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VOL. XXI, NO. 13. DARLINGTON, S. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1894. WHOLE NUMBER 999. LOCAL LACONICS. MATTERS IN AND AROUND PROS PEROUS DARLINGTON. A Column of New*, Tersely Told, of Interest to Our Many Readers. Next Monday will be sales day. The Court of Common Pleas adjourned sine die on Friday. Mrs. T. G. Patrick, of Auder- son, is visiting her daughter, Mrs. H. A. Edwards. Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Everett, of Bennettsville, ate visiting Dr. and Mrs. W. B. McGirt. Rev. R. W. Sanders, pastor of the Baptist Church at Flor* ence, visited Darlington this week. Mr. R. G. Pace, the practical scale man, has an advertise ment in this issue that will in terest grocers. A special meeting of the Dar lington Building and Loan As sociation is called for to-morrow (Friday) evening. Notwithstanding the absence ofRev. J. G. Law from town, services will be held in the Presbyterian Church as usual on Sunday next. On account of the rush of matter that came in yesterday we have been compelled to omit the editorials and many items of general news. We advise all ladies who are in search of spring goods to read Messrs Norment & Co’s adver tisement. They will find in it much to their advantage. A. F. Honour treated The News office a few days since to a nice lot of milk toast and ban quet wafers. They are certain ly delicious and are fit for any table. We are glad to note that the town authorities are improving the drainage of the business portion of Pearl Street. We nope that they will not stop un til that section of the street is thoroughly drained. Mr. T. Tracy Walsh having left Darlington to return to his duties at the University of the South, the regular lay services at the Episcopal Church will be resumed on Sunday morning next, at 11.30 o’clock. The Florence District Confer ence will will meet in the Meth odist Church at this place this (Thursday) morning and will continue in session until Sunday night. Most of the delegates have already arrived. A stock company has been organized in Darlington for the purpose of promoting the base ball sport. Work will be begun in a few days upon the erection of a parkjaear the Mayo School. The boys promise ijome fine sport this season. The attention of the traveling public of this section is called to the advertisement of the boarding house of Mrs. Amanda Davis, of Charleston. Her house is located opposite the Citadel Academy, convenient to all points of the pjty. No one relished the cold snap that came the early part of this week. A long season of the balmy spring had made us think that winter was over. The freeae has killed the gardens and fruit and done great dam age to crops generally. As the appointment of Mr. A. A. Gandy as postmaster at this place will make a vacancy upon the board of county commission ers, the politicians are already speculating upon his successor. We have heard the names Mr. 8. B. Gandy, Capt. Robt. Dick inson and Mr. B. C. Lampley . mentioned in this connection, though we cannot state positive ly whether any of them are can didates for the office. The po sition is filled by appointment py the Governor. On Fi-jdfiy la8 t an imported liquor spy, J. D. McLendon, and Mr. Paul Rogers, the clerk at the Enterprise Hotel, became engaged in a difficulty, when the spy pulled out his pistol. By-standers interfered and pre vented further trouble. The af fair occurred in the dispensary. Mr. Rogers preferred charges against his antagonist to the municipal authorities and the Mayor gave McLendon a trial on the following day, with the result that he was fined $5 for attempted assault. it is TRUE. A Lady's Trunk was Broken Open and Contents Damaged on Saturday. On Sunday morning last a re part was circulated around town that spies had broken a lady’s trunk and damaged the contents at the A. C. L. depot on the afternoon previous in search for contraband liquor. The lady is not a resident of the town, but the fact that she is a lady and was unprotected added greatly to the feeling of indig nation that spread through Darlington. The citizens were thoroughly aroused and were determined to put a stop to such outrageous conduct. The only thing that prevented trouble was the fact that investigation failed to prove that the indigni ty was committed. The rail road officials knew nothing about it and no one could be be found who did. Excitement quieted down on the belief that the rumor was untrue. The News wishing to get at the truth of the matter pushed the investigation further, and this paper now has in its posses sion a letter from the lady her self who writes that the trunk was broken. She says, “the trunk has a hole two inches large in the bottom, also split ever so far. Everything was in perfect confusion and some of the contents damaged by small holes. It is a certain fact that someone had been in it. * * * Nothing was missing.” So it will be seen that the trunk was broken