The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, October 26, 1909, Page TWO, Image 2
"MANSLAUGHTER" SAYS JURY
three Years and a Half for Bigham
and Avant.-Mystery of Crime
Remains Unsolved.
'The State.
George-town. Oct. 22.-" Three
years and six months imprisonment
in the State penitentiary" was the
sentence passed by Judge Watts
early this afternoon upon W. B.
Avant and .G. C. Bingham, for the
killing of Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham,
the jury having rendered a verdict of
guilty of manslaughter after two
bours deliberation. Thus ends the
Story of a deed that has shocked the
people of the entire State, unless the
attorneys for the convicted men ap
peal to the supreme court.
The majority of the people are in
clined to think tbe sentence extreme
iy light. In spife of the verdict
though, the killing of Mrs. Bigham
has not been explained, mystery still
enshrouds the affair. The fight for
the accused men centred around the
fact bhat they considered the "ob
jeet" which proved to be Mrs. Big
ham, a trespasser and that there was
reason for suspicion. This was ably
combatted by the State, although the
prosecution was at disadvantage in
not having reply to Mr. Ragsdale.
No Testimony for Defense.
Considerable surprise was created
today, in the trial of W. B. Avant
and G. C. Bigham for the killing of
Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham, when 'the
defense permitted the case to go to
the jury without offering any testi
enony. When court convened this
morning the State produced three
additional witnesses, after which the
State rested. Thereupon, after a
short conference between Attorneys
Ragsdale and Wingate, notice was
given that the denfense would offer
no testimony.
In the Court Room.
Among those present throughout
ithe first day of the trial were: Mr.
M. B. Crisp of Mountville, Laurens
county, father of Mrs. Bigham, the
slain woman; Mr. A. B. Crisp of
.Heardmont, Ga., and Eugene Crisp,
of Clinton, Mr. Sydney Crisp, of
Grover, N. C., Mr. M. L. Crisp, of
Whitmire, all brothers of the deceas
ed; Messrs. J. J. Dendy, B. A. Whar
ton, S. M. Pearce and S. D. Childress
of Laurens; Messrs. L. S. and E. D.
Bigham of Florence county; Mrs.
Bigham, mother of Dr. Bigham; and
six wit'nesses from Marion county,
who were at Murrel 's Inlet on the
day of the tragedy.
.Both the defendants are rather
young and boyish in their appear
anee. Dr. Bigham is smail of statue,
rather heavy set, auburn hair, falk1
round face, apparently about 28 years
of age. Mr. Avant is still younger,
possibly 26, taller, light-haired, and
of medium build. Both deported
themselves with apparent realization
of the seriousness of their situation.
During most of the day they leaned
to one side. head and face in thand,
somewhat dejeeted. Neither showed
any particular emotion at any ~ time,
~not even during Mr. Buck's graphic
and realistic picture of' the dead wo
man on the beach and in the room
of the Avant home.
Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham.
'Mrs. Bighamn, the deceased, was
the daughter of Mr. M. B. Crisp of
M'ountville, Laurens county. In 1907
she graduated from Chicora college,
a bright, attractive, pretty little wo
'man, about five feet, three or four
line.hes tdl, weighing pdssilbl1y 110
pounds, aged 23 years. She was full
~of life, fine company, though some
what shy. Returning to her home at
Mountville, after -leaving college, she
met and soon after wedded Dr. S. C.
Bigham, wiho was at the time practic
ing his profession in her home com
munity. The marriage .took place at
Mountville; the couple soon returned
to Dr. Bigham 's former home in
Florence county.
In the summer -juSt p)ast. Mrs. Big
ham visited her old home, the scenes
of her girlhood. Upon requests from
ther husband she re:urned to Florence
county: soon they together wen on
the 'il-fated visit to Murrel's Inlet,
a summer home for many families.
They occupied a front room at "Sun
unV de." 'he home of the Avant's.
Murrel's Inlet.
Murrel 's Inlet is a resort about 25
miles up the coast from Georgetown.
