Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Edenfield Advertiser TilOS. J. ADAMS,.EDITOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1895. Twenty-six divorces were grant ted in Augusta last week. Gov. Evans keeps right on seiz ing liquors a? though Judge Go o?Y-ha?f-cocked was not in it at all. No less than seven hundred to bacco barns have been built in Darlington County during the past two months. The son of Senator Palmer con cedes that Illinois Democracy stands for the free coinage of sil ver at 1G to 1. And so does the South Carolina Democracy. The cheering report from Flori da is that, the damage done ty last winters freezes was greatly ex aggerated and that there will be enough oranges next season to supply the markets abundantly. The Greenville Mountaineer says: "The county commissioneis have put the new machine to work on the Buncombe road. It does excellent work and there is a strong feeling that it would be well to purchase enough machines to have one for every two town ships. All the niaiu roads lead ing into thc city will be worked with the machine/' Some of our best lawyers say that Judge Goff certainly put bis foot in it when he enjoined the calling and holdmg of a Constitu tional Convention in this State. Goff is a republican and an in tense, malevolent hater of the South aud especially South Caro lina; and here we think will be found the key to his whole action in the matter. Bimetal ism is the coming issue in national politics. This is the ironcral concensus from both dom-; ocraiic and republican sources. On this issue speaker Crisp of, Georgia thinks a, western man with a wer record should be nominated for president-and speaker Crisp is right. Some of our contempo raries have proposed a Southern man for this high office in 1890, but such a proposition is supreme folly. The supremes wish and need of the southern people is fi nancial relief and not simply to bo allowed to furnish a figure head for the government. As to what the next democratic platform should contain, Speaker C^isp is.to the v^L'^r V " In the next campaign the :-e habitation of silver will be the main and controlling issue upon which Democracy will appeal to the people. Party platforms should always be plain and direct. I clo not believe in those planks which are so written as to catch voter? going and coming. Parties should bo honest to the people. Whatever room existed for different con structions of the platform of 1S92 should no longer exist and for this purpose that to be adopted in 189G, should be so plain that even a school boy could understand it." Just About Right. Tho Columbia State says that a 200 cents gold dollar is no more an honest dollar than a .50 cents silver dollar. A Disbeliever in Death. Rev. J. Minot Savage, the emi nent Unitarian ministerof Boston, at a recent funeral, made use of the following language : "Here, lying in this casket, is all that the eye can see, all that the hand can touch of our friend; but that which was he, that which thought, felt, loved, hoped, that which served his fellows, is not here, and it is not going to be bu ried to-day." And he continued in the same fine strain : "I do not believe in death ; I do not believe that death came into the world as a result of any incursion of evil from outside. I believe it is a part of the wise, loving, eternal order. I believe it is only another kind of birth; and, when wo can detach ourselves from certain ways of looking at it, from certain sel fish views, we ?hall be able to see the divineness of death. Suppose that, for all of us, life (earth l'ife) should be infinitely prolonged. That would mean we should be prisoners, shut in on this little world, while God's great universe was all around us, speaking to us, beckoning us, inviting us. I como 1 more and more to look upon death I as God's divine angel ; as the gate opener for us. He comes and touches us, and then we become 1 citizens of tho universe. Our .friend has simply graduated, and gone out into a larger field of study and labor."