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' y ' ' ^c V ^ VOLUME LVI!., NUMBER 7. NEWBERRY, S. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1921. TWICE A WEEK, $2.00 A YEAR TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN FLORENCE COUNTY FIVE VICTIMS Si-EEP IN ONE GRAVE. ^ One White Member of Family and Two Negroes Under Arrest?An Awful Femily Row. / i i V ii n i . Special to The State. ^. Florence, Jan." 20.-?The tragedy near ^Pamplico last Saturday after' noon which cost the lives of three members of the Bigham famHy and two adopted children, took a sensa tional turn this afternoon when Edmund Bigham, one of the two sur " * - ? ' > - ?;i 1 iV vivmg memners qi we lamuy aim u? first to appear on the scene of the tragedy, according to his statement, 1 was arrested at the plantation home and brought to the county jail here. Has wife accompanied him to the jail, flbmxnd Bigham was arrested by Iteputy Sheriff M. B. Burch on a war?*nt sworn out by John W. McCrackjjgp. th6 father of the two children ' Mlled. Coroner Smith and C. M. Rose, an officer of Paraplico, accompanied him. He.submitted to the arrest quietly and manifested little or no con cern. JEe refused to make any statement toqight/when seen at the jail. .. The persons killed on the Bigham plantation Iaai Saturday were: Mrs. M. M. Bigham, her daughter, Mrs. Margie Black; Leo - an4 Jolm McCracken, two adopted children; and L.S. Bigham, brother of Mrs. Black. The mother and the daughter and one of the children were apparently killed instantly. The youngest child died at 5 o'clock the following morn ing, antfc *S? .Blgnam* /wnc> w?a thought &t the tim? to have committed the crime, was foundjfead in the woods aboiffc a'mile ifredaFtfie home at 11 o'clock the. following morning. He grasped , a-. .gMft Ifr his Kand, and a > ktt'tet ha$ pierced the rifeht temple. The othej fonf Vtctlnis also died, of pistol shot wounds. 5 .Nefroai idt Witnesses Coroner Smith s&ifi this afternoon that several negroes would be arrested and held as material witnesses. It is his oplnidn ihat now that [ Bigham is under Attfefct other testimony bearing oil the c<e may be forthcoming> In mlaJring the arresf of Bigham on the warrant of McCracKen the affidavit of Philip ArrdWsmlth, an attorney citv. was ifiven Sfreat consider v* y * r v* ation. Iir his afBd&Vft Arrowsmith declares that he had been the attorney , for Mrs. Black and lot L. S. (Smiley) ?igham, two of tHe persons killed, since the spring of 1920 and that, therefore he had fcfecome intimately acquainted with their Affairs. At the outset of tHe affidavit,, which "was sworn to befote the coroner, Jlr. Arrowsmith declares that Edmund Bigham had no interest in the estate of the late Senator L. S. Big ham,. this having; been conveyed to his mother and brother. He also declares that the payment of the bond escheated by Dr. Cleveland Bigham, who was convicted for the murder of his wife and sentenced to three years, ixl the state penitentiary, had been provided for by deposit of amount sufficient to cover .the bond in a local i ***- - ? -i?L oanK. me money n<w me piwvcu>} va a mortgage on th& estate lands and that Solicitor L. M. Gasque of this judicial circuit hild in his possession the certificate of deposit. Mr. Arrowsmith also avers that he has in his possession All of the original deeds relating to the Bigham lands. Continuing, the statement says that on January 8, 1921, &. S. Bigham and Mrs. Margie Black came to his home and at their request he accompanied them to his office where Mrs. Black, who was greatly agitated, made the L following statement: I At* r"I signed three blank deeds in ths presence of witnesses and left them with Smiley so that if anything happened to me my father's estate could ibe handled as my mother and Smiley desired. All these papers were stolen from Smiley. I found them in Ed.mund's possession. When I attempted to secure possession of them, Edmund - * _ _ * ii flew into a passion ana tiireaieiieu to take my life as well as that of my mother. I gave up all hope of getting the deeds back and his conduct is such that I am afraid he will kill me (Continued on page 2.) ! DISCUSS SHOWS IN LOWER HOUSE "Hootckie-Kootchie" Not Without Friends?Representative* Hear Letters on Movies i _ The State, 21st. i Poi-nmal cVin-.irc mnvio in vai xxi * ai Muvtfw) 444W ? ?v vvwv*w...r and whiskey transactions all came in for considerable attention; in the house of representatives yesterday and the members seem inclined io i leave the choice of some diversions land amusements to the public generj aily. J The whiskey measure elicited ex| tended debate. This measure provided i that no trial judge should suspend the sentence imposed for any violation I of law. ohibiting the sale of intoxi iVatim* liouors except upon the spe j cial recommendation of the jury tryjing the case, and that in no case | should there be a suspension of senj tence .unless the proof was clear that i the person convicted was found in possession of tess than one quart of liquor. Representative Ballard, who introduced the measure, spoke in its defense. Representatives Hamblin wanted chaingang sentences for violations of whiskey laws; Representative Buckingham wanted the suspension or non-suspension of penalty left with the judge; Hanahan held that 1 ** 'L' ?"