Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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READS LIKE A NOEL. A FULL HISTORY OF THE BARRETT CONSPIRACY CASES. How the Facts Were Brought Out-Inter estiu Ceveiations :a to the AMute Attorney% Rascally Scheme--Ue is Caught up With at Last. CoLT2wBiA. 5. C., DeC. 18.-During the past week one of the most notable cases ever tried in Columbia. S. C., was con::luded in the United States Court-the Barrett postoffice conspiy acy case. It was one of the most not able cases of its kind ever tried in the South, indeed in this country. says the Columbia State. The parties on trial were Capt. C. P. Barrett, criminal lawyer, lately of Spartanburg; John S. Fisher, United States Commissioner and mayor of Tryon, N. C.,; A. J. Fisher, J. R. Bur dine, postmaster at Cowpens. S. C.; John T. Tillman, R. J. MeElrath post master at McElrath, S. C.: J. W. Owens, postmaster at Owens. S. C.: R. C. Wyatt. postmaster at Wyatt. S. C.; Clarence Lee. John M. Thompson. postmaster at Clifton. S. C.: ThonasJ. Hannon, John D. O'Bryant. postmas ter at Peak's S. C.; Edward B. Lowe, er at Enoree. S. C.. and Wmt. I.Hatcher. Of these. Tillinan. Thompson and Hatcher skipped, leaving their bonds men in the lurch. McElrath, Owens, Wyatt, Lee Han non and Lowe turned State's evidence, anc'McElrath, Lee and Hannon plead ty; Owens was sick in bed with ihod fever. prosecution and the defence brought tooether a fine array of legal talent. JoAn M. Caldwell. one of the leading criminal lawyers of Anniston. Ala., cameon to defend John D. O'Brv ant and got him off on the ground that the oences charged against him were barred by the statute of limita tions. Mr. Caldwell is probably the most expert penman ever seen 'here, he being able to imitate perfectly any signature offhand after seeing it once written. Col. Wm. Munro, of Union, repre sented Thomas J. Hannon, throwing around him all the legal protection = *ble. He was assisted by Mr. S. T. vy, of Spartanburg. Col Blythe, in addition to appear g for Capt. Barrett, asalready stated also represented John S. Fisher and A. J. Fisher. He got the Fishers off, but couli not save the "red fox." After a most exhaustive and tirescme aamintion of many witnesseson both sides and two brilliant arguments for the prosecution and defence, the speech of District Attorney W. Perry Murphy being particularly fine, both on ac count of his eloquence and his master ly handling of the testimony, District Judge Brawley addressed the jury and delivered his charge. He had the un divided attention of the entire audi ence. The charge was able and lucid, showing vast study and research into the laws relating to conspiracies. The jury did not remain out long and at an early hour inthe afternoon brought in a 'erdict of guilty as to Barrett, Owens, Tillman and Lee. Barrett went to jail with the other prisoners. The following history of the con spiracy will now be read withinterest: The case was placed in the hands of -Postoffice Inspector Fred D. Peer by Hon. G. M. Whiteside, Chief Postof floe Inspector of the Southern States. Peer immediately went to Spartan ~m~1atte. I dd not take him long to find evidence enough against Thom as B. Neighbors, postmaster at Dallas, S. C.. and W. D. Evins, postmaster at Converse, S. C., to warrant their ar rest for conspiracy, along with Capt. Chas P. Barrett and others to defraud the United States by falsifying the re turns of their cancellations of ~g stamps and by illega sale and 'si tion of the same. 'eighbors and Ev ins are both one-legged Confederate veterans, highly connected and much esteemed in the communities in which they lived, and the citizens were great 9--surprised to find that they had been led astray by Barrett. Peer worked up such a strong case against Neigh bors and Evins that when confronted with the evidence they both made full confessions, implicating Barrett, who was then a practicing lawyer, and other members of the gang above men tioned, who were also arrested by In setor Peer for consprcy to defraud te Government and business houses all over the United States. The sworn confessions of five post masters, together with the corrobora tive testimony of the other witnesses, and the documentary evidence, pro duced followed by a conviction in the United States Courts here, disclose one emos tnic swindleson record. .arrett's Independent Order of South Carolina Postmasters" might be ana ilation of the slickest gang of swin ers ever organized in the