The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, April 13, 1906, Image 1
S.v7 17 U
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FRO RL a.: 19040
QUICK-ICQUITTIL
FOR E. S. BLEASE
HE SENATOR FROM SALUDA
30XONRATEDVBY JURY.
The Trial Tok But One Day-The e
Defendant 0wooned'as He Left (
the Staid, After Telling His A
Dramatic Story.'
The State. .
Sa luda April 10.-When eourt wam I
,alled this morning a rush was made i
to the court room, and soon every i
available seat was occupied, and the f
siqles were. filled.
It was known that the case against 4
Eugene S. Blease, charged with the I
murder of Soo Ben Coleman on the
streets of Saluda, in September last, V
4ould be called for trial. The defend- t
Ant, accompanied by his attorneys, by
*his aged mother, by his sister, Mrs.
.Zison and by his brothers, Cannon I
and Cole, and by his little seven-year
1d lughter, an only child, Saluda I
reached the courtroom in a few '
uside the bar sat Mr. G, W. Cole- 1
0, Sr., the .aged father of. Soe Ben f
Coleman, 'While narby was . is
rother, William Coleman, and hig I
Insmen, M. A. Coleman, W. L. Cole- i
an, I. W. Coleman and others. I
At the request of Solicitor Cooper
udge Prince granted a half-hour in A
6-ich to allow Mr. T. S. Sease, coun- t
a for thep rosecution, to arrive. He i
eached Saluda promptly at 10 1
fclock, and after a few minutes of 1
nsultation with Solicitor Cooper,
he State announced. k'ady. Mr. f
lease was immediately 'arraigned, d i
eathly stillness pervsding the court- i
oom during the arraignment. With t
mphasis and with a steady. voice, the ,t
risono- answer gd,.''I an not ,g1il- .1
i.*HoWiiydu,"te. ied I ' ask-'
Ay," as the answeV, 'in i firm' Aud I
istinct' voice. The. following jury I
as then placed in charge of the case : t
P. Shealy, A. H. Stephens,. George -1
Long, R. B. Bouknight, B. D. t
opard, B. J. Waits, W. D. Holston,
R.. Quarles, J. A. Bledsoe, J. L.,
'gsby, A. B. Hallman, J. P. Bodie.
The State exhausted its challenges.
efendant made four objections. The
lection of a jury consumeA just 20
inutes. a I
All of the jurors are maried men. I
D. Leopard is the oldest member
the panel, and the only one above <
0. Mr.. J. -P. Bodie was appointed
oreman. The following are the
unsel in the case: For the prosecu
on, Solicitor Cooper and Mr.. T. S.
ease, of Spartanburg; for the de
nse: Messrs' J. William Thurmond,
0. Evans, C. J. Ramage, E. W.
ble, -Daniel & Dakiel and B. W. I
rouch.
Dr. J. J. Kirksey, who held the
ost mortem examination; was the
rat witness sworn. He testified as
othe entry and direction of the
ounds.' One would in the right side,
nd another in the shoulder. Bullets
enetrated the hings. Wounds caus
d death. On cross-examination
that the wife of Joe Ben Coleman
ad long illnes at Blease's home and
ied theree ..lease and olman mar
ed- jst .Whe retiti'oa-fColmanl
'id ''lease was th6 closest I' ever
new not to be brothers.' Soon after
soting, witness reached the. deceas-,
d, andi deceased said, ''Doctor, he
as killed me-has shot me through
he bowels.'' Deceased was con
cious up to a short time before death.
he. State objected to the inquiryv as
'whether 'the decessed at any time
dde any.jststem~ent about the cause
heshooting. The objection was
erue, nd itnes said deceased
qev alluted to .ie' cause of the'
oting, 1e only said, ''Doe, go out
~et him an let him come iind fin
I wish he hbdi killed' me on
and kept si out of'this suf
ngColemnu knew IMrs. Blease
d mrpliine dud Colemati knew
~ iae obetdfdl treated Mrs.
ouas fi~ a number og ears. ' ob-.