-n 'Iv.in Ir TX.-itVl tVlP I promDinoiiista vtcic ui.u?u prohibition idea and held that personal rights were being invaded; Owens spoke against the bill, saying that it applied to the sale alone and not to distilling and storing, and that it changed the rule of evidence and | placed upon the jury the duty of imi nosinsr the sentence instead of the ! judge; Sellers also commented on the | measure. Representative Jackson of Sumter dealt the dying measure a mortal ; Wow when he offered -to amend the . measure by changing "less than one ! quart" to "less than one barrel." The ...bill died during the laughter that followed the reading of the amendment. Discuss Carnivals. Representative M. R. Cooper's bill j to refuse licenses to carnivals and ! traveling shows aiso Drougnt mm considerable discussion. Representative Cooper said some wanted the moving picture, an artificial thing, censored. He was after keeping out ! certain additional duties would be j Representative Hanahan said that . he might enjoy a "hootchie-kootchie" i himself and was of the opinion that j "we might permit young folk to have jthe same sort of pleasures that we j have had."' The enacting words of the tyill were J stricken out and the measure died. Censor for Movies i Reprsentative F. G. Harris intro: duced a bill to regulate the exhibition J of moving picture films in this state. ! The measure was read *by title and j was referred to the judiciary comi mittee. I A communication was read from j Thonjas H. Law, clerk of the Presbyterian synod of South Carolina, in j which the synod discussed the moving (picture film, holding that some films j were degrading, and memorializing j the legislature to take steps to have ; a state censorship, it being held that I the national censorship does not cor< This communication i from the Presbyterians was received [ as information. ? Edgefield Sustains Loss j Edgefield Advertiser, 19th. I In the going of Miss Hortense ! Woodson to Newberry yesterday to ! accept a position with The Herald and News as linotype operator Edgefield I sustains a great loss. She is a pains j taking and very efficient operator j who will be a valuable addition to the i force of The Herald and News. Edgef field gives up with reluctance so cap; able and so high minded a young j woman who scatters sunshine; joy j and gladness wherever she goes. Miss Hortense C. Woodson left on 1 WpHn^Hav for Newberry, S. C., ! where she will be associated with ! Col. Elbert H. Anil, who is editor and t I publisher of that able and popular old } journal, the Semi-Weekly Herald and News. The Chronicle relinquishes Miss j Woodson with keen regret, for she {has been a most value 1 and able as1 ' ' L ?~ twn VP9T"S. sistant oi uuts iui tlic J-'f.O V W V J ?Edgefield Chro.r.cle. PILGRiM PAINTING PRESENTE1 I V - ' ' : ;{ ?'-/ rv/v : : H" ' ' ; pCf*I I; i \m : r V^ * ^ This photograph shows the lar* Commission in Boston the other da "Piiorrrm Fathers Watching the. May painted by Alfred Walter Baqes, an (heard of the Bayes painting was wh presenting the painting, explained th home of Frederick C. Sayles at Pawt inches by eighteen feet. ' ?* i I.. BILL TO REGULATE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC Provision for Traffic Commission, Drivers' License and Every - thia^. The State, 21st. The motor vehicle division of the state highway commission would be abolished and this work, along with certain additonal duties would be done by the state traffic commission' er and deputies, according to a bill j introduced in the senate yesterday by ' ~ 1 -C r* ?T _ Senator Jtsonnam ox uiccuvhic. important in the provisions of the measure is the one requiring drivers to be licensed. The commissioner would re ceive $3,000 a year, he would appoint his own deputies with consent of the governor, his office would be in Columbia, his term of office four years, and his election would be by the general assembly. The bill goes into practically every phase of the traffic question and gives the commissioner and his deputies full police power to enforce the regulations. There are a number of details such as requiring adequate brakes, signalling devises, width of machines and other