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m IKUI-HMT USE. oodrr room at Georgetown PACKED WITH SPECTATORS. lHwoing of the Tragedy, ot Murren * IsUet In Georgetown County la September, by Which Young Mrs. Bighorn Lost Her IJfc, Begun Yce terdey?Avant Admits Plrhig the Fetal Ahot. Georgetown. Oct. 11.?Two men, .rcely pest the years of youth, are on trial here, charted with the kill? ing of the girl wife of one of them. G. C. Blfham, the husband and W. Avant, the friend, are the only or ?es who know all th&t happened on the evening Ruth Crlup Bigham met her death. Out on a lonely beach, with no witnesses save the silent wa? ters of the little Inlet, the tragedy which resulted In the death of the wife of Dr. Btgham occurred. Ac? cording to the two men. neither knew It wit the wife of Bigham at whom the fatal ahot was fired. Both claim that thsy had no knowledge of the Identity of the woman that walked upon the beach shortly after sundown on September 4. , With hsr life cut short within two minutes of the firing of the gun. the woman hsd no chance to tell ' the world of the msnncr of the shooting. She could not tell those who hastened to her tide at the sound of the re? port who shot her nor give a mo? tive. If motive there was, for the shoot" tng. But from the lips of Avant himself It hag developed that he fired the gun. It was he who sent to her death the wife of his friend. But why he killed mnor has not been established. The f theorise aa to her death range from the possibility of a cold-blooded mur? der to that of a mere accident. Prom the moment the husband cried out in agony on the beach. "Oh. God, you have killed my little wife." to the time when the trial Is entered Into land the State's witnesses examined, the affair haa remained a mystery. What further developments may come from the Hps of those who were near cannot ba guessed, The Stats put up four witnesses to? day, and In early all details these wlt Sweaese' statements agreed. That Blg nam and Avant were together on the evening of the tragedy, walked from Sunnyslde. the home of Avant, out on the beach of Murrell's Inlet, followed aa object that passed from around the horns, and when, not receiving a .response to their call as to what it wished, the gun was ft red by Avant at tha request of lilgham, are state? ments mads by the defendants on the night of the shooting. This and other explanations of various details of the affair were made by the State's wlt ' nasses. The msln feature of the State's position was to show that It was not sufficiently dark for one at close range not to have been able to dlacern objects on the beach. To prove this tests hsve been made out at the Inlet under the same conditions I existing at the time of the shooting, aa near aa could be brought about. I**t Saturday night, at about the same hour the shooting occurred, sev? eral of the witnesses went to the Inlet and tested the sound of the voice, the uaehes of a gun and the distances at which persons could be seen walking i on the beach. From these tests It waa apparent that in the dusk of an evening one hour after the sun had gone down a man could be recognised walking on the beach at some dis? tance from Sunnyslde. On the evening the tragedy took ' place Ruth Bigham walked from her room In Sunnyslde. Over the bathing suit that she wore was thrown a rain coat. As she turned the corner of the home her husband and Avant, ac? cording to what has been brought out today. In doubt as to what the object might be. ran Into the hous-*, secur? ed a gun and followed her < own the beach. "Who Is It?" they say they cried out repeatedly. When no an- 1 swer came. "Shall I fire," asked Avant. "Yes." said Bigham, perhaps little dreaming that it was bis own wife whose death sentence he pro? nounced. The stockholders of the Monarch Cotton Mills at Union are discussing plans for increasing the capital stock fr .m $750.000 to $1,150,000. Half I hundred people of Union bounty are attending fed era court in l; t snvllle. Ih>\\ s THIS? We offer one Hundred Dollars Re? ward for any ease or Catarrh that cannot be cur. d by Hail s Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHUN Bl & < <?.. Toledo, o. We, the undersigned, hive known F. J. Cheney for the last || ye n . sr.d believe him perle? tiy honorable in all business I r.i n-.actions md linan clally able to cair\ out a iy oMIgn Hons mads by his firm. V.'A LD1NG, KINN AN A MARVIN. ITholeoadi Braggarts, Toledo, o. Hall s Outarrh Core Is taken Inter? nally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price 75c. per bottle. Bold by alt Druggists. Take Hall s Family Pill * for con? stipation. 