The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, September 01, 1897, Image 11
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The Press and Banner.
B Y IIUGII WILSON.
AliiiUVIM.i:, *. ?'
A BOY KlliNAPPtli
STOLEN AT ALBANY AND HELD FOR A
RAN50M.
led Aw.j by Two MfP, Who Cosxtd Him
1
Irom His Play and Left a Letter for UN (
father.
Mothers in Albany, N. Y.. held ,
their d<ar ones closer Monday
nisrbt and little ones who would be ,
skipping and playing ftr from tbeir j
doorsteps now cling: to the arms of
mother and father for fesr of kidnap
pers, like the two who s!ole Johnny (
Conway from ms nome, i\o. tw uoio- i
ny street. Chief Mead, of the detect 1
ive force, told the Journal corrospon '
dent that he cxpected to have some
news in the kidnapping: case before
morn in?. It is learned that the police 1
have dews to the identity of the kid j
nappers and believe that thr> lad is 1
still in Albany or near the city. Chief ;
Mead said he believed the kidnappers ,
were men well acquainted with the ;
Conway family, und knew that John- ]
ny's father, Michael Conway, a fru- (
pal, sober man, had money enough in i
the bank to pay the|3,0C0 ransom that 1
they have asked for the safe return of
the child. 1
Conway is a railroad man, gray in 1
the service of the Central liudson. 1
The gossips say Conway was true to 1
IHq enmnanr ir> thA orP.lt stviirfi nf ^
1886 and the lesser one in 1890. Des
peiate men were the strikers of these
j ears. Murder acd train wrecking ?
were deeds charged against several of
them, who were especially bitter to )
vard the railroad ar.d its employes (
who were faithful. Ft uds between the (
strikers and the "company men" last ;
to this day. Men who were strikers <
occasionally return from their enforc i
fd exile and each return brings trou- t
bJe. Old railroad men attribute the :
kidnapping to the desits of some of 1
the defeated strikers fcr revenge, with J
the possibility of ransom money add
ed, for the Central Budton 4 black- (
listed" the leaders of the strikers and ?
they cannot obtain work upou rail 1
roads at any place when r<cogn:z3d. j
To this Conway says:
"I didn't know that I had an enemy
in the world." His wife sobbed her t
assent and the neighbors who came to (
comfort the bereaved ones gave sor- r
rowful acquiescence. Crowds gather t
ed about the corners adjacent to the I
Conway home all day, eager lo hear <
the barest rumors of the stolen lad J
A manly, daring little chap, they all ?
said he was, and, notwithstanding his 1
age, more tban likely to run along 1
with any stranger who spoke to fcioi
pleasantly. \
Threats of lynching were h-.-ard from j
the mouths of men, who though1, of ,
their own children. Organ'?, id parties ,
of searchers scoured the wooded bills j.
just north of Albany, for there bands j
of tiamps are wont to make their 3
camps pending their journeyirg on- i
ward, the place being q lite desolate
and safe from police iaspestion, but 5
near to the railroads. ?i
Only one gleam of hope came to the f
v\omonfci ^ nxin r* 4 Ko /Iqtt WinWocl T^aI. C
paiuuw uuiiuj^ iuc ua*. x/wi
lard, a Democratic politician and city
contractor, told of seeing two men going
southward on North Pearl street, 1
two blocks from the Conway bomo, J
shortly after 9 o'clock Monday mor- 4
ning. A small boy, whom he thought s
might have been Johnnie Conway, ?
was between the men. The lad had 1
given a hand to each. Dollard can ?
only say that one man was well dress ?
ed aEd the other was in working
clothes. This description by Dollard J
is corroborative of the testiinouy of '
neighbors of the Conways, who tell of i
two men who lounged about Colony s
street on Sunday night near the Con- ?
way house. They stopped at the sloop ?
of No. 103 Colony street and asked c
whero the Conways lived. Being told,
the two turned in a different direction '
ttUU iUttlCU 1U IUC MlttUUW Ui a IlJgU
building. The universal excitement
in the neighborhood caased the neigh
bors to rack their memcries, and to
day the Conways were lold and informed
the police.
One of the men was tall, not stout,
and ungainly. He wore dark clothes
and had a broad livid scar diagonally
acioss his cheek. The other one was *
short and stent, and wore clothes of
light colcr. One neighlor sajs this
man was extraordinarily veil dressed
and carried himself iik? a gentleman.
On 1h?se clews the police are working.
The alarm has been sent broadcast
and co operation is expected from
the police of all sections of the State.
If. WOC ^ IWArrlotr nioVi? that
the Troy police had information that '
two men accompanied by a small boy
answering: generally to the description '
of Johnny Conway had been seen in 1
a motor car among a company cf Ger
mans, who were bound to a saengerfest
in Watervilet, five miles from '
Albany.
Although the police still maintain ;
that the lad and his abductors are in
or near Albany, it is known that extraordinary
efforts have been made to 1
excite the energies of the police at
places aisiant irom AiDanv.
Mrs. Conway told the Journal cor
respondent all she knew of the abduc
ticn of her boy. Her eyes were red J
with weeping, arid the drawn expres
iion of her comely face told of the 1
thirty six hours of suffering she had
erdurtd Her rugged husband, scarce
ly less affected, stocd by and begged 1
her to bear up. "We'll get good news '
scon," he pleaded, with u half sob,
hard to repress."
