene of t.i tragedy at a high rate of speed. At the conclusion of the inquest the coroner's jury rendered the ver dict that Mrs. W. R. Koon and Mary Koon came to their deaths by being -truck down and mortally wound* by one Nash sedan being recklessly: an carelessly driven by one Jake Wein berg on Sunday night, . a> , on the Kingstree-Santee highway about nine miles from Kingstree a about 8:15 o'clock. Removed to Penitentiary. Columbia, May 27. ? Feeling, said to have been aroused in Williams burg county following the death of Mrs. W. R. Koon and her three-year old daughter, Mary, who were struck by a speeding automobile on the Kingstree-Greeleyville highway Sun day^nigUt, was the cause of the trans fer of Jake L. Weinberg, of Lake City, to the State penitentiary here, , Governor McLeod stated late today. Considerable indignation exists in Kings tree, according to the Governor, not over the death of the *oman?nd child, which is regarded as accidental, tot ere r the eonduct of Weinberg / " after the fatal occurrence. A conference was held today be tween Sheriff Gamble, of Williams burg and Governor McLcod in" which the sheriff made a report of the affair. Weinberg is a resident of Lake Funeral of Victims. K IngstreV, May 27,? -This morning at 6 o'clock the 'funeral procession of Mrs. W. R. Koon and little three year-old daughter, Mary, who were killed *in an automobitlrwccident Sun day evening, left Kingstree to meet the remainder of the family in Shan don, the funeral taking place this afternoon at 2 o'clock at Chappejls, in Newberry county. ' The caskets holding the bodies of mother and child were borne to their resting place by a hearse while a number of friendsAfi^m Lanes, where Mr. Koon is principal of the school, accompanied the stricken father and children in automobiles to the funeral. Besides five-year-old Isaacb, who is still in the hospital here recovering from severe bruises, Mrs. Koon leav%s bsides her husband, three children, who were not with their parents at the time of the accident. The entire community is shocked and saddened by this terrible tra'gedy. Funeral of Mr. Clarkson. Alexander Garden Clarkson, promi nent planter of lower Richland county, was buried yesterday after noon in Trinity churchyard. ? Funeral services were conducted from the res idence of Mrs. James H. Fowles, daughter of Mr. Clarkson, 813 Hen derson street, at noon. The Rev. Herbert F. Schroeter, rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd and of Zion church, was in charge. Mr. Clarkson had large holdings of land between Eastover and Wateree and lived in Lower Richland all of his life. For 'the greater part of his years he had been a member of Zion Episcopal church at Eastover. Mr. Clarkson had many pleasing and fine traits of character and his many friends will learn with much rggret of his death. He is survived by his wife: by five sons, N. H. Clarkson and William An derson Clarkson of Columbia and A. G. Clarkson, Jr., J, S. H. Clarkson and R. B. Clarkson of Camden; and three daughters, Mrs. James H. Fowles of Columbia, Mrs. J. K. Ball of Eastover and Mrs. Richard E. Babcock of Washington. ? Thursday's State. Enrollment Books Open.; The enrollment book for the Cam deiV precinct is now open at The Chronicle office, and those desiring to vote in the August primary will have to sign their name ? giving their full name, age, occupation and address before they are entitled to participate in the primary. Don't put it off but come in at your earliest convenience and register your name. The other books are also now open at the respective prtacinets through out the county. u. , His Mother Dead. Constable W. L. Hunnicutt was called to Clemson College last week to attend the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Nancy Hunnicutt, wife of J. J. Hunnicutt, who died near that place on Thursday. She wa? G5 years of oge and is survived by the following children: O. A. Hunnicutt, Clyde Hun nicutt, of Georgia; J. B. Hunnicutt, of Anderson; C. L. Hunnicutt, Cliff Hun nicutt, of Senaca; P. J. Hunnicutt and Mrs. Leila Barker, of Calhoun, and W. L. Hunnicutt, of Camden. The burial was at Hepzibah church, near *?4*mson College. Donations to Relief Fund. Donations to the Tornado Relief Fund for the past week were as fol lows: Camden Presbyterian Sunday School 20.82 Henry Savage 10.00 Previously reported 1,353.70 Totnl ? $1,384.52 -j Forty-five Dead From Tornado. Atlanta, May 28. ? The total of known deaths from the tornado which swept through the South Monday night and yesterday, was set today at forty-flve, including Mississippi, 22; Alabama, 19; and Oklohoma, 4. Tom Dupre, negro, wanted