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ESTABLISHED 1865. NEWBERRY, S. C., FRIDA Y, FEBRUARY 6, 1908 TW A WEK HUMAN LIFE IS CHEAP IN SOUTH CAROLINA. FATHER AND'SON SHOT TO DEATH IN FLORENCE. In Presence of Wife and Mother.-Then William King Snaps Pistol at Woman's Head. -And It Was All About a Dog. (Special to the State.] Florence, Feb. 4.-William K'ug shot and killed Samuel Rogers and mortally wounded James Rogers, father of Samuel Rogers, about seven miles from here on the planta. tion of Alonzo Hewitt late Saturday evening. From the evidence at the coroner's inquest the following story of the killing is obtained: Mrs. Hewitt, who was an eye witness and in whose yard the shooting occurred, said: "I was at home when Mr. Rogers came up in front of the house in the road. Mrs. Rogers was with him. Samuel Rogers, his son, had just come from Florence and about to turn his mule loose in the lot. About this time Mr. King came up and spoke to Mr. Rogers. Mr. King asked Mr. Rogers about a dog. Mr. Rogers told him that the dog was down at the house and that he could get him if he would go with him. Mr. Rogers told Mr. King that as he was a poor man he would ap preciate it if he would give him a little something for the care of the, dog, as he had kept him for some time, not knowing whose dog it was. Mr. King replied: 'Yes, I will pay you for keeping my dog and will pay in lead and I will give it to you now. He then drew a pistol and fired at Mr. Rogers: Just as he fired young Rogers said to King: 'If you shoot papa you will have to shoot me.' King quickly turned and pointing his pistol at young Rogers, fired. Young Rogers fell on his knees and then to the ground. King then turned to wards old man Rogers and opened fire again on him, shooting him three more times. I saw Mr. Rogers fall to the ground. Mrs. Rogers theu ran up and said to Mr. King: 'You have killed my baby.' Mrs. Hewitt then said to her. 'Yes, and he ha' killed your old man.' King then turned with his pistol still smoking, and said to Mrs. Rogers: 'Yes, and by God, I will kill the wholQ Q*-d family." As he said so ho shoved the pistol in Mrs. Rogers' face, and, pointingit at her head, snapped it oL.ce or twice. Had there been more cartridges in the gun he would have wiped o"A the entire family, as he had stated, for there were only three -father, wife and son." The Rogers family lived several hundred yards from Alonzo Hewitt in a log cabin with one room. They were poor people but hard working and honest. The story as told by Mrs. Rogers is practically the same as told by Mrs. Hewitt. Mr. Rogers also made a statement which corroborates that of Mrs. Hew. itt and Mrs. Rogers in every particu: lar except that Mr. Rogers stated that the dog in question had taken up at his (Rogers') house. He did n~fot know whose dog it was until in 4'lorence yesterday when a manr ~sknd him it he had a setter bitch at ~is house. He told him that he had nie there that took up there but he ~~id niot know whose dog it was. The ~.~an, who, as he afterwards found ~out, was William King, who shot him and his soni. Mr. Rogers said further: "'King told me in Florence he would give m~re a little something for carmrig for .the dog. That was all that was said. z Have never had any trouble or wvords with King, and never knew him until yesterday. Never hadl any words ~with King before or during t hi sh~ooti ng. There was no one present but my son, Mrs. Hewitt and my wife, but I believe that Mr. Thomas .Hewitt camne up with the man King and after the first shot lie begged King not to shoot'.' Young Rogers was shot only one time and died within ten minutes ~after he was shot. TPhe bullet took .weffect in tihe stomach and ranged <downward. 01(d man Rtogersi was shot four times, the first two shots disabled both arms and .he last two entered the body, and his life blood is slowly ebbing away. He was re pgrted to be dying late this after noon. It seems, too, that there is another part of the story of the shooting. King did leave a message for the sheriff with his wife saying that he did not mean to be taken and did not want to lie in jail, so that he had left the State. He said further that if he was sure that the witness would tell the truth that he would not mind coming to Flrence and giving him self up, but he would not risk it. It it is also said that all parties had been drinking and that when Tom Hewitt drove up the Rogers, were raising a row and it is said that King claims that they both came on him with knives and that he shot in self defense. There is also a pitchfork spoken of, and there are witneses for the defense, as well as for the prose. oution. Both sides, as nearly as can be gathered, are presented to the reader. THE GOOD ROADS BILL Killed in the House On Tuesday Morning. Strongly Defended by Mr. Aull. The Bill introduced in the House by Mr. Aull, of Newberry, providing for special elections in each county in the State to decide whether or not such county should issue bonds for macapamizing and permanently im proving the public highways, was killed on Tuesday. The following account is taken from the News and Courier of Wednesday: "Mr. Aull took up his road bill and made one of