~ Wtnqs t fp that the use
ithe heI
iontradthig'. the, morphine ,i"bits
lease appeared not tj like my mak
n such as tatemnent., 'Co)6nan knewI
1f ,py making the ptateni4,,. which
as six m6ihths' before'- iie1iomiN"Ide'.
C. C. Mathis testified to hearing tho
h1ts, saw Coleman fall 'at the cor
ker of Smith Brothers' store; did iot
ee Blease at the time. Deceased Yell
on his back as he turned the corner
vent around Coleman and fired twice
it deceased. At 'the same time Cole
nah pulled something from his pants
>ocket and present hand-so (indica
ing), and then thiew it. Very small
veapoiX Coleman had. Tw6 reports
it first, said witness, and I think
our more. Pointed weapon at Blease.
temember nothing said.' Too far 'to
listinguish statements. R-eard Blease;
ell sheriff few minutes afterwards,
'Com.e h6re, sheriff; I am ready to
,ive up.'" Did not see deceased when
he first shots were fired.
. The Principal Eye-Witness.
H. 0. Crouch, who is a brother-in
aw of both deponent and deceased,
ining ,maifried a sister of Mrs.
3oase,nd 'Mrs, Coleman, testified pa
o seeing Blease on afternooi of trag
idy. .Soon saw something was wrong
vith defendant from expression on
ace. Witness inquired if d6fendant
vas drunk. Answere4 in negative.
)efendatit then .inquired if witnes
vas a friend to him, and whether a
oetter friend to him than to'.Joe Ben
oleman. Defendant thei t4d me his
vife ha,d made confession of her in
imacy with Joe 1en Coleman-. Told
vitness that defendant's suspicions
vere aroused months ago ond he had
orought the matter to Mrs. Blease's
ittention. She denied-All. 'Deponent
arther told me of finding a note ih
vife's bedroom reading,, "Pear Lu
ie: I cannot g,t you any more of
hat stuff. You know I would do any
Iing 'I could for you.' Deceased 's
iame ;as signed to note. Defendant
t,atd. .h,t he l1ad gope t6. Coleman
ilid: told- him '?fA heote aind that.if
c 'wantted .4udie'to take her and,go.
efendant had whiskey and stated
o witness that it had no effect on
iim, that he had .4runk a quart a day
rying to 'drown, trouble.
Witness insisted.that defendant not
lo anything rash. Blease was raging
it. times like a wild man. At other
;imes was quiet. Defendant told
vitness that he would take his wife
nto his home but not as maji ahd
vife, -provided she would never speak
o Joe Ben. Defendant asked witness,
'If I kill Joe Ben will you help me
>nt''" Witness urged him not to do
inything rash.
When witness reached store of Joe'
Ben, he saw deceased and defendant
talking.- Blease said, "Joe Ben, I
nen' what I said. If you don't leave
md never come back I'll kill you.''
Doleman then said, "'Rather than take
life or lose life I'll leave, but I will
iot leave tonight.''. -Blease asked. de
eased if he was armed and pulled
out amall Derringer and tlrew it
lown to Joe Ben, and put his h'onds in
pioeket.. Defendant became 4exeited,
wild and was raging. Witness caught
tletendant and told Coleman to run.
Thought Coleman gone and . turned
Bloase loose., Defendant reached door
and shot once, then advanced and shot
again. Colempi'i turned corner of
Bnii.th: Bros. Bloase shot at Coleman
on ground two or three times and
threwv pistol down, saying, ''I shot
hila about my wife.''
The Derringers were exhibited to
witness, and identified and condi
tion of themn described, it appearing
that Coleman had one of them. Thii
one showed loaded cartridge and that
it had been snapped on but not ex
ploded..
'The Colts magazine pistol' used by
Mr. Blease was exhibited and ildenti
(led by 'WM iG Tt is air awkward
shaped longn affair.