in Ben- 1 nettsville, for the killing of Rural Po liceman Burdin ff. Hatcher, May 17, was arrested Sunday night. The ne gro is alleged to have shot the police i man when the latter undertook to search M* home for fnoonshme. COTTON CONDITION REPORT Ah Compiled by J. W. Jay & Co., .New York Commission Merchants. J. W. Jay & Co., cotton commission merchant#, sends a report on the con dition of the cotton crop throughout tho growing belt covering a period up to and including May 16th, ahd makes the following report on S6uth Caro lina, which, in nearly every instance, applies to the entire cotton belt: The report says that) the indicated yield with normal weather henceforth is 11,276,000 bales for 1924: Ten days to fully three weeks late. Cultivation fair to poor. Stands fair to poor. Weather unfavorable. Too much rain and low temperatures. Warm, dry weather needed. Corres pondents now anticipate scarcity of labor in scattered localities, Plenty of mules. Complaints of weevil in some coumiea. Planters will carry on vigorous campain to restrict their activity this season. 90 per cent planted. 18 per cent to be replanted. Outlook at this time not encouraging. The 1924-25 cotton crop starts off poorly. The season averages over two weeks late, a great deal of cotton is not up and much planting and re planting remains to be done. In con sequence cultivation and chopping are badly delayed. It has been quite diffi cult for farmers to get a stand by reason of slow seed germination, due to unseasonably low temperatures and in many places too wet. The present indications are for an increased area bver that picked . Ia3t year of 4&. per cent, i Weather and labor conditions during the next few! weeks will decide, while labor condi tions are better than last year, therei is no surplus above ordinary needs and fears are expressed that should there be need for extensive field work, there will be a pronounced shortage of labor for that purpose. While correspondents generally make men tion of the boll weevil being present, it is too- early for much damage from that source. 1 Using the tj. S. Government par i yield for 1923, viz. 208 lbs. .(1924 1 figures which will probably be slight- j ly less, not as yet published), the yield indicated by the acreage and percent condition shown in this sur vey is 11,275,000 bales (linters ex cluded). This indicated yield is based J upon average weather henceforth and the planting of the estimated 39,100, 000 acres less 1 per cent allowance for abandonment. * | The prospective carryover^ Amer- - ican Cotton on July 31, 1924 fs around 1,800,000 bales which "quantity in- , eludes foreign and American mills stocks visible; farm reserves; linters etc. In fact every known bale of American cottpn of every kind, every where, (excepting the Orient). New crop cotton can hardly be ex pected to reach the mills before the last half of September and the re serves of raw cotton have gradually been reduced until the supply no longer exists sufficient for the mills to continue even at their present re duced rate of operation. .* Perfect) growing weather throughout the coming season and a minimum of in sect damage is essential for the wel fare of the cotton trade. Pastor Accepts Call. Rev. John P. Graham, of Piedmont, S. C., has accepted the call to tho pastorate of the Camden Baptist church extended him two weeks ago. Mr. Graham is a native of Marion, Alabama, educated at the John B. Stetson University of Florida and is no stranger to Camden for beside* having visited here t\yice recently and preached to congregations who were delighted with him, he visited Cam den several years ago during an in terim of pastorates and being a per sonal friend of Rev. and Mrs. A. E. Crane was entertained in the home of Mrs. Sallie E. Goodale, a name in dellibly linked with the Camden Bap tttfc church. Attention, 'Ex-Service Men. The adjusted compensation bill has Just been passed by congress and in formation is given out that applica-. tion blanks are in the hands of the printers and as soon as possible these blanks will be distributed through J American Legion Posts , throughout the United States. This Post wants all ex-service men to feel at liberty to call on any of its officers for help in makfcng out these applications. ? V As soon as we receive application blanks-we will punish for conven ience of those interested. John Whitaker, Jr.. Commander, Leroy Belle Post No. YC TRA(iKl)y OF THE ROAD. ? ? Prominent Charlotte Man Killed Kn route to ViHit His Sinter Here. Kdward L, Keesler, a prominent business man of Charlotte, N. C., was instantly killed about ten miles north of