the best speeches of the session in favor of good roads. He said: A PLEA FOR oOOD ROADS. I have listened with a great deal of interest for the past three weeks to the discussions in the House, espe cially those bearing upon the sub ject of roads and road improvement. Judging from expressions of mem bers on this floor, I should conclude that the sentiment that something should be done for the improvement of our high ways, is strong through out the State. Two bills have passed this House on this subject which are in the right direction, an-1 which will help to improve the con .tion of our public roads. The one a permit the increase of the commutation tax and the other to permit convicts up to ten years to be sentenced to the county chain gange. If I had my way I would place all the convicts now in the penitentiary, except the women and children aind those too feeble to perform hard labor, on the public roads, and sell the State farms, except a sufficiency to maintain the conivicts whom we would be obliged to keep within the penitentiary for the reasons stated. Wthile the in crease in the commutation tax will help, yet I believe the only way and the right way to secure good roads is by a property tax. Why should the State require or expect the non-prop. erty holder, the negro and the poor wvhite man, to keep up the public roads and exempt the property in incorporated cities and towns and the railroads and other corporate wealth froms bearing its proportionate share of the' public burdec and contribut ing its part in this public be'nefac. tion. ? Tho benefits to this class of property would be as great 'as to the propert y in the rural dlist ricts. Every bodlv neos the public road. It is the sonree of all commerce and the small artery which leads up -to the centre of trade anud the feeder for the big railroads which t ravers.' ou r country. The public road is na much the pub lie property as the Court House or the jail, andc the burden of its build ing anjd its n. aintenanice sh( nld rest upon all the popl( and all the prop erty alike. For t hat reason the bill has b)een introduced and it does not propopse to) fasten tooe burden upon the people excep)t b)y their consonit, but I want the peoplo of each county t.o have an opportunity to sny for themselves wvhet her or not they want to take this gre'at advance step and make an iunvestment which, whilae it will in crease their taxes, will pay them in return ten fold, yea, a hundred fold, not only in the comfort and conve nience, but in the actual saving of money. I do not know what the conditions may be elsewhere, but I know in my own county the public highways are in a more deplorable condition than they have been in my recollection. It will no doubt be objected that this bill will. increase taxes and some gentleman has said, that he did not want to leave a debt to his children. It will increase taxes, but it will in crease them where the people are willing to bear the burden and where they can see and enjoy and reap the benefits of the money they pay. The biggest tax the people of this country are paying today is the mud tax. All I ask is to give the people of each county the privilege of saying for themselves whether or not they desire to continue to pay this heavy mud tax or whether they desire to take a forward step and get out of the mud and by improving the public roads increase the value of rural property, make the country, as it is Ly nature, the ideal place to live, and stop the rapid de[opulation of the rural districts. That is- all. Why should we halt or hesitate when everybody wants to see the roads im proved? There is nothing more im portant, for this General Assembly to do than to provide the way for the people to do something for the im provement of the public highways. After they are secured no one will regret the cost or be willing to give the reads in exchange for the money -spent. Proper and equal assessments of property and good schools are all to be desired, but first of all, and in order to secure the best results from these other things, we want to see our roads improved and put in such condition that the people may reach their local markets and railways and perform their public duties with some degree of comfort and satisfac tion, not to speak of the saving in time and in the wear and tear of horses and vehicles. I do not know how it may be else where, but in my own county the largest taxpayers are the ones most ready and willing to be taxed for road improvement. Not only that, but under the present system the in corporated towns, the railroads and the corporations contribute not one cent to the building or maintenance of the public highways. They would be as much benefited as the people who, under the present law, are re quired to keep them up, and, I sub mit, are willing to contribute their share if you will permit them to do it, not because they are so philan thropic in their interest in the wel fare and comfort and convenience of the people who live in the rural dis tricts, but because it will pay them to do it. S9me of the great railroad systems of this country have already spent large sums of money in making experiments in road building, so as to