United States for the purpose of defrauding the Government and obtaining every variety of goods from business houses all over the United States by the fraud ulent use of the mails. A large num her of fourth class postmasters through out the State, under the guidance and direction of Capt. Barrett, the shrewd criaial lawyer, organized themselves into a band, and with the aid of Uncle Sam's letter heads robbed the people all over the country with 'the greatest boldness and success. Postoffices were established in out of the way p laces, where they were not needed, through the instrumentality of Lawyer Barrett, for the express pur pose of robbing the Government and defrauding individuals. Barrett has been a sort of Demo cratic-Republican-Tillmanite- Third pat"go as-you-please" politician, and hereorehad the happy faculty of ingratiating himself with whatever .ty happened tobe in power. Hence 's ucessinhavngpostmasters ap Sinted and postotlices established. e sharpest inspectors worked on the case for over three years. During all that time they were convinced that Barrett was the moving spirit of the swindlers, but were unable to get any proof. During the Harrison adminis tration Barrett manag-ed to be made referee in matters of I ederal appoint ments, and his term of office was re markable for the creation of new fourth class postoffices. Still the inspectors detailed on the case were unable to get much evidence of fraud until Inspect or Peer went to work and caused the arrest of Barrett and about twenty-five others. This was followed up with the trial and conviction of Chief Bar rett and his gang already mentioned. Inspector Peer had barrett's law of fice seached on a search warrant and found some very damaging evidence against him, together with enough paraphernalia for a full fieddged Post master General's use. After havino postmaster's appointed the plan woulil be as follows: A fourth class post master gets no salary, but is allowed a percentage on all postage stamps cancelled by him. These postmasters would, withBarrett's aid, falsify their quarterly returns and report their can cellations at say $100 or $200, when in reality perhaps only $5 or $6 worth were actually cancelled. They would then jdraw large commissons, and in thi wa the Government has been beaten out of thousands of dollars. Besidcs this the stamps left 'on hand, which had been reported as cancelled, would be turned over, to Barrett who would dispose of them and divide the spoils. Bringing a lot of postage stamps to Barrett was characterized by the postmasters a s -bringing a'possuni totown." The department was aware that Bar rett was selling stamps at less than cost, but could not locate the source of his supply until Fred Peer's shrewd detective work began to throw some light on the subject. It was a case of "diamond cut diamond." but tie post office inspector proved to be Barrett's ieer and therefore the cunning jurist 'now languishes in jail. Inspector Peer. -who i now operatimg in South Carolina, is well known throughout the United States. le was formerly employed in the postof!ee at Cinein nati. Peer ls the air of a clergy man anl is as bi:i! as a gil. but is keener and has more nerve than hal' a dozen ordinary 11awk shaws. The band of swindlers mentioned above, of which l'arrett .a'pears to have been the bright., shining star, have been workin-: their fraudulent schemes for a numberof vearsand the many firms that have been victimized have' been mentioned in a former issue of The State. The gang was versatile in its tastes and ordered through the mails with out hope or intention of paying for it merchandise of all descriptions. from saw mills and steam engines down to furniture, typewriters, safes, dishes, edibles, soaps and law books. They seemed to have an especial weakness for pianos, organs and safes and in more than one little log hut out in the backwoods can be found fine oflic safes. and grand mahogany pianos. rangig in price from .250 to $900. This band of robbers flourished. They managed to get themselves ratcd in Bradstreet's or Dun's. The scheme to defraud )usincss houses was this: "Using colispicuous letter heads with United States postof fice printed thereon. one of the con spirators would order goods on the in stalment plan and upon their arrival would mortgage them to another of the gang. In order to give the transac tion a semblance of being bona fide and legal. Barrett would see that money which he furnished was actually passed in the