and the con tents damaged, but the question is, who did it ? The lady lives in Marion and she was on her way to the western part of the county where she teaches school. Whoever committed the act has insulted a lady! In justice to the only two State constables that were in town when the outrage occurred —Swann and McLendon—we will state that they both em phatically deny having done it and their denials are borne out by what the railroad officials say on the subject. Mr. J. H. Winburn has erect ed his photo, tent on the west side of the Square. His photos, are as fine as are made in the State. He will remain but a short time and hopes to be kept busy during his stay. Fine ground coffee 30c per lb. M. J. West. Fresh fruits and vegetables at Coggeshall & Co’s. THEY THREATEN PUNISHMENT TO MR. JAMES DOUGHAN. Base ball goods, croquet sets and a sporting goods at store. Hi* hammocks, full line of the Book THE SPRING OPENING. Messrs. S. A. Woods & Co. Are to be Congratulated upon their Success. It is impossible in our limited space to do justice to Messrs S A. Woods & Co’s, magnificent opening. To give it the extend ed notice it deserves, that is to mention every detail worthy of particular note, would require ar more space than is at our command. The opening was jiven on yesterday and the day jefore. Ladies from the town and county crowded the store on both days. The beautiful array of ladies’ goods of every character, style and q ’ality seemed to be endless. It is im f easible to reproduce on paper he effect of the fairy-like scene; t is necessary for one to have seen it in order to appreciate it We do not hesitate to say that of the many handsome open ings that have been given in Darlington this one was decid edly the handsomest of all. Mes srs 8. A. Woods & Co. are to be congratulated upon their great success. The lace curtains were won by the holder of ticket number 158. Who is the lucky lady? By calling at 8. A. Woods & Co’s store she may get the pur- tains. Butternuts 9o per lb. Cogge shall & Co, WHITE CAPS ABROAD. the Reply to Them—Who May Whitecaps be?—An Interest ing Mystery. The following appeared in the last issue of the Florence Times: “A CARD. Mr. Douan, “Sir: I will write yon just a word or two in reference to the way you have been treating your family. Now this has gone on long enough and we the neighbors and citizens of this community advise you as friends to never let this happen any more. If so we are going to come and take you out and give you a good thrashing. Take warning we don't want to hear any more of it for if we do we will do pou up in good shape. You ought to ye ashamed of yourself. You are more like a brute than human. Now you had better mind what you are doing. We are going to watch you close, and if we hear any more of it we are coming after you. “Respectfully, “The Country and Community. I received the above commu nication a few days ago post marked at Florence, S. C., and have it published, that I may be defended before the public from such base accusations which were evidently instigated by some cowardly and meddle some enemy. I am perfectly willing for the decent people of the country and community to investigate my conduct in the treatment of my family if they so desire and, if they find that I mistreat them, to blast my na ne as it deserves and to have me punished to the full extent of the law and it is also just and right that the good and law- abiding people of the “country and community” should know there is one or more cowardly villains abroad in their midst, who, for some private spite, takes the sneaking and coward ly mode of,writing anonymous letters to gratify their wrongful spite, and without the manhood to come out and say what is and ask a manly reparation. I have lived at the same spot where I now live, about five miles from Florence, for Jthe past twenty-five years, and I am perfectly willing for those who have known me best and longest to judge as to the truth of the base charges above, but as to the men or set of men who instigated them I desire to ex press my contempt and will give them something more forcible should they attempt to regulate my domestic affairs. Speak of a man as you find him, No matter what others may say, Speak of a man as you find him. From faults there is none of us free.” James Doughan. For sale at great bargains for cash—a lot of second-hand sew ing machines, many of them practically as good as new; ap ply at this office. Canned peaches at 10c a can at C. & Co’s ; ^ Hard time prices on Domestic sewing machines; $45 the for mer price, $25 the present price, $20 saved on each machine. McCall & Burch. EASTER SERVICES. Beautiful and Imposing Commemora tions of the Resurrection. Easter was a gloomy day. On the night before the rain began to fall and it continued to pour during the whole of Sunday. Despite the inclemency of the weather, however, interesting services appropriate to the oc casion were held in the Metho diet and Episcopal churches