encourage the people, because they know that good highways tribu tary to their lines will increase their business. Tlhis is also a [nati( nal question, and the General Godvernment has added to the department of agricul ture a department of good roads in qjuiry, and Mr. Brownlec nowv has a bill in CJongress providling for national aIid under certain conditions. But we- must at last dopenid uiponi our se'lves for this great work. It is true, hosvover, that something must be done if we are to get the best re suits from the free rural mail service which in the past, few years has grown so rapidly anmd isu such a con venirence to our farmers andl of so great practical benefIt to this coun The condit ionis of ou r public high ways is an essential factor in the ex tension and oflicienicy of tis service. The Post master General in a recent report, in speaking of this subject, said: "Good roadts become indis pousab1le, andl thc-ir improvement is he essential condit ion of the service." In the State of Newv Jersey, one of t.he leading States ini this move merit, alnd where they have a com missioner or public roads, arid o property tax for macadamizing and permanently improving the public highways, the commissioner said in op- of his reports: "The people seem to be so wonderfully impressed with the idea that by good roads the value of land will be increased, trans portation cheapened, travel and busi near attracted, school houses and churches filled, and civilization ad vanced, that they are praying as earnestly for them as for great riches." The trouble is to keep them from over burdening themselves. I want to say to the gentleman who said the other day that he did not think it good business judgment or right to leave a debt to be paid by his chil dren, that if he will leave an inherit ance of bonds, the proceeds of which have been invested in good and per mauent roads, his children will owe him a debt of gratitude which they can only pay by further improve ment of the public roads for the benefit of their children even if they have to transmit to a succeeding generation this inheritance of bonds. It is a saying amongst the Arabs that "lie who drinks of the Nile must ever after thirst; no other water can ever again quench or satisfy." So, Mr. Speaker, if we give the people of South Carolina a taste of good roads they will never again be willing to plod their way through mud and sand, unless the two be mixed so as to make a Macadam road. Mr. Speaker, if we are to have good schools, if we are to expect our people to remain in the country and the sturdy yeomanry of the rural districts have ever been the bulwark and defence of our country in times of peril-we must do something for our roads. We are two thousand years behind the times. We are told in history that the strongest ties that held the Roman Empire together for so many generations were the old Roman roads, ana in later years they were of great bene'it to the com mercial interests of Rome. We lead all the nations of the world in many things, but. the condition of our pub lie roads today, after more than a century and a quarter of national existence, is a blot. upon our civilira tion. This bill simply gives the people of any county the opportunity to de termine for themselves whether or not they desire to take a forward step and get out of the mud. It lays no burden upon them except, as they may have the wisdom to lay it upon themselves. If any county does not desire to do it there is no compul sion. I am fnlly persuaded that tax ation is the only plan by which we can accomplish any results. I fur ther believe that it is the right and the equitable mode, I believe that the farmers want it. I know that it is right that they should have a prop - erty tax for road building. "The farms of the United States coi'npose less than one fourth of the total property of the country, yet that small fraction pays the whole cost of building roads. The injustice of the system is not fully appreciated by the farmers." I hope the bill will pass. Mr Williamnu and Mr Mauldmn op posed the bill because of the dangers of bond issues. Mr Pearmani, of Andeorson, wvanted the House to panse before placing more debt on the people. '[le coun ties are improving their roads as they can afford. It is arn easy i ng to get in debt, but hard to get out. Mr Wingo saidl it was frightful the way people were willing to go into debt. lHe vigorously opposed the bill. Mr Lyles oppos4ed the bill buecause the counties were already bond1( bar dened, anid lhe feaired it would get the negro back in to polit ics. Mr Cooper- had no fear of the ne gro vote. T[he simple quiest ion was whether the various countiesd should thems~elves be allownd to vole upon a bond issue for good roadsH. Thuose wvho do riot want such a bond1( issuf need niot vote that way. Mr D)eBruhl regarded this as f most (dangerouls proposition. T'he hjll was killedi. Bags of gold make steady ballasi for theoretic phianthr,-py. STATE GOOD ROADS CONVENTION MEETS. GOV. HEY WARD ADDRESSES DBLB GATES AT THE OUTSET. Memorial to the Genera, Assembly Adopted -Officers Reelected-Other Business Of Importance. [The State, 4th.] The annual convention of the South Carolina