Camden, on the Camden-Charlotte highway Saturday afternoon about G o'clock when his touring car turned over, pinning him and his wife be* neath. Mr1? Keesler was crushed by the steering wheel and died almost instantly. Mrs. Keesler suffered only bruises about the face and was not seriously hurt. Mr. and Mrs. Keesler were enroute to Camden to spend the, week-end with Mrs_ J. Sumter Rhame, a sister of Mr. Keesler. The accident happened in front of the residence of Captain L. L. Cly burn and was on a straight, hard roadway. First reports stated that the car skidded in sand causing the fatal turnover, but this, proved to bo incorrect. Parties rendering first aid and who witnessed the accident say that the car was going at a. high rate of speed, and it is believed that the unfortunate man lost control of his car. ' - ? Mrs. Keesler was pinned under the car and the car had to be lifted up before she could be extracted from beneath. The machine was a heavy Studebaker and when parties reuched the wreck the car was resting on' its top and the four wheels were in the air. Not much damage was done to the car except the breaking of the top and windshield. The body of Mr. Keesler was placed in an ambulance and brought to the undertaking parlor of C. W. Evans, where it was prepared for burial apd was taken to Charlotte Sunday morn ing. The following account ol tno trag edy and funeral is taken from the Charlotte Observer of Sunday and Monday mornings: "Distressing news'" 6* the death of Edward L. Keesler, prominent busi ness man of Charlotte and nationally known in building and loan circles, received by relatives here, shocked the community when it spread rap idly among many of his friends in the city last night. The first to hear Of the fatal accident was Edward Y. Keesler, only son of the victim of the automobile turnover. r . "According to information from Camden, Mrs. Keesler was pinned be neath the automobile also, but was. not injured seriously. She was taken to a hospital in Camden. There was np one else in the car with "Mr. and Mrs. Keesler. f "Mr. and Mrs. Keesler left Char lotte yesterday afternoon about two o'clock to visit his sister, Mrs. J. Sumter Rhanie, in Camden. Mr. Keesler had returned Friday night from Williamston, N. C., where he had been on a fishing [trip at Sta ten's mill pond since Tuesday. He was in ill health when he went to William ston Tuesday but felt much improved upon his return. "Information from Camden said that persons who witnessed the acci dent say that the automobile was running at a high rate of speed when it struck a sandbed, causing the fatal turnover. This conflicts with another report from the scene of the tragedy which said that Mrs. Keesler was pinned beneath the car for about thirty minutes before a traveling man by the name of Brown came upon the overturned car and rescued her. Mrs. Keesler, it is understood, said that the steering wheel of the automobile twisted off, causing the accident. "Edward L. Keesler was 63 years old, having been born at Rock Hill, S. C., on January 15, 1861, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Keesler. His mother before marriage, was a Miss Caston, of Rock Hill. "Mr. Keesler came to Charlotte in the early eighties, while still a young man. He married Miss Mamie Yates of 'Charlotte. For seven years he was a clerk in the dry^goods estab lishment of Alexander and Harris, and when the senior partner of the firm, La Fayette Alexander, discon nected himself with it, the company became Harris and Keesler. "Starting with the old Charlotte Building and Loan association, Mr. Keesler achieved great prominence in building and loan circles, not only in Charlotte, but in the state and throughout the natioa. For twenty years he had been secretary-treasurer of the Mutual Building and Loan as sociation of Charlotte, the position he held at his death. He was also vice president of the Roslyn Realty com , pany. .. i "Mr. Keesler organized the state league of building and loan associa tions more than 20 years ago. For a number of years he was secretary treasurer of the state organization and was l?ter president for several years. ^ "His prominence as a building and loan official was not confined to the state, as he served for one year as president of the United States League of Building and Loan associations, holding this position about six or eight years ago. Mr. Keesler took great interest in building and loan work throughout the country, ami at tended many conventions of the national. organization. Frequently he made speeches before gatherings of building and loan men. As a result of his influence, the annual