and these houses of worship were as usual beautifully decorated. The Methodist Church was arrayed in most becoming de corations. Myriad plants and cut flowers vied with one anoth er in point of beauty. A py ramid of handsome callas form ed a background for the pulpit which was draped in nun’s-veil- ing gracefully festooned with white wisteria and azaleas. On either side of the pulpit were stands of potted plants, at the base of which were handsome palms and airy Paris daises. To the right of the chancel was a touching memorial to the late Mrs. Woods. The base was formed of white and green and it was surmounted by a pure white cross twined in smilax and bearing the letters “M. J. W.” worked in evergreen. Services were conducted in the morning by the pastor Rev. J. E. Carlisle. The rain did not prevent a large congregation from attending. Mr. Carlisle delivered an excellent sermon, taking his text from Romans VI, 9: “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him”. In the Episcopal Church the Easter emblems were never more lovely. The windows were closed and the brilliantly light ed Church made the effect very striking, though the utmost simplicity prevailed in the floral arrangements. On the altar were bases of Parian marble and carved wood holding white azaleas and the cross was trim med with Easter roses. The font was used as the basis for a lovely arrangement of flowers in memory of Mrs. 8. M. Wag ner and was rendered more beautiful by the proximity of a cross of cedar rising from a bank of lilies and daises and massed with the most brilliant blooms of red geraniums. In this church, too, a large congregation attended, despite the bad weather, the services which were held at four o’clock in the afternoon by Rev. R. W. Barnwell, who took the text for an able sermon from John’s First Episte I, 5: “This then is the message we have heard of him, and declare unto vou, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all”. GIVEN HIS LIBERTY. THE LAMAR FIGHT. Ths Advocates of a Dispensary Have an Election "All by Themselves”. An election was held in La mar on Monday, bjr order of the new town council, upon the Q uestion of dispensary or no ispensary. The dispensary- ites carried t^e day. Tne oppo nents of the dispensary refrain ed from voting and every ballot cast, excepting one, was in favor of the State bar. The anti-dispensaryites did not participate in the election be cause they took no stock in it, considering the election illegal. It's stated that shoqld the State and county hoards decide to give Lamar a dispensary the opponents of the “step towards prohibition” wiil carry the fight into the courts. Apricots, 15c can. 0. (St Co. Fine table syrup, 50c per gal. M. J. West. See tlig samples of photo graphs at Winbum’s gallery on Court House Square. They are fine. Can cherries, 20c. M. J. West. Fine line of men’s and ladies’ purses just received at the Book store. _ For artistic photography IVinbiirn’s work is hard to dowq. Tenney’s and Royster’s candies at C. & Co’s. fine Flower pots cheap at Cogge shall & Co’s. Ginger preserves, 60c jar for 45c. M. J. West. For grain and mill feed at bot tom prices call at C. & Co’s. THE PROFITS WITHHELD. The Stele Board of Control Will Here after Give Darlington Nothing. As a result of the controversy between the town authorities and the State board of control in regard to the disoensary pro fits, Mayor Dargan received yesterday the following letter from Governor Tillman: Mayor and City Connell, Darlington S* C. Gentlemen: It has been apparent to ns for some time that the city authorities and the police of Darlington were making no effort to suppress the illicit sate of liquor as required under the dispen sary law. We have waited patiently hoping for a change of policy on you' part. But as there are no indication of any purpose to do more than you are doing, and as we are informed by th< constables^ .iat the police are ob structing rather than assisting them, aotioe Is hereby given that after the first day of April no part of the pro ceeds of the dispensary will be paid to the city until the State board becomes satisfied that your police are enforcing the law. Very respectfully, B.K. TILLMAN, Gov. and Ohm. Board. When asked by a represent ative of The News what would be the next step he would take in the matter, tne Mayor replied that he had nothing as yet to give out for publication. Flour, 40 pouuds for J. West. M. Three of the very best papers of their kind in the country, the Weekly News, a id Courier and the Southern Cultivator, and Tre Darlington News will all be sent to any address for ons year for $2.45. 