' Johnny went out Monday morning,"
she saia, sobs breaking her
words. "That was r?t 9 o'clock. Then,
at half past ten when I thought he
was playing with the other children, ,
a boy left a letter for my husband. I
I didn t take notice of the boy, but
now, oh, how I wish I had. My hus^
band is irain dispatcher at West Albany,
and often gets letters from men
who want to take a day olF; but this
was a big letter, and I woke my husband
up." i
"He jumped to his feet when ho i
read the letter. 'Johnny's been kid
napped, he exclaimed. I guess i fain
ted. When I got better we read the
horrible letter. We were almost wiid, i
f but finally, after the neighbors came i
' in, we all made a search, but couldn't
v hear anything of Johnny. My sister
saw him last. He came to her stoop
at 9:30 and then went c If to play.
That's the last we saw of our darling."
After the neighbors had listened to
the story of the heart broken mother, i
they began to discuss the horrors of i
the kidnapping of Charley Itoss. <
These Job's comforters started the
mother's tear; afresh. Charley Ross's
fateful story is i:i every mculh. Some
CJievo '-nai mo rt cem puor.cauon oc
the stories of the unsuccessful s?2rch
for that lad have suggested this kiu*
uappin<? for revenge on Conway.
1 his. :s !he 'hrestening letter that
tho unknown boy delivered to Mrp.
Conwat. The letters capitalized arp
the ones underscored by the writer.
August 1<?, 1807.
Mr. Conway?Your little boy John has
been kidnapped, and when yon receive this
worii he will be a safe distance from Albany,
mil where he couM not be found in a hundred
years. Your child will be returned to
you inpayment of THREETHOUSAND DOLLARS
(*:J,OOOs, PROVIDED you pay the
n.,? . I- 1 Til P L\ if
money iu*u.v i iuiu sunny uuvjr mu
LOWING DIRECTIONS: Put the money in
i package and send it by n man you can depend
on to the lane going tip the hill A FEW
FEET SOUTH OF THE TROY ROAD, FIRST
I'OLL GATE. Just oft'the road on this lane
:here is a tree with a big trunk, have the
nan put the package on the south side of
he tree and AT ONCE COME A WAV AND
:<).ME BACK TO YOUR HOUSE.
Wo want the money left at this spat at EX\CTLY
8:15 O'CLOCK TO-NIGHT. Sec
;hat no one is with the man 3*ou send, and
hat no one follows him, or you will NEVER
LOOK ON YOUR LITTLE BOY AGAIN. If
,-ou say a WORD OF THIS TO ANY ONE
>CTS1DE OF YOUR FAMILY and the MAN
?ou send with the money, or if you take any
itcpa to bring it to the ATTENTION OF Til E
POLICE VOU WILL NEVER SHE VOUH
2IIILD AGAIN. For, if any one knows of
t, we will not take the risk of returning
lim, but will leave him TO IIIS FATE.
If you obey our instructions IN EVERV
RESPECT you will receive word WITHIN
rwo HOURS after the money has been left
ivhero you can go and get your boy safe
md sound. We have been after this thing
or a LONG TIME, WE KNOW OUR BUSTS'ESS,
and can beat all the police in America.
Arc are after tho MONEY, and if you do
what you are TOLl) NO HARM WILL COME
rO YOUR LITTLE BOY. But if you fail to
lo what we tell you or do anything we tell
iot to do, you will NEVER LOOK ON YOUR
JHILD AGAIN, AS SURE AS THERE IS A
30D IN HEAVEN. We KONW YOU HAVE
MONEY IN THE BANK, and that the bank
:loses at 2 o'clock, and we MUST have it
rO-NIGHT. soCET IT IN TIME. Don't tell i
hem why you draw it out. You can say
reu arc buying property if you wish, for
his must he BETWEEN YOU AND l'S ii
pou want 3'our boy back alive.
REMEMDER the case of CHARLEY ROS3,
)f Philadelphia. Ilia Father DID NOT DC)
13 HE WAS TOLL*, but went to the polico,
ind then spent five times as much as he
lould have got him back for, but never saw
lis little boy TO THE DAY OF IIIS DEATH.
WORD TO THE WISEMAN IS ENOUGH.
NOW UNDERSTAND US PLAINLY. Get
he money from bank IN TIME. Dow't
>pen your lips to any one and send the
noney by a trusty man to the place we say
it 8:15, a QUARTER PAST EIGHT TOS'lGIIT.
He wants to BE SURE THAT NO
>NE SEES HIM PUT THE PACKAGE
I'HERE, so there is no possible danger of
iny one ELSE GETTING IT.* Then within
wo hours you shall have word from us
ivhere ?our boy is.
Everv move vou make will be known to
is, and if you attempt ANY CROOKED
YORK with us SAY GOOD BYE TO YOUII
150Y and lookout for YOURSELF, for we
vill meet YOU AGAIN WHEN YOU LEAST
iXl'ECT IT. Do as we tell you and all will
>e well and we will deal straight with you
f you make the LEAST CROOKED MOVE
rou will REGRET IT TO THE DAY OF YOUR
JEATH.
If you want to have your little boy back
JAKE and SOUND keep your lips closed and
lo EXACTLY AS YOU ARE TOLD. If you
ail to obey directions you will have one
:hild less. Yours truly.
The Caitaix of the Gano.
The letter was written, evidently
with a stub pen, upon four pages of
japer such us is used, by school chil
iren for writing exercises. It is of a
;ize between the ordinary notepaper
ind fooi&cap. The writing is in a business
like hand, and evidently that cf
i persou cf mora than ordinary intelligence.