Here a great many people, partieu
larly residents of Marion, own cot
* tages and there reside during the
summer months. Many of them
"run down'' for a few days and a:s
it happened, most of the witnesses to
tihe shoeking tragedy had just arriv
ed on Saturday afternoon, September
4. Murrel 's Inlet is about a mile
and a half from the ocean, on a creek
or bay; the tides come and go there.
The residents often bathe in this
creek or bay, and it developed that
Mrs. Bigham had on her bathing suit.
over whiceh she wore a long rain coat
belouzin-z tj Mr. Avant.
rr e bech at Murrel 's I et i
somnewhat in the shap)e of a ceet
li houses built facing the bea,eh.
Ak*
ARE YOU COMING
-TO THE
BIG CIRCUS,
On 28th of this month?
S 0
If so you will want something to eat. *
Jones' Restaurnt!
OPPOSITE T.E NEWBERRY HOTEL,
is the place to look for.
Fresh Norfolk Oysters, I
just as they come from the shell,
served on short notice. We fry
them, westew them, we broil them
or serve them raw, either way they
will be given you just right. All
seasonable dishes served on short
notice.
UICK LUNCHES A SPECIALTY
0 Everything the market affords
served any time during the day on
short notice. 2
Everything the Best, Everything Just Right. *
Patronage of Ladies is*especially 2
solicited. For "GOOD THINGS 0
* TO EAT"callat
IJones' RestourqI,
i, ppoiteNewberry Hotel.: *
Your Idle PIgev *111 Earn
4 *o Interest .
II Deposited in This Bank.
If you wvould be the most success
ful. you should make your money
*work too. It is a common saying
that "money not earning interest is
losing money."~
I Set aside what money you will not
need in your business at this time
and -deposit it with this Bank, in our
SAVINGS DEPARTMENT.
It will be here when you do need it,
and working for you in the meantime.
'T HE EXCH ANGE DAlNK
Of Newberry, S. C.
Down where the tide water comes "Shoot," said Bighiam, and there
and goes is a yellow stretch of sand,. with the gun 's barrel within a few
back of which toward the houses is steps of the victim was fired the shot
a growth of grass, a foot possibly in which cost a life and which placed
*eight. From the sides of "'Sunny- thle lives of two young men in the
de'run ,two fences, reaching the hands of 12 of their peers.
water's edge: there is now no public Murrel 's Inlet. a beautiful spot, the
road along the beach, although many haven for the weary, thus became the
walk up and down, climbing over the scene of such woe. Only the kindly
fences, which are not high. When wa: ers have washed away thle blood
Mrs. Bigham, or t.he "tihing" passed stains, and the shores are free h'om
round the corner of "'Sunnyside ''and guilt. W\hat can wVipe out all stain
went toward .the beach, she was onan feero ittheausdmn
what was termed a "private p)ath."'rmist ese.S .B
She proceeded to the water front"YuHvKildMLtleWf.
and the mnen-Bigham and Avant-Thswohertesoyofte
on the porch as she passed, suspect- de,tl yM.HnyBc,a
ed "foul intentions,'' got a gun and rltdt i b r ihm ol
followed the figure. According to the ntbtb mrse ytepto
statement, the figure, when reached jcnandi hs od," yltl
by them, was sitting on the beach,wie"adth wtns tod fte
posibl 30fee fom he ate's ~and e a r wuilt the heansd te
edz on he snd each hanga insfl tvors ''e se ad. ' S. E.B.
ed beond te rasline And Thee hs ner wo thear thse tat ofdicte
in te twligit o a eacealde e d, ebn t eof lfeMr. y Buck.a
her eenin' wa snufed ut t e l e toim b y r.Bgham cflai o ulsdeteai
i youn woan, only a ou t bu lttle iompansey theii ahos
prosil. 30 fieetf ot t ater' hbnis tlears he uhtae therdyh
in he ii gh ofapaeulSpe -e i t of life. MrU(. Buck.
ber heve w askufed ou t , helie bknd tho ufland consid rae,i
540,1
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