-Philosophical Jour nal. Quite surprising yet very pleasing, is the new oiler made liv Ramsey & ' Bland in furniture and house far- i m'shings, which are just thc goods ev- , ery housekeeper luis now in mind. Those changes in parlor, sitting-room ' and chamber yon arc thinking about J need cost you but Jillie trouble or ?mi- ( lay, because prices and assortments j are so satisfactory, and Ramsey & , Bland are the men who .?lionld be eon- ' suited, for they lead the trade and are I willing' to help you think-. piing of Join C. Srar?p, EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE THE CORONER'S JURY. Wounds in thc Dead Man's Body Indicate a Third,* Unknown, Partieipaut.-vCausc of the Feud. [From The State April 2G.] The tragedy which occurrsd in Edgefield yesterday morning, caus ing the "death of Mr. John C. Swearingen, a brother-in-law of Senator Tillman, at the hands of his brother-in-law. Mr. Ben L. Jones, which was the outcome of a bitter family feud of years' standing, was a most lamentable affair. This cannot be fully real ized until one visit? the pictures que section of hiily Edgefield, wherein the residences of the de ceased and the slayer command a magnificent view of the surround ing country for many miles; two homes within sight of one anoth er, yet with a gulf made by human blood and a world of suffering vawning between them. At one home to-day lay the dead body of the slain man, "riddled with bul let holes. Around lt W6re gather ed a sobbing widow, a blind son and two young daughters, who idolized their parent. Out side, preparations for a funer al were in progress. Many friends of the deceased with sorrow-mark ed faces were about. At the other home, so near, was the lone sister of the slaiu man ; she who is the wife of the slayer. Who shall say that the agony here is not equal if not greater than in the other home? We hear talking of the sad trag edv on every side and all express regret. The feud which culmina ted in the killing is of longstand ing. It dates back to the opposi tion of the deceased to Jones mar rying his sister. The immediate cause of the killing was certain action on the part of Swearingen on Monday last in Augusta. Some time ago Swearingen was arrested at the instance of Luther Jones and it was shown, it is said, that Swearingen cut fence rails and put them in a road used by the Jones' so as to ruin one of Lu ther's horses. Swearingen was found guilty and sentenced to pay a fine of $60 or serve six months on the county gang. He, however, vigorously protested that he had placed the rails on bis land in a safe and proper manner. Monday Swearingen came to Augusta in search of a negro, Jim Davis, who had worked for the Jones family, but had moved to Augusta directly after the occurrence. Davis when found swore before a magistrate that Swearingen was not to blame, that the rails had been scattered by Luther Jones and Walter and Robert Samuels and that after words these parties collected the rails, poured kerosene on them and burned them. Swearingen took the negro back to Edgefield with him, as he said, to vindicate himself. The rest is explained in what was said at the fatal meet ing. Mr. Jones, it is said., cama fvkr? ago ?niexT?r negro in JE/trge^ field county, was tried and ac quitted. Mr. Swearingen's funeral was held this afternoon and the re mains were interred in the church yard near the old home of Sena tor Tillman, five miles from his late home. As to the positions of the men when the shooting occurred it might be said that Swearingen was standing in the store door, a little to the right. Jones, the younger, was inside near the coun ter, on the left hand side, consid erably behind Swearingen. Mr. Ben Jones was on the pavement in front facing ?wearingen. Swear ingen after being hit steppad be hind the right hand counter, walked some nine feet, turned came back and fell dead on his face in the corner IT ar the show window. The positions indicate that the shot referred to below in the window sill came from young