Good Roads association is now being held in this city. All of yesterday morning and a part of last evening was consumed in addresses, organization and the formulation of suitable resolutions to submit to the general assembly. Remarks on the work being done in many of the counties were made at the evening session by the supervisors present. The convention was o 9ned with an impressive prayer by Rev. J. F. Beasley. An address of welcome was made by Hon. Francis H. Weston and Governor Heyward then spoke for a few minutes in an enthusiastic man nor upon the purpose of the conven tion and the subject with which it was dealing. Governor Hey ward be lieves that the success of the move ment can be accomplished through taxation and by the bond system. He assured the members that he would heartily render them any aid in his power. Mr. F. H. Hyatt, the president of the association, then addressed the meeting chiefly upon the Brownlow bill recently introduced in congress providing for a national appropria tion for the good roads movement. The roll was called by State Geolo gist Earle Sloan, the secretary, and about 40 members responded. The minutes of the meeting held at Greenville on December 19 last were read and the former officers were then reelected -y acclamation. They are F. H. Hyatt, president; Earle Sloan, of Charleston, secretary, and B F. Talley, of Anderson, treas urer. A committee of live was appointed for the purpose of drawing up suita ble resolutions and memorials to be submitted to the legislature. The members of the committee were J. M. Major, Greenwood; C. D. Smith, Greenville; E. McI. Williamson, Dar lington; S. H. Owens, Richland; W. P. Cautwell, Charleston, and the president, ex officio, chairman. The convention then took a recess until 7.30 o'clock last evening when the resolutions prepared by the com mittee were submitted and discussed. The resolutions as adopted read as follows: Whereas the development of the resources and industries and the ad vancemnent of the highest civilization of this State largely depend upon the highways and the condition of these highways at p)resenit renders them oxtremely difficult of travel, the improvement of these highways becomes an imperative ne'iessity for which the present stat utory provi sions are lamentably inadequate, therefore be it Resolved, That the honorable leg. islature now in session be earnestly morialized to enact such legislation as will r-elieve the oppressive burdeons of almost impossible travel to the mnart of trade, to the school houses and to the churches. T1hat th i- hion orable body be petit ioned accordinigly to grant the following prayers, to wit: 1. That the respective counities be authorized1 t.o i.sue county bonds(1 for the b)ettermnenit of thiir public hiigh. ways and bridges, provided the ma~ jority of such qunahlfed electors as are freeholuders may so dlecido in an election to be called by the county comm issioners. 2. That the respetive boards of county commiisoers of t his State be anthoriz,ed to institute a tax levy for the improvement of their respective roadls ando bridlges. 3. That the honorable legislature will enjoin upon01 our representatives ini congress the imnportance of accord ing their earnest support to the measure now p)endling before that body which provides for national co opuerationi ini the improvement of nah. lie highways, the same being essen tial to the ready transmission of the United States mails. 4. That the honorable senate be urged to enact the measure approved by the honoreble house which pro. vides that all convicts under sentence to penal servitude for a period of 10 years or less shall serve on the cha'n. gangs of the respective counties in which they have been convicted. 5. Resolved, That the chairman thall appoint a committee, of which he shall he cx officio chairman, to bender a copy of those rotilutions to the appropriate committees of the ienate and house and to urge that hey grant the relief herein prayed. The second section at first indi 3ated that each township might be ,axed at the discretion of a majority )f its free holders but this was hought inadvisable and that section vas so altered as to force the richer ownships to help the poorer ones in ase of a tax levy. The following resolution was tinan. mously adopted: IHosolved, That the most earnest. 4xpression of grateful appreciation >) extentded to his excellency, Gov )rnor D. C. Heyward, for his warm ympathies and very activo coopora. ion with the Good Roads Associa ion of South Carolina, and that we hank him for his able address on he subject. of "Good Roads." The president announced that the 3ounty supervisors would then be iear(1 from in nl phabet ical order, an o the progress of the good roads niovenent in their respective coun Ass. Each gentleman's talk was )rief but of great interest to the nembers of the convention. The mubjecits chiefly dealt with were road natorial, food for convicts, their shol. er, the cost of keeping them, the ad rantage of State prisoners as coim >ared with chaingang prisoners, long ,erm men as compared with short term men, free labor, hired labor, road machimes, etc. County Supervisors 0. I. Nickels, )f