vehicles, rules of the road, what to do in case of accident. etc. Fines and jail sentences -fAr- of the i are ijicstu^cu mi > iui?..v ? ? provision of the measure. Issuing of licenses both for machines and for drivers will be in the hands of the commissioner. Fines collected will be used for maintenance of roads in the various counties. MAY CONSOLIDATE TWO DEPARTMENTS, i Bills to Establish Conservation Commission to Be Introduced. The State, 21st. Two prospective measures that will be introduced in the general assembly in the next few days are bills to provide for the abolition of the state game department and the board of fisheries and the establishment of j a conservation commission and the j changing of the present pension law. ! TVio mpnqiire for the conservation commission will be so framed as to provide for the appointment of four members by the governor, the chief executive to be ex-officio chairman, and the election of a state conserva tion officer, or chief game warden, ( by the commission. The bill as to pensions, being prepared by Senator Hart of York would greatly facilitate the pension navments by making two classes an -C ?V stead of four and having the money distributed to the counties in proportion to the number cf veterans entitled to pensions. D TO TERCENTENARY COMMISSI 01 e Pilgrim painting which was presented y my Thos. A. Elstbr., a contrr.ctor o flower,'"* and isthought that, the painting English artist, a generation or more a< en it was exhibited in-London more tl at it came into his possession when, as a ucket, R. I.. some yeairssgo. The painti sPceqnWAr PARAGRAPHS ) h PROSPEROUS PROSPERITY. | * i Prosperity, Jan4 24.?Miss. Ethel j ?< i Counts was the hoior guest at a i (bridge party given Wednesday even-; ' ing by Miss Effie Eawkins. The room j 1 decorated in fragrant narcissi and j vi-Jb, furnished a charming setting'C : f-or the jolly affair. A salad course j d i was served. j li j : Miss Ethel-Counts -entertained The! u i Iinger-Longer-Laughva-Lot club on j n Monday evening. "The house was j t artistically decorated for the occa- v sion. Dainty refreshments were serv- j t ed. v i s; | A jolly affair wae,$he old fashioned j r 1 square dance which was given at the! ii j town hall Thursday jaight to the mu- t>] ; sic of the Morris orchestra. The hours b j were pleasantly d<ticed away. An un- J n usually largt crowd was present, in- p eluding "the young girls of the town i and comjmunity with their chaper!0 ores. |0 Dr. G. Y. Hunter has returned; ^ :from Rock Hill. * jp j Mr. R. S. 'McWaters of Atlanta has! r i j ^ jbeen visiting his granddaughter, Mrs. ,.g | Horace Counts. j r J Mr. I. Kaplan and little Rose spent, ^ j the week-end in McCormick. I Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Dominick have; ; moved to Chappells, where Mr. Domi- j ^ I niclc will be engaged m rne mercnsa-, j j dise business. ,| Miss Ola Bell Talbert of Jalapa is j | the guest of Miss Helen Mathfs. i i Clyde Wheeler of Columbia spent j 0 J the week-end with Mrs. Joe B. Hart-! I . i e j m!an. I ^ W. B. Wise of Ber.nettsville is vis-1 V I iting relatives here. 1 Vonio T.nlcp of Little Moun-i j 1V/11CO ? M??4V | tain sper.t Saturday with Miss Lucy I i Lake. !11 j Prof. E. T. McSwain, Misses Clara j s i Brown and Rosins Singley attended! ; the teachers' meeting in Newberry, ? j Saturday. ; Mi S3 Mary Wright of Newberry; spent the week-end with Mrs. Z. W. | ? i Bedenbaugh. } ? - i i Mr. and Mrs.'Ernest iiecienDaugn < I T j leave this week for Atlanta. j 1 ! Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Taylor of > ivBate3b!U'g have been visiting Mr.; ^ and Mr?. A. G. Wise. j ^ j Mrs. J. J. Singley is visiting in!11 | Charleston. | j 3Ir. end Mrs. J. C. Duncan of Bes-j $ , semer city are guests of Mrs. Virgil,11 j Xohn. " j ' Mr?. Goodman of Columbia has]0 j been visiting Mrs. J. S. Wheeler. j n j Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Rav/l of Lex- 0 < e I ington spent Sunday with Mrs. J. F. j ? j Browne. j J; I Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle Beaenbaugh i l; i returned Friday to Anderson. j These plays! After "Mary's Ankle"; r i comes "Gloria's Garter." Time to j ti j stop.?The State. I , y % 1 MAY BE LONG MJSSlNtt ONE MBSWWaBBSI 4 1 i to the Pilgrim Tercentenary ; f South Boston. It is entitled ; ; may be the original picture jo, or it may be a copy. The last j i lan 30 years ago. Mr. Elstonr in j < contractor, he demolished the >: ng measures seven lecz eigns i IOU.SE SUSTAINS GOVERNOR'S VETO ?o Immunity for Treasurer of Horry County 'he State, 21st. ? f r>/\ i. - OA A/vtrannAT. .By a vote 01 03 CU QZ> uuvciiiut i looper's veto was sustained yesteray in the house on the joint reso.ition to relieve W. L. Bellamy, treasr rer of Horroy county and his bondslen from all liabilities of a failure a collect penalties on taxes as proided by law. Governor Cooper in his veto mesasre on the resolution said that he egarded the measure as an exceedingly dangerous precedent, holding hat if the prir ,ie set forth in the ill should become general, the tax . machinery of the 3tale would go to ieces. "This resolution," 3add the govern- . r, "in effect grants immunity to an fficial who has failed to comply with he law.'" The governor said that? ? -* 1 T>_, 4. T !' 