Deceased had three children. He
did not say he could niot leave on ac
count of his children. Thes.e children
are from three to about seven years of
age. '1
Rey; J.' A. Careon alsQ noticed som'e
thing unusual in defendant 's appear
ancie when he saw him in store just
before thme shooting. Described man
nier of shooting and said defendant ran
sa4r OComan. He realled nothing
that d6fendant' or deefased "aid at
time of or . after~ the shootitig. Did
'iot. see Coleraan drswv pistol. WNe
%bout 00 yards away at time of shoo4
ing. Saw Colemiap on ground. *it
less uptioed: leise. more particularly
than, he did Coeman. Did not see'e
ginning of diffleutty.
D. N. Smith's testimony developed
11othing new. Saw Coleman pas my
5tore door runiing or walking rapid
ly. Blease followed anSI shot at de
eased twice after he fell. Coleman's
right side was towat'ds Blease while
iai ground an# head against the brick
wall. Found Derringer Qn sidewalt
near Coleman after shooting. Blease
looked wild. Paid no attention to me.
.Tatrwer of Mrs. Blese.
After examining M'r. Ralph Grant,
the State had Mr. J. W. Herbert, fa
ther of Mrs. Blease, put on the stand.
He is probably 65 years of age, and a
man of coinmanding appearance
though modest and very reticent. The
oasual observer could notice that 1e
labored under deep feeling but held
himself!unider complete centrol.
Mr. Heibert, testified that -Aii
daughter, Mrs. Blease, made in his
presence to her husband, a full con
fession of her intimacy with Joe Ben
Coleman. Mr. Herbert said that this
confession was made at his home and
that it was not extorted by threats or
any other compulsion.
Mr. Humphreys testified merely to
the fact that he was with.the deceas
ed nearly all of the time after he was
shot until he died. Coleman stated
to, him that hq didn't think 'Eugene
would have shqt him. Coleipan real
ized that he was going to die..
The only wittiesses for the defense,
were: H. C. White u'nd the defenl.
ant,'E. S. Blease. White testified to.
wildness of manner ana -'appearance
of Blease at time of the shooting..
No more dramatic scene has ever
been witnesses in a court house than
when 1ugeip S. Blease told in tears
and sobs of his friendhip and love
for Joc Beii Coleman, their associa
tions fot niany years; his exertions'U)
secure Colnian a position and thbn
of the ruin of his home and the ap
palling weight of shame and dishon
or the information of. his wife's in
fidelity brought him. At the conclu
sion of this dramatic scene the.situa
tion was rendered even more dra
matic when the defendant swooned as
lie was leaving the stand and became
limp as death. He had to be carried
to the jury room, where hie remained
during the entire -time of the argu
ments, attended by his physician.
The argument was opened by So
licitor Sease for the State. He was
followed for the def6iise by Messrs.
B. B. Evaing, B. W. Crouch, N. G.
E7vans and 'J, W. Thurmond. Solie
itor Cooper closed for the State. The
argument. consimed five hours at the
conclusion of Afich Judge Prince de
liv?rgenthe ehdmie to the jury. It
waifter eight o'clock when the jury
retired and after supper was served
to them, they returned to the court
room at 9:30 o'clock with a verdict of
not guilty.
Dots .From St. 'Philip's.
St. Philip's, April 13, 1900.
Several pof our farmers are through
planting corn.
St. Philip's selhool,:which is taught
by Miss Essie Pearson, closes today.
Miss Essie 'is one-fE.the best. tegeh
e.rs that we ever hiad and N. loph
that the trustees will eleit 'herligain.
She will present those on the honor
roll with a nice book.
I am glad to know that. the people
ate taking more int,rpst p fruit trcee
as there are sevejIka of onr'neighiborn
who have purchased' a lot of tres
for their orchard.
Mr. G. 'W. Hill is going 'to bore a
wvell foi' Mr. W. L. Kibler, which wvill
add much to tile comfort of his home.
Mrs. IAzzie teWalt has returned
hoine, after a visit to Mr. and Mrs.
James KCibler.
Miss Ethel Clintoh from Newberry9
college spent Satiurday aid Sunday
with"her ,aunt, Mrs. W. B. Kinard.