4t Gold dust washing powder at C. &. Go’s. 1 itti i-m Large bottle pickles 40c. M. J. West. < Fresh pickles and preserves at Coggeshall & Go’s. Wheat flakes at 0. $ Co’». one JOSEPH W. JAMES PARDONED BY GOVERNOR TILLMAN. The End of Darlington's Famous Case — How the Pardon was Secured. [The State, Mch. 24.] The closing scene in a trage dy, the details of which rival the best story of fiction, was enacted yesterday, when Joseph W. James, a white mau, who has faced the gallows and who has for the past six years looked through prison bars with no other prospect than ending his days behind them, went home to his young wife in Darlington county under the escort of many of the men of prominence of that county, a free man. About seven years ago this man was wealthy, being worth $30,000. He was happy. Then his father was murdered, and around him was woven a web of evidence which was so strong that the crime was laid at his door. Since May, 1892, Joseph W. James has been an inmate of the State prison. All are fa miliar with the details of the terrible crime of which he was found guilty, and all remember how near he came to being hanged. Mr. Cole, at the time sheriff of Darlington county .worked upthe case. He believed that the young man was guilty, and since his conviction has brought suit against him in the State courts to secure the $1,000 reward he had offered for the detection of the murderer of his father. This case will hardly be pushed now, as Mr. Cole is one of those who have been instrumental in se curing the pardon of James. The young man, when he went to the State prison, as he thought, to spend the remainder of his days, placed his fortune in the bauds of some friends. Through bad investmeuts it has nearly all been lost. James was at tbe March term of court, 1890, tried for the murder of his father, and upon conviction was sentenced to hang on June 10, 1892. He had previously been convicted, once before Judge Pressley, and one other trial resulted in a mistrial. Just about the time for the exe cution to take place, the negro being still at large, and other strong facts being presented to the Governor, a commutation of sentence to life imprisonment in the State penitentiary was granted by Governor Tillman on the 23d day of May, 1892. As soon as the pardon was granted yesterday morning a telephone message was sent to the officers of the penitentiary instructing them to have James ready to take the afternoon train for his home. HOW IT CAME ABOUT. A few days ago Governor Tillman received a request from the Hon. E. K. Dargan, James’ attorney in Darlington, asking i f his excellency would receive a committee of the citizens of Darlington county if they came to Columbia yesterday. He did net sajr what they wanted. The committee came yesterday morning. It consisted of the following gentlemen : B. A. Sarly, foreman of the grand ; ury which heard James’ case; J. W. Woodham, J. W. DuBose, W. F. Early, J. 8. DuBose, member of the House from Dar lington county; T. H. Stokes and W. H. Lawrence. They called upon Governor Tillman at his office and pre sented the developments in this famous case which they had un earthed, together with proof of everything they presented. They also presented petitions signed by over fifteen nundred of the best citizens of their county asking the pardon of young James. They presented to the Gover nor the following paper signed by each of the committee, cov ering briefly all the other pa pers in the case: Darlington, Mar. 22, ’94. Governor B. R. Tillman, Colum' bia, 8- C.: Dear Sir—We, the undersign ed citizens of Darlington coun ty appearing in person {before your excellency respectfully pe tition you to pardon Joseph W. James because he was convictec on circumstantial evidence, bol of ac- stered up by the testimony one who called 'himself an i complice, and a majority of the white people of Darlington county, as appears from the ac companying papers, are dissat isfied with the verdict. The residents of the immediate neighborhood in which the mur der was committed are all unan imous in their belief in the in nocence of the defendant who has already suffered greatly as the result of his conviction. The petition for pardon is signed by the prosecutor, Ex- Sheriff W. P. Cole, the man to whose efforts more than any thing else the conviction was due, and by the foreman of the jury, who does not feel satisfied and who now comes to you in person to urge you to grant this pardon. It is signed by two of the members of the Legislature from this county and by most of the county officers, and by a majority of the white people of Darlington county. A striking feature of this petition is the large number of women who implore pardon for this poor friendless man. When the good women of Darlington county rise up in large numbers and ask as they have done in this case to be allowed to sign a pe tition of a man charged with murder there is something worth investigating. A good woman’s intuition is often worth as much in helping us to form a conclu sion as a wise man’s reason. It is worthy of notice in passing that the presiding judge of this circuit, who has followed the case closely, holds the opinion, as will be seen from his letter accompanying this petition, that the defendant did not have a fair trial. Our committee comes from different localities