presence of an innocent witness when the mortgage was given. The money, however, would be re turned to Barrett as soon as the mort gae was recorded in the clerk's office. NVien the owners would endeavor to recover their goods they would find them sold to some supposed innocent purchaser and under the laws of the State of South Carolina they would have to whistle for their money. It was smooth sailing on a summer sea for the swindlers and everything seemed lovely till they struck a snag, a jagging, pr)bing snag in the person of PostofficeInspectorPeer. The plans of Barrett and iis regularly organized band of robbers have been fully venti lated in the United States Court room. Many witnesses were examined and the evidence adduced was of the most damaging and convincing character and showed a scheme almost unexcell ed in the history of fraud in its bold ness and artistic rascality. At Spartanburg, Barretthad a lot of law books in his cell in the jail, which he converted into a sort of law office. He also had a typewriter in his cell, on which he was typewriting all of the evidence in the various cases against him. But Inspector Peer traced it up by its number through the Ham mond Typewriter Company of New York city, and discovered t'hat it was also abtained by the fraudulent use of the mails. J. 2I. Nunally, the South 'e~"Get'~ftte RnlisadTyp~ewriter Company at Atlanta, Ga., was sent fo and he at once identified the machine and fine cabinet desk that went with it as the same property he had been defrauded out of over two years ago. He claimed his goods and took them away from Barrett by regular process of law, Carson & Evins acting as his attorneys. Attempts have been made by the Barrett gang to victimize a number of firms all over the United States which are the Robt, MitchellFurniture Coin pany, Dodd, Werner & Co., Mosler. Bahman & Co., and the Herring Hall Marvin Safe Company. A Herring Hall safe, which has never been paid for, was in Barrett's office when he was arrested, Certain circulars which have been sent to various merchants ordering goods. give a very curious in sight into some of the methods of Bar' rett's gang and show the ingenuity of Barrett who originated them. They are well printed on good paper and dated at the United States postoffice at Walker, S. C. They direct that the goods ordered be put in packages not heavier than four pounds, "technical' ly sealed" and mailed with only a two cent stamp thereon. This woul'd leave $1.26 to be collected at the office of destination on each pakage and A. F. McDowell, who was postmaster at Walkers, as he explained in the circu lar, got the transportion of the pack age practically for nothing, as he was allowed 100 per cent. on the stamps he was supposed to put on these packages and cancel. McDowell was convicted at Greenville. The residence of. J. W. Owens. who was postmaster at Owen's, was destroy ed by fire recently by some of the gang in order to get 'rid~ of certain docu mentry evidence which lie had in his trnk. Owens turned State's evidence and his life was threatened several times. The Windsor Hotel at Spartan burg, it is said, was also burned in the hope of cremating Postoflice Inspector Peer and all the forged bonds mn his possession. Peer has since been called the "Phcenix." Lawyer Barrett stood well with the present Cleveland ad ministration. until his crooked transac tions came to light. He was in a fair way of being appointed chief clerk in the Attorney General's office. Judge Br'awley sentenced Barrett to eighteen months in the Government prison at Columbus, 0., in the coln spiracy case alone, and to pay a fine of $500. Barrett has not been sentenced yet in the Posey Bragg forgery case. The maximum punishment for forgery is fifteen r'ears at hard labor and a fine of $5000.~ Owens, McElrath. Hannon and Lee were sentenced to six months coinement in the county at Spartan burg. It is very probable that Till man w~ill be severely dealt with when he is captured inl Texas. Bairett appealed to the United States Court of Appeals. In the meantime, he is still confined in the Richlland jail in Columbia, S. C.-Augnsta Chrloni Jumped Into the Eiver. .gxoxvruLE. Dec. 19. -Some monthls ago Calvin McGhee was discharged from a dry goods store for helping himself to cash receipts. He was in dicted in the crimnal court and his trial set for January 17.