Conway took this letter to the poice,
disregarding its warnings, and
ranticalty sought for hismissiug boy.
i general alarm was sent out, and
ioon policemen and detectives were
scouring all parts cf the city and the
idjacent country in search cf the child
)r 113 abductors.
Mr. Conway was directed to follow
,he instructions of the letter and place
i dummy package behind the tree on
,he Troy road. Chief Detective Mead,
with Dettc ives Nolan, McCann and
3s?eeney, boarded a Broadway car and
want as far as the tollgate, where they
.eft the car and singly went within a
short distance of the tree designated,
ind at the hour for the money to be
eft and for two hours afterward they
watchcd and waited, but in vain.
The rain came down in torrents,
xnd the secreted olllcars were drenched
a) the skin when they returned to Police
Ileadquarles, not having seen a
nan, tho wary kidnappers evidently
tiaving watched the spot as clostly as
3id the police. All night long the
father and mother of the missing boy
sat up waiting for some tidings of their
shild, but none came.
Intense excitement was created
ibout the Conway residence this afternoon,
when a short, stout man walked
up the street to know whether a ra
ward would be paid for the return of
the child. A neighbor shouted for
the police. The officers responded
and pulled from the house a slightly
intoxicated man, who was taken to
the Third Precinct Station House. A
crowd followed the police and thnir
prisoner, and shouts went up: "lie
ought to be lynched!"'
At the station the follow, trembling
with fear, declared that he had bcon
drinkirg and, hearing in a saloon of
the kidnapping, wanted to oiler his
services for the searcn if he would be
paid. He was questioned by detec
lives, and it was found he was Leonard
Dix, a painter, residing at No. 3
Chapel street. Dix had been out of
work, lie wanted to gat some money
for searching for the child. Iiis story
was investigated, found true and
he wes released.
STOLEN BY HIS UNCLE.
The Hoy W?ia Koand and Itjstored to His
Parents.
Early Wednesday morning a clue
was secured that a relative of Couvray
had some connection with the kidnap
ping and an investigation of the character
and reputation of Hardy strength
ened the belief that if tha Conway
child was to bo restored it would be
through information given by this relative.
Slowly but surely a chain of
evidence was made against him and
early Thursday morning it was be
lieved that Blake was his companion
in the crime. Blake was found and
taken to xhe Argus ollics with Hardy
at 4 o'clock Thursday morning. He
was indirectly accused of knowing
where the child was, but was deeply
aU'ronted and anrarentlv oli'ended at
such a suggestion. lie was pressed
closely and never given an opportunity
to consider or to fix a statement by j
which hr, could throw his accusers off
the track.
It was soon seen that threats would
not bringa'oout tbo desired results and
persuasion was broueht to bear on
"him. Br was ntfered a big ransom to
tell anything be knew about the kidnappir?,
and finally it was made so
la^TO that he confessed the kid napping
and paid he would take a party to
snow whore the child wa?. If the
story wnich it is alleged Hardy fold
the chief of police behind closed doors
Thursday morning is true. theOonwqy
child narrowly escaped the supposed
fate of Charley Ross.
When the quarry became hot Blake
urged that as the boy would betray
them thev had better rid themselves
of him. Hardy was a trifle timid and
asked for another day. It was finally
agreed that at a lato hour Wednesday
night they would take the boy from
the old schoolhouse where they had
him locked up and would either drown
him or drop him from a railroad train.
The fiDger of suspicion pointed at the
men and a careful watch on their
movements by the police and ihe reporters
gave them no opportunity.
Hardy evidently kept Blake informed
of the game, for when the Associated
Press reporter Wednesday afternoon
interviewed Mr. (Jonway as to his idea
of relatives being mixed up in the
case, Hardy left the house and met
Blake at a hotel. Blake then disip
peared snd was not found until 4
o'clock Thursdav morning, in the
meantime he had, it is believed, visited
the boy.
When the police arrested Hardy
Thursday morning they took him to
the third precinct station house, but at
a request from the chief of police,
brought him to headquarters. When
the wagon was ready the 6quad of
police had great difficulty in forcing
their way to it, and the mob impeded
the passage of the horses and threat
a rkit 11 TTaiv3-vr tn ippaq An PY
tU |/Uil iA?i w J wv/ I'ivvvw. ?.. v..
tra squad of police was required to
preserve order.
The story of the recovery of the boy
is an exciting; one, those in charge of
the affair spending tbre3 hours in
dense woods and fearing fach moment
a pistol ball. When Blako was
induced to show the place where the
boy was, a clever scheme was arranged.
A police clerk nomrd Matthew
Greagan put on old clothe3 and drove
the wagon as a hired man. Detective
Reilly was his assistant, and Police
Commissioner Phelanand John Farrell,
counsel for tha Argus, sat with
Blake. When they had driven out;
several miles, Blake called a halt aud
said he would find the boy. He dis
appeared in tbs woods, followed by Mr. '
Phelan and Mr. Farrell. They were |
gone aDOUi an nour, ana wnea mey
returned said they had seen the child
guarded by a masked man. Mr. Piie
lan thought it would be a serious affair.