convention of the United States League * of Building and Loan associations was held in Charlotte one year, about ten years ago. "Mr. Keesler was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal church. He was a prominent member of the Charlotte Rotary club, and took a great interest in civic activity. His residence was at 212 East, Morehead street. "The only public office Mr, Keesler ever held jvas as a member of the city water commission years ago. He was approached many times, it is said, during his business career to become a candidate for public office, but declined to do so. Early in his craeer in Charlotte, Mr. Keesler was a first lieutenant and later captain of the Hornets' Nest riflemen, a local military organization, i "Mr, Keesler is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mamie Yates Keesler; one son, Edward Y. Keesler, of Charlotte; two daughters, Miss ""Mary Keesler, a student at Agnes Scott college, and Miss Sarah Keesler, of Charlotte; one brother, General Samuel R. Keesler, of Greenwood, Miss., and four sisters, M rs, M. M. Murphy of Charlotte; Mrs. Maggie Keesler Rhame, of Cam den, S. C.; Mrs. Edward V. Durham, of Charlotte and Mrs. C. K. Marshall, of Gastonia Mrs. Rhame, whose home he was about to visit wheli the accident occurred, is Mr. Keesler's oldest sister." uut tnrougn ine porta is ox me iv u brick residence at 212 East More head street, Edward L. Keesler passed Monday afternoon foi- the last time, #to be laid to rest beneath thd green of Elmwood cemetery. The brief services were conducted by Rev. G. Floyd Rogers, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal church, of which the deceased was a member. Pallbearers were Rawlinson Myers, Chase Brenizer, Dr. Robert L. Gib bon, Hugh Murrill, Sr., J. C. Crowell, Henry M: McAden Sterling Graydon and C. M. Carson. The directors of the Mutual Build* ing and Loan association, ofu which Mr. Keesler was secretary, and treas urer, and also the directors of the Mechanics Perpet?ual Building and Loan association, attended the funer al services as delegations. Official representation of. the ? Charlotte Rotary- club, of which Mr. Keesler was a leading member, were present in a body. Hundreds attended the funeral ser vices. The assemblage in the house, on the grounds and along the street near the residence attested to the popularity of Edward L. Keesler among his fellow-citizens, as did the long lines of automobiles parked for several blocks along both sides of the street, waiting for the formation of the funeral procession. Cars were parked as closely as possible along either side o# East Morehead street for two blocks away from the resi dence, and off down the block form ing Ransom place, which enters into Morehead street near where the Keesler residence fronts on East Morehead, the cars were double parked, practically filling the street. Scores of men, friends, business as , sociates and others, old and young, stood with uncovered heads on the front porch, in the yard and along the sidewalk in front of the house during the services, while many others were inside the rooms. Many beautiful floral designs, evi dencing the love and esteem in which Mr. Keesler was held, were sent. As another mark of respect to the cmemory of Mr. Keesler, all offices at the courthouse wer? closed foi1 one bour Monday afternoon, between 4 and B o'clock. That, it is said, is the first time that the offices at the courthouse have ever been closed out of respect to the memory of a pri vate citizen. ~ Mr. Ke6sTerTs offices, in the Mutual Building & Loan Asso ciation building, were just across the street from the courthouse, and' he wnu; ' closely associated with the county officials. Among the relatives and friends here to attend the funeral were: Mrs. Maggie Keesler Rhame and daughter, Miss Olive Rhame, of Camden; Dr. J. Sumter Rhame, of Charleston; Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Marshall, of Gastonia. The Charlotte Observer of Sunday paid the following editorial tribute to Mr. Keesler: * "Seldom has this community been more shocked or more poignantly grieved by the sudden death of any citizen than it was when the dis tressing news of the tragic passing of Mr. Edward L. KeesTer was circu lated about the city late Saturday afternoon. Not many times in the history of Charlotte has a sorrow more nearly universal in its extent befallen the community. "During his 31 years of citizenship in Charlotte, Mr. Keesler had come into contact with a large proportion of the city's population, through his activities in the building and loan field, the field in which he achieved a conspicuous measure of