-A special from Chattanooga says his body .was found floating in the Tennessee river below that city this morning. He went from here to Chattanooga about the 15th of November, and from there he wrote his affianced, a young lady of Morristown, that he was tired of life and would jump into the Tennes see river at 10:15 o'clock Thanksgiving night. That morning he paid his board bill and from that day to this, nothing has been heard from him un til the finding of his body, which was identified by papers and' photographs THE SHEPHERD'S CHRiSTMAS VIGIL. "Glory to God in the Ilighest, and on Earth Peace, Good-will Towards 3Men." The article below is an extract from "Ben Hur:" "A Tale of the Christ," written by Gen. Lew Wallace. It is a splendid book and should be read by all. Here is the extract. Be sure and read it: By the gate [of the sheep-foldl hug zing his iia itle close, the watchman walked: at times lie stopped, attracted by a stir aniong the sleeping herds, or by a jackal's cry far off on the nioun k-in-side. The midnight was slow comning to him: but at last it came. His task was done: now for the dream less sleep with which labor blesses its wearied children'I He nioved towards the fire. but paused; a light was break ing aro'und him, soft and white, like the moon's. He waited breathlessly. The light deepened: things before ii visible came to view:he saw the whole field, and all it sheltered. A chill sharper than that of the frosty air-a chill of fear-smote him. He' looked up: the stars were gone; the light dropping as from a window in the sky; as lie looked, it became a splei dor: then, in terror, he cried, "Awake, awake: Up sprang the dogs, and. howling. ran away. The herds rushed together bewil dered. The men clambered to their feet, weapons in hand. "What is it?" they asked, in one vo~ee. "See:" cried the watchman, ''the sky is oil fire." Buddenly the lie'ht became intolera bly bright, and they covered their evyes. and dropped upon their knees: then, as their souls shrank with fear. they fell upon their faces blind and fainting, and would have died had not a voce said to them. "Fear not'. And ther listened. "Fear no1t: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." The voice, in sweetness and soothing more than human, and low and clear, penetrated all their being, and filled them with assurance. They rose uponi their knees. and, looking worshipfully beheld in the centre of a great glory the appearance of a mai, clad in a robe intensely white: above its shoulders towered the tops of wings shining and folded: a star over its forehead glowed with steady lustre, brilliant as Hesper us; its hands were stretched towards them in blessing; its face was serene and divinely beautiful. They had often heard. and, in their simple way, talked of angels: and they doubted not now, but said, in their hearts, The glory of God is about us, and this is he who of old :ame to the prophet by the river of Ulai. Directly the angel continued: "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: Again there was a rest, while the words sank into their minds. "And this shall be a sign unto you." the annunciator said next. "Ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, hyin' in a manger." The herald spoke not again; his good tidings were told: yet he stayed awhile. Suddenly the light, of which he seemed the centre, turned roseate and began to tremble; then up, far as the men could see, there was flashing of white wings, and coming and going of radiant forms, and voices as of a multitude chanting in unison. "Glory to God in the hig'hest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men:" Not once the praise, but many times. , . --. ~~ Thenithie herald* raised his eyes as seeking approval of one far off; his wings stirred, and spread slowly and majestically, on their upper side white as snow, in the shadow v-ari-tinted, like mother-of-pearl; when they were expanded many cubits beyond hiis stat' ure, he arose lightly, and without ef fort, floated out of view, taking the light up with him. Long after he was gone, down from the sky fell the re frain in measure mellowed by distance, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men." When the shepards came fully to their senses, they stared at each other stupidly, until one of them said, "It was Gaberiel, the Lord's messenger unto men." None answered. 