Jones and also that the bullet in the brain came from his pistol. This is merely a supposition,'how ever, based an the relative posi tions of the men and the conse quent directions. Whether the lad did any shooting or not and where the blame rests for the starting of the affair are unsettled questions which a jury of Mr. Jones' coun trymen will have to decide. Immediately after Trial Justice L. G. Bell, who was acting as cor oner, had the dead body placed on a stretcher and removed to the : court house, he summoned a jury i and the inquest began. Dr. Devore hasti'y making the medical exam ination-too hastily, as will be i seen below. The evidence adduced I in tho inquest thus held was as . follows: Dr. C. P. Devore said : I am a < practicing physician of Edgefield county. 1 have examined the dead i body of John C. Swearingen ; death i was caused by a gunshot wound entering at tho upper margin of ; the right ear and penetrating the ! posterior portion ol' the brain. I ( lind a small glancing shot on the ? breast, not sufficient tu produce < any injury. In my opiuion, the gunshot wound in "the head would i have prcduced death. I found a , llesh wound over the eye not caus- , ed by a gunshot. j W. B. Sheppard, who was in thc , store, said : I was in the store, but , had gone down into the cellar be- | fore the shooting took place and . was in the cellar when the shoot- i ing took place. Jim Carter. Hugh ( Anderson and Luther Jones were ( in tho store, I thought triare j might be a-difiiculfy in the store , and went down into the cellar. ] Saw Mr. Ben Jones como up; did j not hear him say anything. Luth- ( jr Jones and Mr. Swearingen were ? ?laving some pretty hot words. Mr. Swearingen was standing in the front, door. James Carter, a clerk in Ibo J,] store and an eye-witness, said saw Mr. Sweariugen in the. fi door. I saw Mr. Bon Jones xi ap. Mr. Sweariugen and Luther Jones were talking. Lui Jones said to Mr. Swearingen : suppose you say that 1 bi those rails." Mr. Swear inger? s: "I don't care to be bothered v you; you are beneath my not i About that (imo Mr. Ben Jr walked up. He said: "lam h< if you want to talk to any bi talk to me." Luther Jones har more to sa)'. Mr. Swear in threatened to pull a, pistol or so thing. Mr. Jones said : "Pull if you want to." Who fired firs hard to say. I think Mr. Sw< ingen pulled hii pistol first. ' firing then began. I know t Mr. SweariDgen fired. I was ting there on the counter ? stayed there till the whole tb was over, Mr. Sweariugen fired ly one time. C. H. Anderson was in the st< He was another eye witness.* saw Mr. Carter and W. Sheppi Mr. Sweariugen carne in the fr door. I saw Ben Jones walk from across the street. Mr. Swc iDgen stood in the door a sh while and Luke Jones says : suppose you said J burned tb rails. If you say so you are a Iii About that time Mr. Ben Jo walked up an.d Mr. Swearinj says to Luther Jones : "You beneath my notice." Mr. I Jones spoke to him and said : am here to take his place." Swe ingen threw his hands on his h and Mr. Ben Jones says, "pull i and repeated it a time or two, a about that tim? firing began, believe Mr. Ben Jones killed I Swearingen. When the firing gan I was on the counter, 1 don't know who fired first. S both willi pistols in their band After their inquest had been i j?uirned and the jury bad rend ed a verdict Ibat Swearing'1!) h come to his death by gunsi wounds inflicted by B. L. Jones, was found upon a further exar nation of the dead body that, tin were several other wounds, t being in the back. This develoi the fact that six bullets ii ad bu fired other than the one fired Mr. Sweariugen, and a new phi of the case was presented, 'i facts indica (ed Ibat Mr. Jon young son bad been a party to 1 shooting. It was to investig; this feature of ibe caso that A ing Coroner L. G. Bell reap?? bled the jury and proceeded w a further investigation to-d? The proceedings wore held in ; county court house. Dr. Devore tins morning tes fled as follows: The wound < scribed yesterday to th?' jury w n:.