10-4- lm. MURDER TRIAL AT GEORGE? TOWN RESULTS IN CONVIC? TION. Defendant* Found Guilty of Man slaughter In Having Shot Dr. Big ham's Young Wife to Death on Evening of September 4, at Mur retrs Inlet?Sentence of Three and A Half Years In Penitentiary Im? posed. Georgetown,' Oct. 22.?Three years j and six months within the wails of the State penitentiary will give G. C. Bigham and W. B. Avant time to pic? ture to themselves again and again that September evening when a gun in the hands of the one sent to her death the young wife of the other. To the husband will come the vision of the beautiful bride, near whom he stood and saw killed by his bogt friend. It is the verdict of the Jury in the case of Bigham and W. B. Avant that they were guilty of man? slaughter. It is the sentence oi the court that the defendants shall be confined at hard labor in the peniten? tiary for three and a half years. The Jury remained out a litle more than two hours. Retiring at 2 o'clock the verdict was returned at 4:15 o'clock this after noon. The Jurors asked for instruc? tions from the Judge once. They were not decided as to whether or not they could find the defendants guilty of manslaughter with recommendation to the mercy of the court and what the effect would be on the sentence. Refusing a motion for a new trial, admirably presented by Attorney Ragsdale, Judge Watts pronounced sentence upon tyii two. young men. The principal ground of the motion for a new trial was based upon the argument that there was no evidence upon which to base the verdict re? turned, which should either have been an acquittal or a verdict of guilty of murder. The defendants were grant? ed bail in the sum of $1,&00 each, upon notice of an appeal being tak? en to the' Supeme Court. Judge Watts said after hearing the argument for a new trial that he did not think the verdict of the Jury should be set aside, taking into consideration all the facts aa brought out by the evidence in the caae. The plsoners stood up to receive the sentence. When the Jury brought in the ver? dict neither Avant nor Bigham show ed and sign? of emotion, but later, as they began to realise that they were found guilty of the killing of Mrs. Bigham. both showed that they were moved. Dr. Bigham completely broke down as he was receiving the sen? tence of the court. "The solicitor worked hard and got all he could out of the case," said Judge Watts. "The defendants were represented by able counsel. I have had considerable experience In crim? inal cases, but this is the most mys? terious and unsatisfactory case I ever tried. I would not have been sur? prised if the two defendants had been acquitted or if they had been convict? ed of murder, but I am of the opin? ion that there was no intention on their part to kill Mrs. Bigham. Great recklessness was shown. The Jury probably found that in the pursuit of an unlawful act a gun was handled in a grossly careless and negligent man? ner. They had a perfect right to find that this was an unintentional kill? ing, constituting manslaughter.*' Judge Watts pointed out that there should be more care in the handling of guns. "But I do not believe," said his honor, "that this was a malicious killing. You must have been fright? ened or rattled. I am going to give you the benefit of these doubts. The killing was pure recklessness. No doubt you have both suffered^already and you will suffer more. In a mo? ment of recklessness the life of a good woman was taken. I know we can't punish the guilty without also punishing the innocent. Your aged mother will suffer, Dr. Bigham. I must say, though, in Justice to you both that there was no malice, in my opinion, in the killing. The sentence Of the court is that each of you be confined at hard labor in the State penitentiary for a period of three yeurs and six months." The dispensary sold $1,160 worth of liquors last Saturday, and for th*' week $3.540. At this rate the entire st<?ck win be sold out before Novem? ber lltlV As only $9,000 worth Of stork WgJ on hand alter taking stock Iget .Monday. Mj-. pate informs us that the Board has tnotlgb In the hank to liquidate ?11 outstanding claims gad has ahout $6,000 over. i ee ( ounty Vindicator. Prof, r. Horton Coloock! head of the department of mathematics at the University Of South ('arolln;i, has made ;i report to <}nv. Ansel which ?hOWS that there is in Marlon county ?noggh territory to spare