'Christ the Lord is boirn; said he not so?" Then another creovered his voice, and replied. "That is what lie said." "And did he ntot also say, in the city of David, which is our Bethlehem onder. And that we should find him a babe in swaddling-clothes?" "And lying in a manger." The first speaker gaze'a into the fiire thoughtfully, but at length said, like one possessed of a sudden resolve. "There is but one place in Bethlehem where there arc managers: but one. and that is in the cave near the old khan. Brethren. g let us go see this thing which has come to pass. The priest~s and doctors have beeni a long time looking for Christ. Now he is born, and the Lord has given us a sign by which to know him. Let us go up and worship him." "But the flocks "The Lord will take care of them. Let us make haste Then they all arose and left the marah. Around the mountain and thrioug'h the town they passed, and came to the gate of the k'han, wher'e there wais a man on the watch. 'What would you have ?" he asked. "We have seen and hear'd gr'eat things to-night," they r'eplied. "Well, we, too, have seen gireat things; but heard nothing. What did you hecar?" "Let us. go down to the cave in the encosur'e that we may be sure: then we will tell you all. Come withI us. and see for yourself." "It is a foo1 s errand." "No, the Christ is bor'n." "The Christ: How do you kniow: "Let us go and see first." The man laughed scoirnfully. "The Christ inideed: How are you to kn1ow~ him?" "He was ~born this night, and is now lying in a mianger, so we were told; and thei'e is but one place in Bethile hem with mangers." "The ca'e: "Yes. Come with us." They went through the court-yard without notice, although ther'e w"ere sonie up talking about the wonderful light. The door of the cavei'n was open. A lanteirn was burning within. and thier entered unceremloniiously. "I give v'ou peace," the watchmian said to JToseph and the Bethi-Dagonite. "Here are people looking for' a child born this night, whom they are to know by finding himi in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." For' a moment the face of the stolid Nazarene was moved: turning away, he said, "The child is here." They were led to one of the mangers. and there the child was. The lantern was brought and the shepards stood by mute. Tlhe little one made no sign; it was as others just born. "Where is the mother:" asked the watchman. One of the women took the baby. and went to Mary, lying near, and put it in her arms. Then the bystaiid A.otey Pure. A caefli *:1: Pi powi L .t of n I:. '-a ntII I -t*rengtt.h.- La e t ited IAt. e oFr o- s Re port 106 Wal St., N Y. -t is the Cihrist " said a shepherd, at last. -Thie Christ:' they all repeated, falling 111)011 their knees in worship. One of them repeated several times OVCI. It is the Lord, and his gor is above the earth and heaven. And thie siplhl) men. never doubt ing, kissed the hem of the mother's robe. and With joyful faces departed. In the khan. to all the people aroused and pressing about them, they told their story; and through the town, and all the way back to the marah, they chanted the refrain of the angles, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men The story when abroad. confirmed by the lighrt sogenerally seen; and the iext day, and for days thereafter, the eave w\\as visited by curious crowds. of wv hom some believed. though the greater part laughed and mocked. The Taxes Next Year. COLUMBIA. S. C.. Dec. 18.-The sup ;' v1bill for the fiscal year beginning -November 1. 1S94, was reported by the Ways and Means Committee last Vit State levy is placed at 4; mills. I arm informedl that the committee thinks this abudantly sufficient. This is, of course. exclusive of the constitu tional 2-mill tax for the schools. The levy is half a mill below this year. The levy by countips for county pur poses is as'follows: Abbeville. 2j- mills: Aiken, 21 mills; Anderson. 3i mills; Berkelev. 5 mills; ()hc-er. 5 7-12 mills. Chesterflield 51- mills: Charleston, 21 mills; Colleton. 6 mills: Darlington 3 mills: Edgetield, 2- mills: Edgefield is authorized to borrow money for coun ty purposes and pledge taxes in ad ance and also to borrow $3,500 for bridges, etc. Tile same privilege is given Fairfield, for which the county levy is placed at 3. mills and one-fifteenth of a mill for deficiency. Florence. .31 mills; Georgetown, 5 ills, vith a tax of 3 mills on all live stock in Townships 5 and 6. Greenville, 51 mills: Hampton 4 mills; Horry, 2i mills, in addition five sixths for poor and thirteen-twenty fourths for railroad bonds. Kershaw. 