Mrs. Josephine. ,1igh de ;v isiting at
the homne of Mfr.4W B, orniink.
'iss ithel Halfaere is visiting her
sister) Mrs. Go WsSetaler, of Ponmaria.
, .~ , Wade.
Some men are b:jotteighted they
Woulint be Wjjito pay,the inheri
tance ta i4ly~ the dbnce.
01SO" WINTS.
EIGHT IUNDREI
W SPEND $25,000 ON EREO
tION ANOTHEI DOXMITORY.
ibjiovei'ents to be Made--entra
Ueatng and 'wer Plant to
Be Brected at 00st of About
$30,000-Increased
Revenue.
T p tate.
It 's the purpose of the trustees o:
Qidi4on college to increase the ca
0ioity of that institution so that a
th9 o,enjig of the term iiext Septem
ber the Aehol will accommodate 80(
di 85 boys. The board of trustees a
th6 'teeting 'yestekday decided upoi
th .xpenditure of about $70,000 t(
siope this additional equipment.
SThe following were present at th(
r'eting: R. W. Simpson, chairman
W. -D. Evans, of Cheraw, Dr. J. E
Tindal of Summerton, J. E. Wanna
mak6r of St. Matthews, B. R. Tillmai
of Trenton, G. D. Bellinger of Co
limbia, M. L. Donaldson of Green
ville; Ivy M. M1auldin of Pickens
Alan Johnstone of Newberry and 1R
l, iowen of Pickens. The absentee
were: Mr. J. E. Bradley of Abbevilk
who is very sick, and Mr. W. K. Seas
of Newberry, who has sickness in hi
family.
tol. 'W. D. Evans, Dr. Tindal ani
Mr, Wannamaker, who were in Co
lumabia last night, gave the State som
i!nterestig information. The dormi
tory, equipment will be enlarged t
a.conmodate 200 boys additional t
h'e'(060 now in attendance. This ii
not.td exceed $30,000 in cost and thi
details are left with thed executiv
committee, Messrs. Donaldson, Tit
dal, Bradley, Johnstone and Bowen.
'Anqther important step was the d<
eisioifof the board to concentrate tb
hdMidd nd pwer-plats. Thles
have'beet scattered, and . are no
barely adequate. Some of the boi
ers have been in use for 15 years. I
was decided to build a central powe
plant at a cost of $25,000 in additim
to using the available'material. Thi
work also will be under the manag
ment[ of the executive committee.
An act of the last legislature re
quires the inspection of cotton see
meal used for foodstuff. This ii
creases the amount of privilege ta
and also increases the -work exacte
of the department. Therefore t:
board has decided to erect an add
tional building at a cost of betwec
$5,000 and $6,000. The entire fert
lizer inspection plant will be remoye
from the chemical laboratory. Ti
committee in charge of this work
the regular fertilizer committee, J. I
Tindal, J. E. Waunamaker, W. I
Evans, G. Duncan Bellinger and B. I
Tillman.
The trustees were much lplease
withI the general wvork of the institia
tion. The class room work iss exce
lent and the deportment and -disi1
line exemplary. The wvork of Cap
Clay of the. United States army, til
commandant of the institution, wi
highly commended.
A beautifuf~ state flag was pu
chased by the trustees recently at
wtis.pr'ofnted: to the regiment on tl
p)araddegrounds yesterday afternioo
This i&a-blue flag wvith the white pa
met to tree and crescent emblazont
thlereoni.
It is also stated that the collet
now has a teaching force adlequate f<
a school of 1,000 young men. Trhereo
room in every department for il
creased attendance and the new do
mitory is all that will be neededi
the way of space.
SThere are 250.sboys in the agriceu
tural department..v.The building <
the agricultural hall and the requhr
ment that the study of agriculturq 1
a part of the regular curriculum hi
given new interest to this departmeni
The Southern Cotton association
work and. the revival of interest
farm work 'has also helped a grel
deal. In the mechanical departmem
every member of the graduating cla
already has .profitable employme1
promised 'and there' are not enous
men to, fill the vacancies offered.