>t correctly described. Il pul eil tho front of tho body al* ene inch below the upper end the sternum and passed along ji beneath the skin to the point the right shoulder and lodged ji under the skin, where it was c out. In addition to these I wounds. I found one on rear body entering three inches to t left of the spinal column, passi entirely through the body a: Jodged just under the ckjL?jaJbfl |-tik^mv'r^?ndro?WT?m'm". I fou another wound, the ball enten about three inches to the rear the axillary space, passing fi ward into the thoratic cavity, cut out two balls ; two balls rema in the bodv. The ball in the s[ nal column ? think entered b tween the ten^h and eleventh ril The balls extracted are of tl same calibre. Mr. D. T. Griee saw a pistol, small Smith & Wesson in Joni hand after the shooting and lo Mr. Jones to surrender it to tl sherill. He did not see any pist in Luther Jones' hand. Mr. Carter testified when r called that Luther Jones was little in his rear. If Luther had pistol he did not see it. Luther di not change his position during tl; shooting. Mr. Anderson, when recalle< said the firing was over in fiftee seconds he supposed. I did ur have my eyes on Luther Jones, was watching Ben Jones and Ml Sweariugen. I did not see an; one shoot after Mr. Swearinge turned to go behind the counter, saw where a ball hit the windo* frame. A man outside could no have placed that ball there. Th ball which went through the shoi box must have . been fired fron within two or three feet of th< store. At this juncture, owing to thc fact that several of the witnessef could not be secured in time, the acting coroner adjourned the in quest till tomorrow morning. Pub lic opinion here is very much di vided on this case. Jones bas smployed to defend him Messrs. Simkins aud Sheppard Bros. Mr. I. W. Turmond has been engaged lo assist the solicitor in the prose cution of Mr. Jones. It is hard to tell what the out come will -be. Again there are some who seem to think that the family feud has not yet been bu ried, for there are brave and de termined men on both sides. It is certainly to be hoped that the present lamentable- tragedy will jud the matter. Jones'young son will very like ly be sent up for trial, but that will likely be all. It has been lisenvered thal Mr. Jone?' pistol is not in evidence, nor does any Due know where it is. Mr. Jones' stated to the sheriff that it bad j(!On banded to a friend immedi itely a fl or tin- shooting. Now il lias been proven tba! six bullets, jther Iban the one fired by the ieceased, were tired. If Mr. Joues' pistol was a five-shooter the bul would come into the case in a se rioin light. No pistol was on the ad so far as tho evidence shows, ir so far as any one thal 1 can Fiud knows. SECOND DAV. L\ T. Grice recalled: Saw Mr. fones drawing, could'nt tell bow many times, don't know how man j* shots, saw him fire three shots, saw him going in as third shot was fired. Walked from stn hie up there to see bimi were out of sight, 'didn't examine pistol, he offered to surrender pistol but didn't take it. Shooting was going on when Jones went in the store, Dr. Wise went with us, Mr. Jones was with us. N. L.Bronson sworn says: Saw firing, was between Bells store and Folks office, couldn't tall whether ho went in the si ore or not, first time I saw him when I went up he was standing in door as he be gan to fire he moved to left hand side of door, couldn't tell how many shots, didn't see pistol ex cept at a distance did not see Luther Jones at time of firing. CORRESPONDENCE Thc Good Road Question. Everywhere, Mr. Editor-in all sections of the State-the people are becoming much concerned in regard to the improvement of our highways. But in Edgefleld there seems to have been but little, nothing in fact, done in that di rediou. True, on some roads some spasmodic demonstrations have been made in the way of so-called "working the roads," resulting in a "scratch" here anda "scratch" or two there, but effecting no per manent or perceptible good. All