Dillon 4< o nnleH and yet have Marion with 500. Another obstacle in the way of Dil? lon getting ? new county has been re? moved. TWO VIEWS OF MOTHERHOOD. The "Stone-Woman" of Tokio Would Be a Fashionable Person in New York. Some years ago, an American friend and I were passing through a street in the city of Tokyo, says Ada chl Kinnousuke In The Delineator for November. We came upon a gateway which smiled like a May-day festival, and. like it, was full of people. "What's all this fuss about?" my friend asked me. "Have, they hit a gold mine?" No, they had not. To the good people the occasion meant a deal more than the discovery of gold. It was the coming of a baby. The proud parents were sending out messengers into the four corners of the city an? nouncing the glad tidings of exceed? ing great Joy. And I told my Amer? ican friend: "Do your people make such a fuss about a baby? Babies are born every day in this country, aren't they?'" Which was true. But we look upon this matter entirely in a different way. It may be that this is one of the relics of the past, but we put emphasis upon the continuation of a family line. Confucius, whose ghost is much more powerful in Japan of today than all the prophets and philosophers now living put together, made childless? ness a Just ground for divorce. The coming of the baby means to a moth? er more than meat, aye, more than a fashionable garment. It is the social insignium with the Japanese mother, nothing defines her social rank as fin? ally as the baby. The Nippon society is heartless to the childless mother; it brands her as "the stonewoman," it exposes her to the galling pity of all her more favor? ed sisters. In the sterner days of the samurai ideal, she was an object to be shunned, like a leper. The childless mother did not dare to impose her? self upon society. A rather far cry, this, from the fashionable Fifth ave? nue atmosphere, isn't it? CHILD LABOR IN NEW ENGLAND. Textile Delegates Say There Is More There Than in the Sooth. Washington, Oct. 21.?Whether shorter hours should be contested for in legislative bodies or through the medium of the strike was the subject of an animated discussion before the United Textile Workers of America at its session today. Delegate Morgan, of Patterson, N. J., stirred up an active debate when he declared that the members of the ; legislature of his State weTe elected by corrupt metjiods. He added. "When they get their jobs they con? sider that they belong to them and therefore turn a deaf ear to the ap? peals of laboring men foT remedial legislation." He del are d that textile workers should refuse to work more than eight hours, and when they do that, he said, legislatures win enact laws making eight hours a legal day's la? bor. Delegate Hall, for 18 months a fac? tory inspector of Pennsylvania, called down the plague upon all political par? ties as merely capitalistic organs and advocated the formation of working men's parties, so that labor laws might be enforced. While a Penn? sylvania law forbids the employment of women and children more than 60 hours a week, he said It was constant? ly violated In Philadelphia depart? ment stores, and while he was in of? fice the chief factory inspector had re? fused to take cognizance of these vio? lations. Delegate Thomas McMahon, of Rhode Island, insisted that laboring men in his State sell their votes and no complaint could be made against the action of legislators until that practice was broken up. He said that while a great furore was now be? ing raised to abolish child labor In the South, there were more children employed In Massachusetts than in any State of the South, with the ex? ception of North Carolina. The con? vention approved a committee rec? ommendation that emergency com? mittees be appointed in several sec? tions <ff the country with power to or? der l??cal strikes. Heretofore strikes could be ordered only by the execu? tive council of the association. A resolution was adopted com? mending to all local unions of textile workers the payment of accident ben? efits to their members. ruled the General. A French general's wife, whose tongue-lashing ability was far-famed, demanded that an old servant, who had served with hi r husband In the wars, be dismissed, "Jacques," said the general, "go to your room and pack your trunk, and leave depart." The old Frenchman clasped bis hands to his heart with dramatic joy. "M? I can go!" he exclaimed in B very ecstasy of gratitude, Then sud? denly his manner changed, as with the Utmost compassion ho added' "But you, my poor general?you must stay."