Under the recent aet of congro
the Adamne fund, snnnlementary
the Hati .fund, will give the experi- lutte,
ment station $7,000 for experimental oveti
research. Next year this will be in- er's
creased to $9,000 and each ye.ar there- less
after it .will be increased by $2,000 poss
until 1010, when the appropriation the
will be $15,000. From that time it- the
will remain a fixed amount. Clemson Said
L now gets $15,000 froln the Hatch to ti
fund for the experinment station and "
$12,000 from the Morrill fund. The drin
additional $7,000 this y6ar will be ap- B
preciated on account of the improve- deai
ments to be made. The principal thril
source of revenue for the college Is thir
the privilege tax on fertilizers which livei
- this year 'vill show an increase of glig
$25,000 over last year. The figures
for the laet few years from this tax M
are:
1 1903,$98,909.40.
1904-$118,974.15. A
1905-4130,439.53. B
1906-$140,797.29. prot
The current year shows an increase nece
of $10,000 to date over the entire re- goo(
ceipts of the whole of 1905. The ap- way
- propriation for the University of resi:
1 South Carolina, the Citadel and Win- mal
- throp would not equal- the amount podi
- which Clemson receives in a year of ;
, from the "tag tax.'' lion
The board has not yet settled the Nial
c claim for damages from farmers on lowl
adjoining estates who claim that the of
3 dam that the college authorities built mul
3 on the Seneca river damaged other XP"
fartms with back water. thei
Usu
C-RQSSING THE DESERT. T
of t
Six Newberry Tyros Initiated. Coll
mee
The nobles of the Oasis Shrine of for<
the Carolinas held their spring con- forr
clave in Columbia Tuesday nigt. One tion
hundred and ten candidates were fom
initiated. Among the tyros initiated en
were: Governor D. C. Heyward, of amt
South Carolina and Lieutenant Gov- old
e ern'or Winston of North Carolina, and thei
e thd following. Newberrians, Messrs. drii
v J. Y. McFall, H. H. Rikard, Jas. P. tioll
Wilson, E. E. Williamson, H. T. Can
t non, and J. C. Duncan. Among the
r nobles: Hon. G. S. Mower, Messrs.
r A. C. Jones, F. H. Dominick, Harry ,
s )ominick, J. G. Daniels and A. J. S.i.
Langford, of Ne,wberry, and J. L. son
Wise and Dr. 0. Y. Hunter of Pros- whi
I)erity. sai.
The following from the Augusta
Chronicle with relation to last night's r
X conclave is interesting by reason of by
d the fact that a Newberry boy on the the
e staff of that paper is credited here as and
its author: ()o
On Wednesday next, 11th inst., the her
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Oasis, one
d temple, Charlotte, N. C., will hold a' ani
convocation at Columbia, S. C., which cli
s about fifteen Augusta Shriners will I
attend. tha
In more than one res)cct this Con- Cer
vocation gives promise of being re- is I
corded as a red-letter day in the his- teh
tory of the order. Word has gone out the
that 125 weary pilgrims will cross the bu:
huot sands of the desert on this mem- eas
Sorable occasion, and hosts of nobles cal
'from all over tile two Carolinas, as whi
e wvell as the brother Shriners from av
bs Georgia, will be on hand to see them the
safe across tIhe dreary waste. hoeu
Governors Glenni and Heyward, to
Schief executives o~f the two sister
e states respectively, both enthlusistic ti
1candidates, will >travbi haild-Ii-hand wVo
withith cai'avan. a
aI . Years ago there occurred a mome:gt- 1ng
ens event in the'history of the Care- all
e lins-a -eircumustanee perhaps better bri
r known to tile great American masses ph<
s than even tile story of George Wash
i- ington 's disastrous venture in the (
r- lumber business, an episode emblazon- Poc
ni ed in woerds of fire upon the brighlest be:
pages of our country's annals, and fre
Sdestined to go. sounding down the wh:
,countless ages until tile glorious ma
lighlt of Anglo-Saxon' supremacy hlill
shball b)e but as the dim flicker of a sma
lightning buIg's tail on ft foggy even- wri
t. ing in a wet June. On this well- re- Old
.menibered occasion immortal words He
twere uttered, before which the elo- he
it quence of Patrick Henry is stricken Dr
t with tile death for which lhe asked in do
a preference to bondage, and in corn- old
tparison withl which the flowing e- an
hi quence of Demonthenes seems due to bei
the attempted mastication of a Balti- it
more cobble-stone rather tlian .a peb- Sp
ble Th orsthnspnanosl u
red are echoed, in a certain sense,
by the hungry babe at its moth
breast, and are quoted more or.