Abbeville, ). C. Bruce, of Bam herg, J. 0. Carby, of Chester, Owens >f Clarendon, J. B. Mc Bride, of Flor ?nce, J. H. Road, of Georgetown, J. E. Speigel of Groenville, and J. M. Major of (iroeiville spoke. .rho convention t hen took a recess antil thin morning at 10 o'clock, when the remainder of the business will be disposod of. Among those in attendanco upon he convention are as follows: Abbeville---G. HI. Nickels. Bamnberg-D1. C. Bruce. Barnwell -A. W. Barker. Berkley-J. H1. itairly. Charleston-WX. P. Canitwell. Cherokee-J. V. WVhtlhol. Chester-Ji. 0. D)arby. Cl arendon-Owens. Colleton-J. V. Moore. Dorchester-J. HI. Knight. Fairfield-A. F. Hood. Florence-- - J. B. McBride. Greenville--J. E. Speigle. Groonwool-J. M. Major. Lancaster-L--t. J. Boyd. Marlboro -M. E'. Coward. Orangeburg--0. M. D)antzler. Pickonii-L. D). Stephens. Ric,hland-S. II. Owens. Saluda-B. Matthews. Sumter-W ~. HI. Seal. Will iamsburg----J . ,J. (Graham. L,ee--J. 0. Djeflant. D)arlington-- . M. Winsron. l"lorenmce--- 1). HI. TUrexer. GbreonvilheE.J L. Walker, C. D). Smithb. Oconee- ---0. F'. Stal vey. I(ichmland-- -D). C. Soutsburg and B M. D)ouglas. Snmtor---Q. T1. McNeil. Iteflections of a Blachelor. A pretty face for a sweetheart, a pure one for a wife. When a mian is poor he has a large sense oIf his responsibi lity to his fol low men: when rnot, of the responsi bility of his fellow nme. to him. There is such a curious twist to a woman's mind t hat she cani make her. self b)elievo, one of her fibs is the truth wheni she can't make ainybody else hali,, e it.Nw York 19.. CHARLESTON MAY BE SAYED FROM CRUM. THE SENATE COMMITTEE NOT LIKELY TO VOTE ON HIS CASE. Chances of Rejection Greater Than those Of Confirmation-The Committee to Consider the Case. [News and Courier.] Washington, Flruary 3.-There seems one very good chance by which the citizent, of Charleston may escape having Dr. Crum made col lector of the port. This would be through having the committee on commerce fail to take a vote. In that event the Crum nomination would die so far as this Congress is concerned, and the President will have to face the alternative of mak ing a new appointment. He could either appoint Dr. Crum over again or select some white man who would be acceptable to the business com munity. In this way the Senate would avoid the appearance of an tagonizing the President and the President would not have the humiliation of seeing his selection for the place rejected. Should this come to pass it is believed to be doubtful whether the Pres ident would reappoint Dr. Crum. lie would have an opportunity of naming someono else, and yet not be iii the position of having been forced to do so by a Senate coin posed large ly of his own party. It was definite ly announced today wiat the Presi dent would under no circumstances withdraw the nomination of Dr. Crum under pressure. This state ment was m- de by Senator Depew, of New York, a member of the com mnerce committee. The President would be gratified to have Dr. Crum confirmed. At the same time he is conscious of the criticism the appointment has pro voked, but. insists that he has not been at all radical in showing favors to the negroes of South Carolina. Dr. Crum is the only South Carolina colored man whom he has appointed, and this is a more conservative re cord than any previous Republican President has made. The commerce committee at the present stands eight to eight. The committee i3 comp1)ose(d of ten Republicans and six Democrats. The Repm'olicans are Frye of Maine, Elkins of West Virginia, Nelson of Minnesota, Gal linger of New Hampshire, Penrose of Pennsylvania, Hanna of Ohio, Mason of Illinois, Dopew of New York, Jones of Nevada arnd Perkins of California. Trhe Democrats are Vest of Missori, Berry of Arkansas, Turner of Washingtoni, Martin of Virginia, Clay of Georgia and Mallo ry of Florida. Senators Jones and Perkins are siding wvith the D)emo crats and are in favor of rejecting the nomination. This makes the tie. Nelson and Elkins would be in favor of the committee taking no action until the (death of the present Con gross, in the hope that the President would then make the selection of a white Republican. Senators P.en rose and Gallinger believe that the appointment is an injudicious one, but will not make any move to break with the President. Th'us it is seen that unless the position in the comn mittee changes it not likely to re port oni the Crum case this sessioni. If there is change it is quite as likely to be in favor of the rejection of Dr, Crum as it is to be0 in favor of his con firm at ion. SlIoN 01 sOMETIiN( TO 1nH IONE. There i mst be "somet hing dloing," or about to be done, as Cript John Capers anid Postmaster Harris, of Charleston, are hero mingling with Senator McLaurin. The trio occu pied a private b)ox at the National Tlhoatre tonight to witness the per formance of Ethel Biarrymore. In the box immediately under the South Carolina triumvirate were Misi, Alice Roosevelt, Secretary and Mrs Rot', Col and Mrs Clarence Edwards. It is said that. Capt Capers and Post master HarrriA are hero in conneet tion with the Crum case which conmes up for consideration before the Sen ate comtmerce co mmiittee on 'LTm urs day next