?Chicago Kecord-Herald, AMERICAN OPERA IN PARIS. Metropolitan Company to Give Per? formances Next Spring. New York, Oct. 21.?A reversal of the usual?an Invasion of Europe by an American opera company?is an- j nounced by the Metropolitan Opera Company in an official statement given out tonight. With the close of the season in New York the principal elements of the Metropolitan Opera Company?its greatest artists, etc.?will be taken to Paris, there to appear during May and June, in a series of Italian operas at the Chatelet Theatre, the largest in the city. The statement says, In part: "Both the Parisian projectors and the Metropolitan officials feel that the season is so certain of success that they are confident of repeating the season in the months of May and June, 1911, when German operas, sung in German, and possibly French operas, sung in French, will be pre? sented as duplicates of the peform nace at the Metropolitan Opera House." The plan is undertaken, the state? ment adds, to demonstrate the artis? tic standard of the Metropolitan forces rather than for financial gain. STUDENTS HAVE HOOKWORMS Campaign to Eradicate the Parasite At the University of Georgia. Athens, Ga? Oct. 21.?The preva? lence of the hookworm which certain scientists have ascribed as the cause of laziness among students of the University of Georgia, is causing the faculty alarm and a campaign has been determined upon to eradicate the parasite. Dr. J. C. Bloomfleld, president of the city board of health, has been ex? amining the students at the request of the faculty, and he reports that at | least 30 per cent, are suffering from hookworms. Many examined, Dr. Bloomfleld states, are members of wealthy fami? lies, which, in his opinion, discredits the belief that the disease is prevalent only among the poorer classes. One of the interesting sidelights of the recent dinner of the Newark board of trade was the meeting of Gov. John Franklin Fort, of New Jersey, and United States Senator Robert D, Taylor?"Fiddling Bob," of Tennessee?for the .first eime in 40 years. They were classmates at Pen nlngton Seminary, at Pennington, N. J., but had not met since graduation day, 40' years ago, until the Newark meeting. Mrs. Mabel R. Brown, who has been made superintendent of the schools of Portland, Ore., seems al? ready to have proved that she bus a good business mind, as the hook agents have discovered. She says that it is folly not to consider that the in? creased cost of living affects teachers, as well as other people, with the ne? cessity for higher salaries?. IOs a Top Notch I>oer. ?Great deeds compel regard. The world crowns its doers. Thafs why the American people have crowned Dr. King's New Discovery the King of Throat and Lung remedies. Every atom is a health force. It kills germs, and colds and la grippe vanish. It heals cough-racked membranes and coughing stops. Sore, inflamed bron? chial fcuhes and lungs are cured and hemorrhages cease. Dr. Geo. More, |, Black Jack, N. C, writes, "it cured me of lung trouble, pronounced hopeless by all doctors." 60c, $1.00. Trial bottle free. Guaranteed by Si bert's Drug store. A GREAT FEATURE. Of tho South Carolina State Fair at Columbia Will be the Visit of Pres? ident Taft. * The Atlantic Coast Line announces very low round trip rates from all points in South Carolina to cover the above occasions, tickets to be on sale October 31 to November 6 inclusive, with return limit to leave Columbia up to and including, but not later than, midnight of November 8, 1909. Tickets will include admission to the fair and transportation to and from Fair Grounds on local trains of the A. C. L. which will make frequent trips. Saturday, November 6th, will be TAFT DAY, When the President will meet and address the people at the Fair Grounds and review the Military and Civic Parade. Inquire of M. F. Duke, Agent, Sum ter, or any Agent of the Atlantic Coast Line, for information as to rates, schedules and tickets. W. J. CRAIG, T. C. WHITE, Pas. Traffic Mgr. Gen. Pas. Agt. WILMINGTON, N. C. - CHARLESTON'S GALA WEEK Will Occur Tliis Year From October 25 to 11, and the ATLANTIC COAST LINE Offers Very Low Rates. As usual the progressive citizens of the City by the Sea, are out with an? nouncements of their Gala Week, but this year with a longer list and a higher class and more pleasing at? tractions, than in former years, and they are accompanied by a cordial in? vitation to visit Charleston which promises a warm welcome. The