'ormer Comptroller uenenu u uj. j Isbome and the acting comptroller 1 eneral, W. V. Sutherland, had both equested that the measure be veoed. Ilepresentative G. L. Ford of Horry ' ounty made a strong plea for the yerridipg of-, the governor's veto, le said that the treasurer had gone o the auditor, asking him about penities on tax collections, and that he auditor had not placed the pen-1 ities on the tax duplicates, me oax- j s and penalties which the Horry reasurer had failed to collect were},1 eportsd as being approximately 8,700. After a considerable debate on the latter, the veto of the governor was ustained. |! O LEAVE "FRATS" | WITH TRUSTEES. lill Dealing Wiih bccrot oociciic* , Introduced ;1 he43:ate, 21st. Greek letter fraternities at the Iniversity of South Carolina, a mat9i* which stirred up no little debate i the assembly last year, promise j' J liven up the session again this i' ear, Representative Ellerbe having! itroduced a 'oil! in the house yes- j sraay to "amend Section 1838, code j i laws in the stats of Sftuth Caron-1 a, so as to provide that the- board I, f trustees of the University of :. outh Carolina shall determine! hether or not Greek letter fraterni- jJ ies shall be allowed in the instituion." The bill was read by title and was , eferred to the committee on educa- ; ion. Last year a bill of similar import^ I PLAN TO CHANGE TAXING SYSTEM Rogers Would Establish Board of Review?Three Mill Tax Under Fire The State, 2^Lst. Senators Marion, Laney and Chris- j *? ?x?- J ? ~~ rcc/klfi- I tensen imruuuv.cu jimm ivsviu I tions in the senate yesterday, one to j confer upon the general assembly: the power to "establish a just and | equitable system- of raising public j revenues to be known as article three ! of amendments to the constitution," and the ->cond to abolish the three mili constitutional school tax and amend the constitution ?o as to allow j the general assembly power to fix the ! rate of the school tax. Two resolutions [ and one bill were put before the up-,: i ? i? | per Mouse asking ior censors ui mu?- i ing pictures. j The two jo-int tax_ resolutions ' would submit to thepeople f?>th pro- ! posed amendments in the next general election. The intent of the three sen ators is to have the general assembly i ?iven power to establish and main- j tain a just and equitable system of . taxation for state and local purposes ; in lieu of the present system. The +Vi!5f tnYP; shall L C3UIUC1U11 v v . be levied in a like manner and on like I subjects equally throughout the state | as shall be governed by general laws, j Provision is made for property used : exclusively for state, * CQunty, rcMgi-' ous, b.enevolent, charitable, municipal ind educational purposes to be exempt from taxation and also household goods of the head of any'family up to at least $100. This resolution re- ( ferred to the finance committee. These three senators also offered the joint resolution to amend Section 6 of article XI by striking out the provision calling for a levy of a three mill constitutional school tax and in lieu of this section, confer upon the general assembly the power to fix the school tax rate to be levied. This res- j olution would also submit the ques-, tion to the electors at the next general election. It was referred to the finance committee. Senator Rogers' bill to provide a state board of review for the censor-j ing of moving pictures would have; each and every picture, reel, etc., re-' viewed by this board before allowing! fchem to be shown in any theatre in' the state. The measure provides for the appointment of a board of three by the governor for a term of six, foui; and two years with a chairman, j who is to receive $3,000 a year, andj the other members to receive $2,500 a year. All films and pictures as well as' advertising matter deemed cruel, obscene, indecent or immoral would be prohibited. A fine and jail sentence is provided for any violators of the! act. The bill further provides for a fee of $2 for each reel or picture re- j viewed and a tax of five cents a year j on each seat in every theatre in the; state. A license would be issued by the board and upon more than one' violation this would be revoked. Ap-f peal to the courts could