hands-overseers and all-rush ing over their respective roads in a make-believe and vain pretence of complying with the law, and at the same time simply trying to evade the said law, ?Mr. Editor, this is all wro?g but until we, the people, bf come individually and personally in ternsten in the good road question ; and until our Road officials fed that il i* their ditty to discharge their duty, and se" that the road law i? complied IC??A, we cannot hope for bettor roads. Therefore, Mr. (Supervisor Whif fle and yv County Board of Com missioners, we want to know what you are going to do ti*wards the betterment of our public thorough fares? They are in a miserable condil ion. Look, up in Greenvili? and Spartanbutg counties, and over in Newberry county, their energetic Road Ci wi missioner* have procura i'd the best road machines and are : determined lu bi*VB good roads; and down in Aiken cornily they have convicts un their roads; and .n many otlu-F counties I be Coun ty Board of Commissioners are waking up lo the grand impor tance of good, smooth, well-draiji ed Roads. For they know, as the Ci;n-ksburgh (Va.) Inquirer so weil says, that "Good roads haw wonderful effect. They increase the value of farm lands, cheapen the cost of transportal ion, enliven the hospitalities of the people, at tract travel and business, fill up the schoo'-house and churches, aud advance civilization and re ligion." ?JsflflAj*OafokuuU "IMUB uili "sht isfy THE PEOPLE. News i'roin Minc Creek. MR. EDITOR : We hardly ever see anything in your paper from this s?ction. We are all still on Ibo side nf mercy, and in thc land of the living. Now is a busy time with the farmers. Some of them are jil ant ing a good deal of corn while some are moving on with their cotton planters, to raise 4 cents cotton to pay their debts with they, sa}'. The grain fields look somewhat desc ?late at present. Here and there you can see a little patch of wheat that looks promising. The fruit crop bids fair to lui good this time. Some people say we wont have any blackberries this year. We don't know why this is. The turpentine business is get ting popular around here. Mi. Perry Barns Jins moved his still from Mr. Pick Denny's place over to Mr. H. S. Black's place, and a fellow by the name of Wallis has recently located one on Mr. E. M. Black's place. The members of Richland Church have chosen Mr. J. A. Carson toi preach for them again. They have .made a good selection, for Mr. Car son is a man that has his intellec tual facilities well developed. At a prayer-meeting on Easter Sunday a gentleman who has dis tinguished himself as a speaker at religious services ever since the earthquake in 1SSG got to spoak, and introduced his speech by say ing, "brethren, it has been 1995 years to-day, since Christ rose from (he dead." "Pedagogue" must have surely mad"- a miss interpretation of our article that we wrote concern high ?ni sometime ago. We did not say anything about, him that we thought would injure his reputa tion or be disadvantageous to his future -success. We don't eeo why he could not stand a few facts. P. J. It is in the tires rind rims that Rambler excellence is most apparent They are less likely to burst or break than any others, and arc most easily and quickly repaired. All styles Rambler Bicycles-$100. None belter at any price-none so good for the same or less. Catalog free. CORMULLY & JEFFERY MFC. CU.. WASHINGTON. O. C. * ete for potatoes, fruiLs, and all vegetables require (to secure the largest yield and best quality) At Least 10% Actual Potash. P.esults of experiments prove this conclusively. How and why. is told in our pamphlets. They nrc ser.t free. It will cost you nothing to read them, and they will save you GERMAN KALI WORKS, 03 Nassau Street, New York. dollars. THE SOUTH AND NORTH AMERICAN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO LLOYDS. -(0) H. A. SMITH, General Co. Ag't for Edge field. . THE LLOYDS fcystem, established in 168S. (over two centuries ago) by Edward Lloyd, is made now more thorough <UJ I perfect through regular business progression. A LLOYDS COMPANY HAS NEVER FAILED. MANY PROMINENT BUSINESS M JIN ARE IN IT, because, as business people, they are bound to accept the sav ing feature of the Lloyd?, coupled with equal, if not greater P-liabili ty than I.H offeied by any other insurance in existence. The Lloyds offer a an i form cut of fifteen per cent, on the old line price?, and in case of excessive rates having been mach', they give even great?T relief than this. Among our policy holders in Edgefield we name a few: |.Jones & Son, E. J. Norris, Alvin Hart. "W. B. Penn, Mrs A. E. Lewis, Mrs. S. A. Dozier, Jas. A. Bennet, R. P. Holloway, R. L. Fox. The most prominent Northern corporations and concerns, well known in the South, are in the Lloyds, such as Austin, Nichols & Co., Simpson, Crawford & Simpson, Postal Cable & Telegraph Co., of New York, Jordan, March & Co., Edison Electric Light Co. of Boston, Spree kies Sugar Refining Co., J. B. Lippincott & Co. of Philadelphia, P. Lorri lard & Co., of Jersey City, Armstrong, Calor & Co.. Burnell & Co. Henry Swinbom & Co., Daniel Miller & Co, of Baltimore. IN SOUTH CAROLINA the largest concern? are in it. Applications for Insu rance received at The ADVERTISER Office. May 1, 1895. JOHNSTON and EDGEFIELD, DEALERS IN Vehicles of nil Kinds, - - Fine Harness, Saddles, FURNITURE and COFFINS, - - HARDWARE. Jan. 29-1895. Pratt il ?iis?a Cotton is ii Presses, Hame S?BEK o| ED0??|8S, ieep m? Hool. Lrr%?>?T** A nr\ J i ROW WORKS ?ND UMDAKU i SUPPLY COMPANY. AUGUSTA, GA.. Machinery and Supplies. Repairs, etc., Quickly'Made. flafiP" Gel our Priens before you buy WM. SeHWEIQERT & 00., WELSHS^ -HA8 FOR THE HOLIDAYS TIIK FINXST ST0C1C.0F Diamonds, Watches, Jewelry,] -_~~^x * cai - iwrcirr?S;-: Ever displayed in the city. When visiting the city you are invited to inspect our stock and get prices. RELIABLE GOODS OHLY, con. nn o A n and 7 TH S TTEET, . A UG ESTA, CA LEWIS F. /AJLI6AR 937 BROAD ST., AUGUSTA, GA., IS SELLING AN OAK MANTEL FOR $3.00, AND ONE WITH A 15x24 GLASS, A TILE HEARTH, A TILE FACING, AND A BRONZE FACING FOR JUST $17.00. YOUR ATTENTION ? ~IP "STOTT JSIEED Cooli Steves, Stove Pans, Stove Pipe, Tinware, Weil Buckets, EAUSTCIT GROCERIES, Loaded Shells, Canned Goods, Confeetionaries. Evaporators Repaired or made to Order. LARGEST COOK STOVE FOR THE MONEY. Coffee Pots, Milk Buckets, and Covered Buckets made from the host of Tin in the market. Repairs for Cook Stoves I sell, kept in stock. Call on or address CHAS. A.. AUSTIN, _*JOtt2sT3T02S\ S. C. EGG'S, $-3.00 TO $2.50 PER SETTING. W. D. 0UZT8, ELMWOOD, S. C., 0 Money to Loan. N both City and Improved Coun try property. For information, (all ami dee R. C. PADGETT, Agent Atlanta Nat. Building and Loan Company. 31 areli i?. H?. COTTON WANTED.-The Langley Manufacturing Com pany will pay -Augusta prices for Cotton delivered at their Factory at Langley S. C., until further notice. FIELD 8L KELLY, ?>4o, Broad ?treet ?\n<l 94<> jone? street, rOXJBX A . Gr A. WE SELL ALL THE COUNTRY PEOPLE THEIR BUGGIES, HARNESS AND WAGONS "WHY?" Because we give them the best'goods for the Jeast mopey. Here ?sAnother Easter Novelty, That there isa place in Augusta where YOU can get something nice and tempt ing to eat in the FANCY GROCERY Line? DOSCHER & CO., carry a full line of the latest Home and Foreign Delioa cies, When you visit Augusta come and see us. Prices will please you. eoe .BROADWAY, B ll Ga. ,-Fi) Ii FIRE, ACCIDENT, TORNADO, and Ginhouse Insurance, Come to W. J. McKERALL, Agt. 'EDGEFIELD, S. C. llave now in store their entire FALL AND WINTER STOCK OF CLOTHING flic largest stock ever shown in Augusta. We aim to carry goods whic.i are lot only intrinsically good, but which also, in pattern, style, and finish, rratify a cultivated and discriminating taste, and at the same time, we aim to nake our prices so low the cir \ <si buyers will be our steadiest customers Colite attention to all. A call will be appreciated. I. C. LEVY & CO. rA ILOR-FIT CLOTHIERS, AUGUSTA, GA