success. His pre-eminence in the building and loan ^association field, in fact, was of national recognition years ago, for he. served a term as president of the National League of Building and Loan Associations. Likewise, he had served as president of the North Carolina League of Building and Loan Association*. He loved his busi ness because it gave him a great op portunity for service to his common-, ity and hi* fellowman. "Mr. Keesler was an outstanding (Continued on last page) A TRIP TO THE COAST Party of ('iqidon Men Spend* ? Week At Murrell'H Inlet. The editor of The Chronicle was the gue^t last week of members of the Tidewater Hod and Ottli Club, of Camden, who have quite extensive holdings at MurreU's Inlet in Cieorge town county. In the party who left here Monday afternoon and returned Friday evening were: Messrs. J. I*. Wallace, W, 0. Hay, S. H. Micklo and H. D. Niles and every hour was spent most pleasantly. Quite a number of business men last year purchased a five room cot tage, together with eighty acres of land with a frontage on the Inlet and havt* equipped the plaCe ideally for a place of recreation both in summer and 'winter. Plenty of tlsh can be caught in the creeks of the Inlet and those wh6 prefer deep sea fishing can go outside in motor boats. The woods and marshes abound with duck and deer and other game and the hunting is good in winter. Fine surf bathing can, be had on many of the sand islands not far from the Inlet. These islands are alwo reached by motor boats. The route from Camden carries one through Bishopville, Darlington, Florence, Marion, Gallivant's Ferry and Conway. The roads are excellent and where at Mars Bluff it was the custom to cross on a ferry boat, Marion and Florence counties have ? recently built an excellent bridge across I*ee Dee river, and like the 0 bridge at Camden is a toll bridge. This section of the state is rapidly coming to the front since the advent of good roads, and the farmers of all the counties through which we passed have two money crops? one of tobacco and another of cotton. At Conway; the county seat of Horry county, we were told that they weie to ship a carload of chickens I? riday. Last week the manager of an apiary shipped a car load of bees?the first from South Carolina, and it is said he realized $20,000 on the car. MurreU's Inlet is 26 miles from Conway, the nearest railroad town and from Conway to the Inlet, is a sparsely settled section ? the tyfiber having been cut away and for miles and miles can be seen on each side of the road ?, numerous . substantial farm houses which have been- de-' serted. - ? . ; ? Quite a number of South Caro? linians and some from North Caiolijia ? have built summer homes at the Inlet and like" Mytle Beach, a little farther up the coast, it is becoming a popular resort. The lingo and customs of the low country people especially the negroes, was interesting to those of the party who had never been there before. Nobody was in a hurry around the Inlet and the colored folks seem to depend upon the sea and little patches of truck for a livelihood. Quite an extensive canning factory operated for many years by Breslau and Latchicotte., on the Inl^.t, utilize the truck grown in the immediate vicin ity. Aside from the fishing and small trucking operations, "wuk," as tho low country darkies call it, seems out of stylo, tn th&t aecttori* Part of our journey took us over what the natives call the "King's Road," used more than a century ago. At a flowing well on the coast we noticed a square, solid iron watering trough and we are told that this trough was used during the War Be tween the States for boiling sea water in order to get the salt for uso by the inland population and that it was hauled over this old highway in_ wagons to the inland towns. Various parties from Camden have been made up within the past two years who have made visits to the Inlet as guests of this Camden club, I and like our party, all enjoyed tho trip to the fullest. -A party of seven from Cheraw, headed by Bert Latta, an old Camden boy, also spent the week there, making mos? congenial company for the Camden party. It is a grand place for an outing and we hope it will be our g oqd fortune to be the giiest ot -these good friend* -? American I?e jfion Auxiliary To Meet. There will be a meeting of tho American Legion Auxiliary on Wed nesday afternoon June 4th, ,at si* o'clock, at the home of Mrs. Jack Whjtaker, >Tr., on Fair street. AH members ? of the auxiliary are. re quested to be present and bring any en* wishing to join. All members aro aaked to bring the does for this year. A full 'MttttikflL'l* earnestly g