Blake demanded the reward of
$2,500 before he would get the child
out, and then there was a long parley,
Greagan, as driver, offering to go to
the Argu3 oilica and get it. While
this parley was at its height, Grsagan
sprang from the wagon, and followed
by Iieilly, pistols ia hand, rushed into
the place. Greagan called upon Iieilly
to cover him and then grasped the
child and ran for the wagon. Farrell
fired several shots. The men hading
that they were beaten, retreated and
the child's rescuers drove rapidly
dowu the road to the city.
District Attorney Burlingame and
Mayor Thacher had Hardy under examination
for almost two hours Thursday,
and at the end of the time the
district attorney said: "Hardy has
practically told everything, but I cannot
give it out now. There were at
least two other people in the alTair,
and I believe we will get tbem all.
The penalty for the otfenseis 20 years'
imprisonment."
The child was seen at his home
Thursday at noon after he had been
quieted down, and showed little signs
of his outincr except insect bites about
the face. His pockets were filled with
* J i? ?- i ^ i- - ^ 1 1 1
canay, ana ne saia mm no uhu oiujji
in a nice soft bed. As nearly ss can
be learned from the child's prattle, he
was picked up by Blake on Pearl street
and driven lo an old school house,
lie was kept there until Wednesday,
when they went further in the woods,
as the boy says "for a drive." He says
that only one man was wit a him at
the time of the driving, but he saw
some others about in toe woods. It
was intended to arraign Hardy in police
court Thursday afternoon, but at
the hour there was such a threatening
crowd in the building and about
it that the police postponed the hearing.
Instruction# Igsard,
The board of control having granted
several bier privileges in the state
has also sent out to the dispensers appointed
the following instructions:
1st. Bond of $3,000, payable to
state board of control; contract and
agreement, properly executed, sent
immediately to cilice in Columbia, S.
C.
2d. Beer dispensers will order all
beer through the oifica of the state
board of control at Columbia, 8. C.,
giving the names of parties from whom
they wish t<? purchase.
3d. Beer dispensers are allowed to
sell i.0 customers at prices to be fixed
by themselves, on which they shall
pay to the state board of control a
royalty of $1.50 per cask; 35 cents per
cask; 15 cents per dczsn in bottles.
A form for the bond to be givan by
each has also been issued and sent out
to the prospective beer dispensers.
The contract and agreement requires
beer dispensers not to sell to drunk
aras or minors ana 10 fteneranv oo
serve the rulos and regulations of the
dispensary law.
Epidemic of iSulcld; h.
Ia N^w York on Tuesday an unknown
man abcul50 years of age committed
suicide in Central Park by
shooting himself in the temple. The
report of tho weapon was hnard by a
policeman, who found tho man dead.
John llunttir, 30 year's old, a cable
car gripman, was found dead Tuesday
afternoon in I?cunt Mori is park, v/itb
a bullet hole in his head and a revolver
beside hirn. lie had committed
suicide and when discovered had been
dead live or six hours. At the time
hundreds of children were playing
about the mound.
James Bamberg, 36 years ok!, jump
ed from the roof of a four story Duilctiog
early Tuesday morning, after a
quarrel wita his wife, and was instantly
killed.
Mrs C. Martin, ".r> years old. was
found dead Tuesday mgnt in nor tearoom.
She is supposed to have committed
suicide by inhaliDg gas.
Anton liainholc', a tailor, out of
work and despondent, CDmmitied suicide
in Brooklyn Tuesday with carbolic
acid.
WEATHER ANII CROPSTHE
CONDITION CF THE STATE'S
FARMING INTERESTS.
The General Ontlook?Weekly Bulletin of
the Weather Bareon Issued TtUiMlay by
Director B?n?r.
Th^ following is xhe weekly bulletin
nf fVin oivnHiHrm nf Ihfl W7f>?thf*r nnri
crop3 of the State issued iafit week by
State Observer Bauer:
TEMPERATURE.'
The temperature during the past
week kept within comparatively narrow
range, the maximum generally
ranged between 87 and 94 with an extreme
maximum of 102 on the 12th at
Beaufort. The minimum ranged about
70 although the lowest was 52 on the
10th at Liberty. The average for the
week was 78, while the normal for the
same period is approximately 79. It
was decidedly cooler over the extreme
western portion of the State than in
the central and eastern portions.
RAINFALL.
The rainfall for the week wan generally
in the ;Jorm of showers where
any fell, for quite lar^e areas in the
extreme western, tne central ana tne
southern counties were without rain
the entire week, or at least until late
Saturday, the 14th.
A few correspondents stated that
rain wis needed while generally the
ground had plenty of moisture. In
addition to the showers of Saturday
and Sunday afternoon (14th and lotfc)
a general rain set in early Monday
morning so tbat the rainfall deficiency,
wnere it existed, has been fully
supplied.
A few reports of excessive rain were
received. Twenty-two weekly measurements
of less than one inch were
received, 6 from 1 to 2 Inches, and 2
of over 2 inches. The average of these
30 measurements is 0.79, while the
normal for the past week is abjut 1 50.
A severe hail and wind storm occurred
in lower Hampton on the evening
of the 14th, accompanied by heavy
rain and injuring field crops seriously
over a limited area.
r\ f iho Twrr otr wfti'ft ttflror.
Xiiv xuua \ji wu u ?? \ wa n viv ^vuvt
ally l ightThe
sunshine varied greatly over
difl'erent sections, the estimated per
centage of the possible ranged from 20
to 90 with an average of GO, which is
somewhat bslow a normal amouiat for
this soason. This deficiency in sunshine
vras apparently favorable on
field crop*.