correctly on all possible or im
ible occasions by a majority of
male population of "the land of
free and the home of the brave."
I tie.governor of North Carolink
te governor of South Carolina:
It's a d------d long time between
ks.''
reathes there a man with soul so
I that lie has never in all his life
lIed with sympathy for those two
sty executives? If such a one
i let him pray the prayer of Kip
's British Soldier:
Ship me somewhere east of Sues
'here a man can raise a thirst,
'here there ain't no ten.command
ments
nd the best is like the worst."
ut the same old thirst seems to be
ty. widely acquired, without the
I of a trip to the Orient. It Is a
I deal like the poor who are "al
a with us.'' It is fortunately no
>ector of persons 'or classes, and
es its abiding place with rich and
r alike. Mount on the golden wings
%raft to the palaces of multimil
aires where champagne flows like
Zara: it is there. Descend to the
.y hut of the South Carolina son
Ham who sells another man's
e and spends the money for "Fust
at the state Grog-shop: it Is
e. You can't get away from it.
ally you don't want to.
his is not the least off the subject
he convocation of the Shriners at
Limbia next week. For at this
ting will be wrapped in oblivion
ver the portentious remark re
ed to above. If the merry tradi
8 of the Mystic Shriners are
Ided on verity, the present gov
>r of North Carolina will have to
mnd the saying attributed to the
governor, and if on this occasiol
r0 is any time at all between
iks it will be p pow'fnl 81)all.fre
t of an undeigrowin m1inute.
The Telephone Girl.
Birmingham Age-Herald.
While it is. possible the teleplhone
has hter faults, she does not d
e all the adverse criticism to
cli she is some times subjected,"
I an old telephone mal yesterday.
It is of course trying to be inter
ted in tile midst of a conversation
having the line 'cut in on,' getting
wrong connection, bad connections
I all those little thinilys that try
'. patience, but we shiould reniem
that the telephone girl, like every
else, is liable to make mistakes
I that all tile troubles are not
rgeable to her.
'or instance, it is often charged
t the telephone girl claims that a
tain line you want is busy when it
lot. Now, as a matter of fact, the
3phone girl can more easily give
desired connection than report it
iy. Making the connection is an
y matter and if you notice, when
ling for a number you can tell
ether she has made an effort to
e you the number you want. If
niumber you call is busy you will
r a distinct rattle as she attempts
join the linies.
'Tile telephone operator has many
ngs to try hecr. ierves and it is a
saler she is really as good natured
she is. The position being so try
it is absolutely impossible to avoid
the annoying little things that
ng abuse On the head of the tele
me girl.''
jolonel Holden, of the Fort Gibson
it, who sympathizes with every
ly in hard luck, printed this letter
m Rtichmard Benge, a Cherokee,
ose pack of trail hounds has often
de mitsic among the port Gibson
ls: ''Wijl you pleasQ let mehave a
all space in your paper? I won't
ite much. I just want to tell you
'Drum,' py good old dog, is dead.
died of Fdon 't know what-only
just sick and died. Poor old
um is dead and.gone where all good
is go. I feel sorter lonseome since
iDrum died, for I've only old Spot
a Mimes left. Old Drum was the
it. When lhe barked, you knowed
was a 'possum or .a coon. Old
ot is all right, but he won't bark,
at wagrs his tait.