be taken if J any theatre wishes to take action. An | nnnKftnrioHftn of JIK.ftftO 155 flsked bv VTJ, lit. WW*. . Senator Rogers to carry on the work. The bill was referred to the committee 1 on education. Resolutions from the Presbyterian j synod and the Lutheran synod calling j cn the general assembly to enact1 legislation to censor movies were both! received as information by the sen-' site. j The .finance committee submitted an unfavorable report on the meas-j are of Senator Wightman to abolish j the board of public welfare. Discus-1 sior, on the report will be in order; today. ! ? The Japanese explain the conduct! of the sentry who shot the American j as being "very ignorant." Yes, and hardly up to the standard of polite-! ness which we are accustomed to expect frcm the inhabitants of Nippon, j ?The State. }. was introduced in the legislature and without creating much disturbance j passed through the house. When it \ reached the senate, the bill had rough J sledding and it met its death in the j upper body. Fraternities were outlaw-j ed at the university by the legislature in 1898 and since that time there has, been more or less discussion looking.! to their reinstatement. 1 V " r. ; 4 ^ 7 i HARD WEEK AHEAD FOR LEGISLATURE MANY IMPORTANT MATTER* COMING UP. 1 Start Voting Wednesday at Noon. Minimum Wage Bill May Be Introduced. The State, 24th. The legislative mill will begin to grind properly this week and a comber of important matters will be brought up for consideration. Wednesday at noon the two bounce will begin a joint session .to fill vacant offices, beginning with the election of an associate justice to fill' +Vi<-> r?looo n-f -fVio Info Dnnipl Hyarick, who died eight days ago. "5 Several other important official? are to be named including a superintend- ^fgjjS ent of the penitentiary, a state gante warden, directors of the medical d"4? lege, four circuit judges and directors of the penitentiary. ' p 4i i _ j; j.A.. 4 Aireaay seven cajiuuuuea aic m the field to succeed ifa. Hydr.cl^ case of a deadlock a ' tevk horse" may be placed in the running. T*alk of one "dark horse'" has already mentioned a well kncv.ii member of the assembly. Debate on several important bills already introduced is expecte4 to' come up" in the House and senate durinc the week. Final disposition of ?o ------ . . . the question of postponing the time for paying taxes is one matter of considerable interest that will be threshed out during* the week. Several bills of statewide iwpor- . . "i tance are brewing, one be:ng for ? . . yj minimum wage law. W*. 3o?ti> Carolina federation gf labor is in?A* ous for a measure of tMf k ffitf ?nd it is possible that a bill carers?" the requested minimxn,,^ for worn- " ei rnd childr&i wli> work Jh flhujH#, textile plants, eie?, iw 12& s ww?* , may be offered. iUfiteffehiative G?fald or Senator Pearce nifty introduce the .measure. A pending bill by Senator Robin* son of McCorm:ck would abolish the office of coroner for his ccunty and place the duties thereof oft the Vari uuo iixaKii9vi<?vvu? Appointment of committees from both houses to wveftifcfcte the Conr federate home and thi Ufchway com^ J mission, the latter in ah iffort to find 'J out if there is not solilfi means for >$? facilitating the securing of federal aid, will also be a pAri of week'i work. ? The house will begin work again ' > M Moday night, but the aenate will not reconvene until Tuesday at noon. " V -4J Memorial exercices iot the late W. T. P. Sprott, a member-elect to the house from Clarendon county, who died December 25, 1920, will be held in the house Ttiesday at 1 o'clock. :J. The&e exercises were Scheduled to have been held last week but were postponed. - . - i % The week promises wt oe a ousy one and before the time for adjournment arrives at the weak-end it is likely that many impdrt^nt matters will have been given coiKideration. SOME ADDITIONS TXi RED CROSS ROLL CALL In publishing the liift of members of the Red Cross the secretary could hardly expect that there were no mistakes. Attention is called to the fact that these games did not appeair correctly: Miss Elizabeth Dominick. Mr. Claud Dominick. Mrs. J. W. Wheeler. 'Early after the organization of the Newberry county chapter by paying twenty-five cellars two people Decame life members of the American Red Cross. It is a pleasure to say that the honor of such membership is held by Miss Mary Burton and Mr. G?orge S. Mower. Whitmire has sent in a membership for 12 more adults, making a splen'U/l fAfnl nf 144. UXU Sadie Goggans, / ;| Publicity chairman. Stroud-Braawcll Miss Nellie Stroud and Mr. Arthur Braswell, both of Mollohon mill village, were married fcy Dr. J. L. Daniel at Central Methodist parsonage Saturday evening at 7 o'clock. 4