CROPS
There is a great diversity in the tone
of the reports for the week, the correspondents
being about equally divided
in calling the week a favorable or an
unfavorable one. As a general rule
the bost reports came from the western
portions of the ytate, where in places
''the croD3 are magnificent." Worms
have appeared in many of the eastern
counties in large numbers, and from
meagre descriptions furnished, it is
supposed to be the Army worm. They
hava destroyed much grass fcr hay in
Williamsburg, Kershaw., Berkeley,
Colleton and Beaufort counties, and
in places have attacked corn, rice and
cotton. Their increase in numbers
durinfr the wpak was alarminclv raD
id. They have also made their appearance
in a number of other counties,but
as yet in no threatening force.
Cora varies in condition with locality
and soil and the culture it received,
but that portion of the crop already
made is very nearly if not quite up to
an average. Late corn is still very
promising and will be greatly improved
by the recent rains. Fodder
pulling is making rapid progress over
the eastern counties, where it is nearing
completion, and extending gradually
westward, where the crop is
much later this year than usual.
Chinch bugs continue to damage
corn in Chester. Fodder was saved in
good conoition.
Cotton was not uniformly alftcied
by the last week's weather; many re
porta indicate a reasonable improvement,
and fully as many note deterioration,
due, chielly to excesssive shedding
of squares and some bolls, some
rotting of bolls, while on sandy lands
the plant is rapidly dying and consequently
has quit putting on fruit.
Kust also has developed over large
areas with greatest injury noted in
Sumter, Williamsburg,Clarendon and
Chester, although not confined to
those countieu. The crop is best in the
x 1-*? J ir_~li
wesiem counties, anu manuuru, marion
and the northeastern counties
generally.
Too much "weed" with too little
fruit is a common complaint, but cotton
generally is heavily fruited.
Picking is as yet confined to the
more easterly counties, although the
early varieties are opening in the central
and w?3iern couuties. Picking
will not bo general for some time to
come. An increase in siza of bolls
noted since rains of previous week.
An insect is puncturing the bollu and
ruining them in Edgefield. More or
less shedding is reported from s majority
of the counties.
Sea Island cotton improved and
shedding less than last week.
Tobacco curing making rapid progress.
Some planters have finished.
Worms damaging late plants.
Peas are doing well. Cutting pea
vine hay has begun in Barnwell.
liice is ripening: rapidly, and where
not iDj ired by caterpillars is in promising
condition.
Turnip sowing continues an a oeuer
stands have been attained from the
later seedings. A large acreage will
be planted.
Sorghum grinding and boiling has
begun in some sections.
Sweet potatoes doingwell generally,
except in portions of Spartanburg, and
and will be a large crop.
Scuppernong grapes ripening. Figs
are plentiful. Melons abundant and
of good quality in the western counties.
LeUonte pear trees full of fine
fruit in Chesterfield.
Pastures ati'ord excellent grazing.
In the garden truck districts ground
is beiug prepared for fall vegetables.
Ladles' Hatri Mast Came <>11?.
Tho following ordinance has l>een
passed by the city council of Atlaita:
"Beit ordained," That it shall be the
duty of the proprietor, lessee or other
persons mcian^e oi tacu aau ovor,y
opera house or theatra in the city of
Atlanta to require ladies who attend
performances in such theatres or opera
houses to remove their hats before the
beginning of and keep tnem oil' during
the performance. That such proprietor,
lessee or otner person in charge
of fin opera house or theatre who
shall violate the preceding section of
this ordinance upon conviction shall
be tined in the recorder's court not exceeding
$100 or imprisonment not exceeding
thirty days.
strongly expressed.
Col. Tillman Hag Something to Soy and n ;>
Says It?Watts Ileplle?.
The following special from Saluda i
Courthouse was published by th9 State Hi
on Thursday: erj
"Li?ut. Col. James H. Tillman is c'n;
here attending court. He was asked W
this morning if he had anything to bo
say in repiy 10 ine aispaica wmcn ap- ire
peared in yesterday's State relative to lea
the n.edal he presented at the Orange- soi
turg (ncampment. He replied: ''I th<
am very busy and have been for sev- bu
eral weeks at Edgefield and this place sit
in the discharge of my professional tra
duties. I have no time to waste in wa
noticing such a man as young Hoff- tic
man, nor would I do so were I not so
convinced that he is tne miserable to(
tool of some one else. So far a3 EotF- wl
man himself is concerned, he has to
placcd himself beyond the pale of a $7'
gentleman and is beneath the dignity M<
of a dog. I offered a medal for the &
best drilled man ia any regiment; I an
never designated what kind of medal cli
it should be in my circular to tLe dif- foi
ferent companies. Although I r.rder- Tb
ed of the jeweler, Mr. Fox at Edge- thi
field, a gold-medal, which was lost in of
the mail, and a second was ordered hu
from another house m iSew York by Ra
telegraph. The latter was sent to Hi
Hoffman, or rather Capt. B. H. Moss, coi
by my clerk as soon as it arrived. As tra
for the statement that the medal sent Yc
was brass, steel and nickle plate, the bo
man who says so is simply a nickle- coi
plated liar. If it is not genuine then sai
I have been badly swindled, which I na
know is not the case. If it is money, to
this Jew, Hoffman, wants I will glad- m?
ly send him whatever he thinks he tal
deserves. ste
' 'Another thing, while I am dis- ti\
cussing this matter, I want to sav that
the statement made by General Watts Mi
in reference to the court of inquiry is zei
untrue. It was upon my sole request th<
to those who signed the protest that ab
same was withdrawn. Anything to it
the contrary is not the truth. I also mt
have a letter in my pocket from Gan- all
eral Richbourg, wbo commands the ly
brigade, stating that Col. ClafTy has is
never been lawfully elected. But I up
am done with the matter for all time ol(
to come.'" sta
gek. watt9' reply. res
A copy of the above was published bu
in a contemporary yesterday and God.