53 mills; Laurens, 54 mills; Lexington, 3 mills, with 3 mills extra in Broad River and 2* mills ex tra in Fork and Saluda Townships for railroad bonds. The county is author ized to borrow and pledge taxes in ad vance. Marlboro, 4 mills; Newberry, 3 mills; Marion, 2tanmils, also allowed to borrow monev. -~Ath-lnd, 41- mills; Spartanburg, 6j mills: Suner, 3 mills; Union, 9 mills: Oconee, 3 1-5 mills; Orangeburg, 24 mills; Williamsburg, 41 mills and the county isauthorized to borrow money. York County .3 mills, with the fol lowing extra in these townships for interest on railroad bonds: Catawba, 3 mills; Cherokee, 1 mill; Ebenezer. j mill; York, 5 mills. The'fay of Auditors. CoLmL&, S. C.. Dec. 20.-The fol lowing is the pay of the Auditor's of the diferent counties as fixed by the Legislture. The figures in the first Aoumi. applying to the old salaries frei the State; in the second column to the newv salaries from the State and in the last showing the total amount of future salaries, including amount received from counties also: Charleston-.....2.00 $1,200 $1,900 Berkeley-..-.......S80 000 1,400 Spartahuirg... 800 S00 1,500 Richland.........-800 700 1,500 Abbeville-........-700 700 1.200 Aiken.......... 700 600 1,000 Anderson........-700 600 1.000 Edgefield-......-..700 COO 1,000 Barnwell.. .......700 000 1,100 Beaufort......... ) 52 102 Marioun-.......7...O 80 Sumter--......7...0.110 York--..... ---7..7.01,.0 Chester.- -....... 0 25 92 Colleton--......0..5.102 Darlington....... O 25 72 Fair field ....... .. 60 2 2 Florence......... 60 2 2 Horry....... -- 500.40.75 Kersaw......... 45 75 Lancaster........ 0 450 75 Lexington........ 75 Marlboro........5 75 Oconee...........75 Pickens..........5 Union.......0.... Williamsburg . ... 40 5 G reenville .......,00 h aurene ......... 92 Newberrv..C......92 Drangeurg...... 0 001,0 Chesterfield--...... 450 55 Clarendon........ 50 5 5 Georetow'n...... 0 50 95 H apt on----.......4.0 85 The House thenito -eestl 3 700 525l1,025 -leCo t~ 700~- 600Pr 800 Notony iilo70i0s clothin,0 furitue nIallt 0 7ctua necs200e of ivng bt 000el 5o 5 thng 5~ pertinig t 600 enoyen and0cul tur. hi ispcill true as 725ia 110 ad rgn 600is manufcture reaiz thtn 6tes 525~ tiesprce 1S b exee 00gi low, an 50rm of ~tmeit 500eexcptonll easy :i teyar 500li ti5e emegecy Notie te ltes 450rtsnn 750 Luddn &5a00 450ter Musi oueSavnnh. 00. 45n ths 50se ant wit tl 500fo thei For 50n Prics. isis 0 wi 50-aak-ne50 ge-lftan t 500ul rel5bl house whoe 11Cl' il a 0 600ai justwha the sa, t 0c00 notin to 25it Li~den&Btesfo caalgus price The Itook aarecess till 3:30 guo'clofh. i DnJun wch coas wre ke ofc Lorie. en Notron, on ebrovisons. clothg edrniture nd alturda atnesarites ot where bt asswell was wrecngs The pertinin which evidyent bend bue ovredb Th rssecentl strue as oepia nots and Arga Wsecmuriiesuresc thlie thortintes closolimes foriches ofpermentimats eDtonallyn as onna theyage frmem he eerogncy. Lden whn&h ats wouternkMusi RODDY TO THE FARMERS. A New York Cotton Uroker Teling Ex change SecretA. The Yorkville Enquirer gives the following report of the speech of John T. Roddy, of the New York cotton brokerage firm of Roddy & Watts, before a recent meeting of York coun tv farmers: I am extremely grateful to you for I the kind reception you have given me this morning. Though for the past month or more I have been subjected to all manner of abuse by New York cotton men, and even by many of our Southern newspapers, in the light of this reception I count their slurs and slanders as nothing. Did I not so fully unde'-stand the influences that are at work ruining the homes and wrecking the lives of our Southern people, I would have never raised my pen in protest, nor would I be before you today. But having seen and learned what I have and believing so firmly that I not only understand the trouble, but can sug gest to you an efficient remedy, I can not rest quietly under the buiden un til 1 have at least made the situation plain to you as I see it. Do you know the cause of the ex tremely low price of cotton? There are those who will tell you that there is no demand for it. I 'tell you this is not true. It is due to the influence of the professional 'bear' operators on the metropolitan boards of trade. These men have so depressed the price of all kinds of agricultural products as to leave the producers without means to create a demand for any thing. I know of one New Orleans bear' who has taken out of this year's cotton crop $1,000,000 for himself; and I could point you a half a dozen 'bears' in New York, and half a dozen more in Chicago, who cost the South and West not less than $150,000,000 a year. These men produce