of the county and are familiar with the sentiments of their neighbors as regards this case. We beg to assure your excel lency that the people almost un animously declare for the par don of Joseph W. James. With this expression of the highest regard and esteem, and invoking your clemency, your committee will ever pray. [Sign ed] T. H. Stokes, W. H. Law rence, B. A. Early, J. W. Wood- ham, J. W. DuBose, W. F. Ear ly, J. 8. DuBose. READS LIKE FICTION. The committee then presented the entire case to the Governor as follows. The story is one of intense and romantic interest: “Jos. W. James was convict ed on testimony which was purely circumstantial, the ground work on which all the evidence against him was con structed being the confessions of one Bill Scott, the negro thief and blackleg, who had served a term in the penitentiary. This negro turned State’s evidence and when placed on the stand testified in substance, that the fatal shot was fired by Lewis Williams, he (Scott) and one Robert Arthur being present to see the work well done; that the gun used was his (Scott’s) and that the party had been hired Jy Jos. W. James to commit the deed. Jos. W. James and Lewis Williams were tried separately, were both convicted and were sentenced to be hung on June 10, 1892, and the sentence of both was subsequently com muted by the Governor to im prisonment in the penitentiary life. Lewis Williams died that institution several months ago. The attention of the execu tive is most earnestly called to the fact that if the testimony of Scott, the ex-convict and self- confessed assassin, be eliminat ed from the record, ihe balance of the State’s testimony will be found as ‘thin as air,’ and will !iave literally nothing to sup port it. On the other hand, if permitted to remain as a part of the record in the considera tion of this case, how much weight must the executive give to the following facts. 1. That the witness, Scott, has said, more than once, off the stand, that Jos. W. James had nothing to do with the case. 2. That the defendant, Lewis Williams, after his conviction and in the very shadow of the scaffold as he verily believed, made no less than three full and voluntary confessions, which tallied with the confessions of Scott in all essential particulars, except that he (Williams) never once men tioned the name of Jos. W. James in connection with tbe affair and that it was not he, (Williams) but Scott who fired the fatal shot. 3. That it is commonlv believed by those who in the main credit Scott’s story and regard James or m THE FL0R4L FAIR. PREPARATIONS BEGUN FOR ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW. THE Ths Dates Fixed. Judges Selected and Premium List Arranged—Two Evenings of Pleasure. The Darlington Horticultural Society has decided to hold the annual floral fair on Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27. The spacious hall in the Darling ton Guards’ Armory has been secured for the purpose. The ladies are busily preparing for the event, which they promise to make an unusually great suc cess. The following premium list has been arranged: ROSES. Judges—Mrs. H. L. Charles, Mrs. L. V. Zimmerman, Miss Mollie Boyd. Best twelve named and dis tinct varieties, $2. Second best twelve named and distinct varieties, $1. Best six named and distinct varieties, $2. Second 6 best named and dis tinct varieties, $1. Best single specimen of any named variety, $1. Second best single specimen of any named variety, 60 cents. Best vase of roses not named. $1. Best twenty-four roses not named, $2. Best design in cut flowers, $1. Best vase of mixed flowers, $1. In the collection of roses there must be three specimens of each variety in each cup. GREENHOUSE PLANTS. Judges—Mrs. C. Bacot Law, Mrs. J. J. Ward, Mr. W. D. Woods. Best collection of greenhouse plants, $2. Second best collection of green house plants, $1. Lest collection of begonias, $2. Best collection of lilies, $1. Best hanging basket, $1. Best pansies, $1. Best collection ot ferns, $1. Best palm, $1. VEGETABLES. Judges—Mrs. C. Bacot Law, Mrs. J. J. Ward, Mr. W. D. Woods. Best collection of vegetables, $1. Best strawberries, not less thana > ^2£i»^i;^___^___ !! Our New Dress Goods and!! » » « • ! ITrimmings are now open and!! < > <« ! !we solicit a careful examina-!|! ! !tion of our new styles. ; ;AII the New Seasonable Fab*x rics in Correct Styles at very Low Prices. . IMPORTED NOVELTY ROBES. + DRESS SILKS, FIGURED WASH SILKS FOR t WAISTS, DRESS GOODS AT ALL PRICES,!! NEW LACES AND EM BROIDERIES, ! !NEW TRIMMINGS, ASSORTED.,! Printed Molls, Swisses, Dimitys, ! iMnslins and other Popnlar Sum ' 'Goods. Thompson's Glove-Fitting Corset <. at 90 cente. <; Also, Beet 90c Corset ever made. ■; (Continued on Page 2.) ! Our goods are all new and!! Are offered at prices that we!! « * ! know will please. Respectfully, iflomnt & Cii. j[Mar 29— ■»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ »♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*