Watts took occasion to reply to so ,
much of it as applies to himself. He ,
said: "Out of justice to Maj. Claffv r?
I give fhe following communication y
from Gen. Richbourg: )vu
4'Columbia, 3. C., July 26,1897.
Ger. J. Gary Watts, Adjutant and In- J?
sntctor General, State of South * .
Carolina. ,
' General?I herewith report that
an election was ordered to be held P?
on July 23d for the position of colo- J?
nel of the First regiment S. C. V. T.,
which resulted in the election of Ma- ?!
jor R. M. Cla II y of Fort Motte.
"The vote being sis follows: J
R. M. Claify....~ 147 .b?
J. H. Tillman 124
B.R.Carroll 36
"You will therefore please issue a
commission to Major R. M. Claffy as ,
colonel First regiment infantry, South
Carolina Volunteer Troops.
"By order R. N. Riciibourg,
' Brig. Gen., 2nd Brigade, S. C. V. T. '
"Official: ^
"Charles Newham, rr,L
"Major and Adjutant General." .
"Before issuing the commission to .J
Mai. Claffv. Mai. Newham consulted
the assistant attorney general, and he
gave it as his legal opinion that a ma- ?
jority vote was not necessary and that
Col. Ciaff'y should be commissioned V
on a plurality vote. tv
"As to Col. Tillman's statement V
that I made an untrue statement as to
the count I do not think that worthy 2i
of notice, fcr I feel that the people are ,
capable of judging of the veracity of
the two." ^
co
CTIPl/Q TO CDCC Cll \/CD
I
Senator Stewart Denies a Bepirt About bi<
Himself.
United States Senator William M. co
Stewart, of Nevada, telegraphs the 6J
Constitution that the statement attrib- J?1
uted him in newspaper dispatches, *?
that he had advised his friends in the
west to drop the silver issue on the a
ground of the return of prosperity or ?D
on any other ground, "is absolutely bu
and unqualifiedly false." ^
"The fact that there are abundant
crops in this country and famine elsewhere,
which gives temporary relief, 1111
is no reason why we should not seek P*
permanent relief by tha only possible 1111
means in our power, which is the re 101
monetization of silver," says Mr. f11*
Stewart. "The efforts of the gold J?1
press to make the country believe that J5?
the goM standard has raised the price r*1
of wheat, ' and not short crop3, in 11
every country, is in keeping with ca
their false statements with regard to n?
my position. The low price of silver
produced by excluding it from the 1111
mints, and particularly the recent de- ov
cline produced by demonetization in ?P:
Japan, marks the rise in gold and "
shows the robbery and injustice of P?
confining the money of the world to
the commodity gold. When thoy Je?
point 1o cheap silver as the result of
their conspiracy wo point to dear gold ?,r*
as the result of tbc-ir rascality. The
people will not believe tnat ine goiu
itfs control the seasons and give the <
United States good crops and cause s^a
'amine elsewhere. They know it is be
the work of Providence, and over q3
which the goldites have no control. raj
Their impudence in demanding credit ^
for it is in keeping with their entire
system of deception by which they are
en.c laving the human race. ^
"Now is the time to Gght for silver. m<
The temporary relief which Frovi yn"
dence has granted should inspire
the manhood of the Ameri we
can people to vote their sentiments at 0f
the ballot box It removes some of ^
the excuses of poverty and starvation
which voters made in 1396, when they
submitted to intimidation or yielded 0ej
to bribery and voted for their own ac,
enslavement. The only danger is miv
that the small measure of reli< f which a j
, the rise of wheat has given will not am
be sullicient to free the voters of the
United States from coercion and brib jU(
erv hut it nu*?ht to aid the caussof
silver by restoring to some extent the
independence of the voters.
"My correspondence with popie in
every section of the country is very i
extensive, and it informs me that the a c
people are thoroughly alive and the d^
importance of the silver question is tra
gaining overv day. The rise in the hei
price of silver will stimulate rather tle<
than retard the irresistable movement ma
in favor of returning to the coinage caj
law of the belter days of the republic. lie
(Signed) "William M. Stewart." nej
AN ECCENTRIC OLD MAN.
Wtnt to Nrw York Loaded With
Wealth.
i man who said he was Thomas
issey, 86 years of age. of Montgomr,
Ala , entered the American Exange
National bank in New Ycrk
ednesday afternoon to deposit some
nds. He was very feeble, and with
mbling hands searched through his
ither wallet and his pockets for
110 coupons. He could not find
im, and the bank could not do
siness with the old man. He was
ting on the step on the bank enince
when a policeman of the Brocd
ty squad saw him. The officer no
ed that the old man was tired out,
he questioned him, and finally
)k him to the Old Slip stationhouse,
lere the sergent ordered the officer
search him. The wallet disclosed
73 in money, a return ticket to
jntgomery, Ala., a check on Drexel
Co., Philadelphia, for $11,000 and
envelope containing 48 coupons
pped from some bonds which wera
jnd in the old man's tall boots,
tere were eleven $1,000 bonds cf
e city of Savannah, four $100 bonds
the same and a certificate for cce
ndred shares of New York Central
lilroad stock. The officer took M/.
issey to the Central station police
art, where the old man told M igis
ite Cornell that he arrived in New
>rk last night and had stopped in a
arding house in Water ftreet. He
uld not remember tha number. He
d he had a relative in Brooklyr,
med Mitchell. There was no chargo
fce made against Mr. Hussi-y, so the
igistrate ordered the policeman to
ro V?irv-i In maIi'/iq Vino^miov4awo rrnovo
X.U iilUl ty ^ ?, TTUVIU
ips could be taken to find his relays.