distinguishing feature will be j the five great musical concerts. The i Russian Symphony Orchestra, fifty pieces strong, will make its first ap? pearance in the South and a chorus of more than two hundred picked voices will take part in these con? certs. Numerous torpedo boats, the com? pleted navy yard, parades, decora? tions by day and illuminations by night, added to the assured hospital? ity of the people, will make this trip one long to be remembered pleasantly by every visitor. Low rate round trip tickets will be sold to Charleston by the Atlantic Coast Line from all points in South Carolina, and from Gibson, N. C, Sa? vannah, Ga., and intermediate points October 25 to 31, inclusive, good re? turning to leave Charleston up to and including, but not later than, mid? night of November 1, 1909. . For tickets and Information regard? ing rates, schedules, etc., call on M. F. Duke, Ticket Agent, Sumter, S. C or any Agent of the Atlantic Coast Line. W. J. CRAIG, T. C. WHITE, Passenger Traffic Mgr. Gen. Pas. A. WILMINGTON, N. C. Safe Either Way. An Elk county citizen who has just graduated from a law school, wrote to a prominent lawyer in an Arkan? sas town to find out what chance there would be for him in that part of the country. MI am a Republican in politics,"' he wrote, "and an honest lawyer." "If you are an honest lawyer," came the reply, "you will have no competition, and if you are a Repub? lican the game law will protect you." ?Kansas City Journal. ve just received a new stock of S^UT GOO et Water, 4 ozs. et Water, S uzs. et Water, 4 ozs. et Water. 8 OZS. Toilet Water. 4 ozs. Cream, Tube, ... I Cream, Jar, 3ap,. 1, - - ~ " " " >ap, . oap, . We also have a large stock c Perfumes and Soaps. TELEPHONE 283. SIBERT'S DRUG! EXCURSION TO CHARLESTON". On Account of the Visit of President Taft. For the above occasion the Atlan? tic Coast Line offers very low round trip rates to Charleston from, Sumter, Florence, Hardeeville, ? Young's Is? land, Ehrhardts, and Intermediate Points. Tickets will be sold for trains scheduled to arrive Charleston by 5.1$ p. m. November 5th, limited to return until the following day. Mr. Taft is due to arrive Charles? ton Fridcy afternoon November 5th and will meet and address the people that evening, thereby giving every visitor an opportunity to see and hear him. Inquire of M. F. Dukes, Agent Sumter, S. C, or any Agent of the At? lantic Coast Line for information as to rates schedules and other pre? liminaries. W. J. CRAIG, T. C. WHITE, Pas. Traffc Mgr. Gen. Pas. Agt. WILMINGTON, N. C. PRESIDENT TAFTES Visit to FLORENCE, S. C. The President is to visit Florence the evening of November :8, and ad? dress the people of that oUy and sec? tion of the State. For this auspicious occasion and the . f ? .. PEE DEE INDUSTRIAL CONGRESS which convenes in Florence, No? vember 8 and 9, the Atlantic Coast Line will sell round trip tiekets at very low rates from Wadesboro, Ben nettsville, Rowland, Chadbourn, Lanes, Sumter, Clio and intermediate sta? tions. ; ., Tickets will .be on Bale November 7 and 8, limited to return, on or before November 10, 1909. ; t Rates, schedules, tickets and any desired information can be procured from M. F. Duke, Ticket -Agent, Sum? ter, or by addressing..the undersign? ed: . ... .. ; W. J. CRAIG, T..-C. WHITE. Pas. Traffic Mgr. Gen. Pas. Agt. WILMINGTON, N. C. GEORGIA-CAROLIN A FAIR. .At i Augusta, GaM November 6-15, 190?. The Atlantic Coast Line announces very low excursion rates to Augusta for the above Occasion 'rhd for the visit of PRESIDENT T*AFT. The President is scheduled to reach Augusta, Saturday evening November 6, spend Sunday there and meet and address the people of South Carolina and Georgia on Monday. November 8. Another great event during the Fair will be the Football Game between the Clemson College and University of Georgia teams on November 10; and still another will be Childrens' Day, November 12th. Round trip tickets will be sold from Savannah, Charleston, Congaree, Flor? ence, Darlington, Oamden, and inter? mediate points, Nov. 6 to 12, limit to leave Augusta not later than mid? night of November 15th, 1909 For tickets, rates, schedules and any desired information, call on M. F. Duke, Ticket Agent, Sumter or any Agent of the Atlantic Coast Line, or address: W. J. CRAIG, T. C. WHITE, Pas. Traffic Mgr. Gen. Pas. Agt_ WILMINGTON, N. C. The Abbeville cotton mill has closed down for one week. The high price of cotton and the low price for goods is supposed to be responsible for the shut down.