A. dispatch from Montgomery says
\ Husssey is one of the oldest cities
of Montgomery, having lived
are half a century. He owns valule
real estate throughout the State
was not known he had so
ach personal property. He has
vay3 been regarded as miseraad
dressed rather poorly. He
a shoemaker by trade, but gave
i work many year? ago. He is an
i bachelor and lives rilone. He
mas well in the community and is
jpected for hi3 correct dealings in
siness.
Counterfeit Bonds.
There were presented to the treasury
partment Tuesday for redemption
o $1,000 7 30 notes of the issue of
ne 15, 1865.. The persons makiDg
e presentation were business firms
Louisville, Ky. Upon examination
0 notes were found to be counterts,
being a part of a very large is
e of counterfeit notes which ap
ared in the principal bond markets
1865 and 1867. Tne imitation of
a genuine is so comnlete that many
the principal dealers in United
ates securities purchased them freeand
only discovered that they had
en victimized when the notes were
rown out by the authorities at
'ashington. The loss to bankers and
alers through this counterfeit
aounted probably to several huned
thousand dollars. The only
arked differeace between the origi,1
and the counterfeit is found in the
d seal, the points surrounding the
il in the genuine being broader,
ore clearly defined and not so long.
iere is also a slight difference in the
,'nature of Gen. Spinner, who was
e treasurer of the United States at
e time of the issue of the original
ites. In the genuine there is also a
. all spot just below the bar between
e baskets of the balance which the
;ure America holds suspended. At
e Pccret service office it is said that
e glutei from which these notes
ire printed was captured November
, 1867, from William E Brockway,
io is now serving a term of 10 years
the Trenton, N. J., penitentiary for
unterfeiting $500 gold certificates.
The Ohio Campaign.
The approaching campaign in Ohio
is fair to rival in dramatic interest
e presidential campaign of 1896: and
r the next few months the eyes of the
untry will be riveted upon the Buck
e State. The Republicans are very
itch alajmed over the situation,
ley realize that, if the State goes
jmocratic this fall, the effect of such
change will-be seriously felt not
;ly upon the present administration,
t also upon the political status of the
untry at large. In ori'er to prevent
is apprehended revulsion of senti
ent it is given out on good authoriry
at the sum of $2,000,000 will be exnded
by the Ohio Republicans on
e State campaign this year. Sena*
r Mark Hanna is virtually in comind
of the forces, and since tho reition
of his seat in the United States
nate depends upon the character of
0 legislature to be elected this fall,
is likely that he will manage the
mpaign with consummate sbrewdss.
The opening gun will be fired
out the 1st of September, and from
at time on the State will be literally
errun with campaign orators. In
ite of the vigorous effort which the
(publican party is making to retain
asessiuu ui iuo luviw
ison to believe that Ohio will at
ist greatly reduce her Republican
rjcrity, and it may elect a Demcitic
governor ana State legislature,
ranger things have happened.
Death Kate Among Ncgrosa.
The publication of the mortuary
itistics for the past month of anumr
of the leading towns of North
.rolina reveals a remarkable death
:e among negroes, as compared with
j whites. In Raleigh, for instance,
lere there are 1,000 more whites than
icks, during the month of July
jre were two and a half times as
tny deaths of negroes as of whites.
Willmington, where there is only a
" * 11 - - I
lau excess 01 maca. (ju,juuuuu,wuie
ire fourteen deaths of whites and
negroes thirty eight, or nearly
pee to one. In Winston, where
3re ere considerably more white3
in negroes, the negroes dying numred
more than two to one. the ratio
wording to race population being
ich greater. Oilier towns show a
ike record. The unusual mortality
long negroes is not due to any epinic
disease, and certainly is net
e to exposure, or lack of nonrish
int, as has in some few isolated icnces
been the case in winter.
A Tramp Lynched.
Yn inlinown tramp was lynched by
:rowd of infuriated farmers Thursj
morning near Manheim, 111. The
mp assaulted a woman and beat
r in a terrible manner. He then
j, but farmers, attracted by the wo,n's
cries, were soon in pursuit and
Jtured the tramp after a short chase,
was immediately strung up to the
irest tree.
;r^m
THE FIGHT RENEWED. I
THE PROHIBITIONISTS TAKE THeH
FIELD AGAIN. SB
War Against L'waors-Circnlars and Petl- H
tlons Being Sent All Over tbe State?An ^Hj
Addrean to Follow Soon, H9
The State prohibition executive committee
has set to work with a view of |H
having such pressure brought to bear H|
upon tho general assembly at its ses-S?
sion next winter that the body will HH
have to seriously consider the passing
of sn absolute prohibition law. NB
The prohibitionists are convincectH|
tbf-.t now is the time for them to make'^B
their fight. They have never been sat- HH
isGed since the people of the State ex* BB
pressed themselves in favor of absolute SB
prohibition at the ballot box and got
ia&tead of a prohibition act the dispen-^B
snr7 law. H
Thn SfflfftPrnhihiiinTi AT<v?ntivfl<vm?- flB
milted has commenced work in a very BH
parcest manner. It is composed of I
Cap'.. L D. Childs, chairman; T. J. SH
LtMotte, secretary; R. M. Adam, 0.91
I). Stanley, J. E. Brunson, F. EL H|
Hyatt and the Rsv3. J. L. Silly and
J. Gk Dala. Some days ago the committre
oDened its campaign by send- IB
iti? to all parts of the State copies of JH
the circular letter and blank petition H
given below. Mr. LaMotte Thursday Hj
stated that the committee had sent out SB
up to date not less than 2,000 copies of
the letter and the petition, and in a HH
fe77 days r. strong address will be is-^H
sued. HB
Here is a copy of the letter: BB
Dear Sir: The executive committee. HI
after a careful survey of the condition*
existing in our State, regard it a fa- Wtk
vorable oppportunity io urge the
claims of prohibition to the attention
of our people. The existing system,
inaugurated in direct opposition to the ^9
expressed will of the majority, haying S|
utterly failed to meet the expectationa flfl
of its friends, and proven successful
as a promoter of lawlessness, fraud 99
and crime, has sealed its own doom. fl9
and the next legislature will be called
upon to deal with the problem. M
It seems to us that it is our duty to
make immediate and earnest effort to
concentrate what we believe to be the
sentiment of a large majority of oar
psople.
It is evident to us that the friends of
the liquor traffic are taking the most
active and aggressive measures to
Dre-occupy the field thrown open bf
the if cent dispensary administration
and the decisions with reference there*
to, and if we are to hope for any improvement
in the conditions which
confront us, we must be up and doing
in the cause which we believe to bs '
the cause of right and of God. >
We have therefore determined to
send out petitions to be signed by the '?
voters of ever> precinct who favor our 1
view a, aamu^ buo gouciai
for such legislation as is needed to
prevent the terrible evils foreshadow1
ed by the continuance of the sale of
liquor for beverage purposes.
We would suggest that wherever it
is possible to do so, public meetings
should be called and addresses on the
subject of temperance and prohibition
made by the best speakers available.
We confidently ask your active personal
co-operation in securing names
to these petitions. Please send a list
of such friends as will assist in the
work of securing additional signatures.
Please find enclosed a return envelope
for communication with its secre*
tary. Respectfully,
L. D. Childs, Chairman.
Thomas J. LaMotte, Secretary.
The hpfldinc of the retition reads as
follows:
"PETITION.
"Ttie undersigned, voters of ,
South Carolina, believing that the
continuance of the sale of alcoholic
liquors as a beverage within this State,
under the sanction of its laws, is the
source of the pauperism, misery and
crime which exists, a positive nindrance
to all material and Industrial
prosperity, and a foe to morality and
religion, "would respectfully petition,
the general assembly at its next session
to enact such legislation as will
* ' -A- J U
pro^uoic tne manuraciure tmu stuc ui
intoxicating liquors as a beverage."
The prohibitionists believe that they
have the same majority of the people
at their back as when the vote was
taken on the subject and they propose
to make an earnest fight from first to
last.
Smoke loaning from the Ground.
Considerable excitement prevails
in the neighborhood of Sandy Bottom,
Ga.. over what is reported to be a vol*
cano. The farmer on whose place the
eruption is in progress, has set a force
of hands at work digging around the
spot with a view of ascertaining the
causes of the stringe appearance. The
crater is about 25 feet square, and in
five places blue smoke can be seen issuing
from the ground. The ground about
the crater has sunk about 10
inches below the level. It is said to
be sinking gradually and the crater
is giowing larger. Some of the reports
come from a thoroughly reliable
source, and that there is some came
for them is evident. As to the nature
of the disturbances, it is impossible to
state positively. Many people have
visited the spot and it is said the openings
have frequently bean sounded to
the depth of 10 feet. The inside is
reputed to be litre a bed of ashes and
the smoko is blue. The negroes in
that quarter are very superstitions
over it and some balieva judgment
day is at nana, r requem mm un?s
failed to extinguish the subterranean
fires. The volume of smoke coming
up from the ground is reputed to be
increasing daily.
Piracy on the High Seas.
Information has just been received
to the effect that the Italian bark
Fiducia, Captain Razeto, from Pascagoula,
on June 4, for Marseilles, was
spoken on August 16 in lat. 36.04 and
reported having been boardea on au? i
gust 15, abreast of Caps Baba by four- I
teen pirafe?, who fired into the crew, ;
ransacked the vessel, stole the pipers,
charts, instruments, provisions and
the clothing of th8 crew, cut the running
gear and carried off the captain,
boatswain and a seaman. The Fiducia
was supplied with provisions and instruments
by a passing vessel and was .
thus enabled to proceed.
Cannot F!n<i J udkln*. B
A reporL from Consul General Lse I
states that he can tind no trace of I
John ii Jadkias, aciiitiz9n of Ohio,
whoss relatives asked the state depart- B
nient to see if any trace of him could E
be found, static that he was a physi- I
ci-?n of Manchester, that State, and I
went to Cuba in 1892. Consul Gen- R
eral L?e will continue to prosecute his 9
inquiries J|