nothing, absolute ly control prices, realize almost all the profits there are in all our crops. and are literally crushing the producers of the South and West to seridom. And there is no demand? How can there be a demand when the producer is scarcelV allowed a living? When cot ton was ten cents a pound, a man could have three shirts where he is now hardly able to own one. The laws of supply and demand do not control the price of cotton. The laws of imaginary supply and demand mav: but not the laws of actual sup ply and demand. Go ask your cotton buyer what is the price of cotton, and will he figure on the supply and de mand? \o; he will tell you that New I ork futures are off 25 points, and that means that your cotton is off 25 oints. On the New York cotton eN - change, they sell 1,000 bales of futures to every single bale of spot cotton;and in this case the imaginary fixes the prices of the real. If New York sells 50,000 bales of futures at 3 cents, that means your cotton is 3 cents. Though this is a fact and we see it, at present we are helpless. New York knows that by a certain time we have got to dispose of so much cotton, no matter what the price and so they fix the price themselves. And the mills .re not going to help ou. I saw the other - day where a Russian mili was manufacturing American cotton and paying its stock holders a dividend of 25 per cent. It is the way with the mills of the North. They are fatteriing off of low priced cotton. The future contract system is the greatest thing in the world for them. They do not have to lock their money up in cotton. They find it more profitable to put up a margin on futures. If cotton goes up, they make money by the speculation, just the same as if they had the cotton on hand; and if it goes down, they let their margins go and buy their cotton from you. You have not got the sym pathy or the support of these mills, and you are not on an equality with them. They are backed by plenty of money and are able to protect them selves against speculators. The specu lators know it and let their products alone. What they sell is governed by the laws of supply and demand of their goods; but not of your cotton. The pri-e of your cotton is governed only by the ?nanipulations; of the pro. fessional speculators. Now what are you going to do about it? In the late war you fought be cause you thought the North was trying to rob you of your property. Then it was fair and open war on both sides; but now it is different. Ten years ago you put an S or 10 per cent. mortgage on your lands to be paid i 10 cents cotton. You find the mort gage just the same except now- you have it to pay for with five cents cot ton. Look around you and you wil] see that you are hemmed in by cliques on every side. There are trusts on everything you buy and combinations against everything you sell. Why, one man worth $20,000 can sell before its planted, every bale of cotton to be produced in York county next year: and .that is a fair sample of the estimates they put on the labor of our people. *** You say it costs 7 cents a pound to raise cotton. At 10 cents a pound. your lands are worth $25 an acre, and at 5 cents a pound they are not worth the taxes. And you can't do any thing? Eminent authorities are agreed that owing to the peculiar conditions, cotton producers could be more easily oranized for the control of the crop than any other class of farmers on earth. The reason is because this coun try always has had, and always will have, a practical monopoly on cotton. We can produce any and everything we need. We can get along indepen dent of the world; but under no cir cumstances can the rest of the world get along without our cotton. * * * Mr. Roddey then went on to explain iow! the 'bear' .operators on the New York exchange had every advantage over the bulls as to time of deli; ery. freights, borrowing money. etc., and illustrated the downward tendency of the market with the statement that on 100 bales of futures sold on the New York exchange every year from 1871 to the present would net the seller at this time $27G0.000; and in conclusion, he said : "I don't want any credit for this thing. I do not wanr; any money out of it. I have proper~y in the South, my relatives and friends have proper tyhere. Your interests are my inter ests. I think some kind or organiza tion is necesary. My plan is not neces sarily the only one calculated to ac complish the purpose, and I do not want to see my plan adopted to the exclusion of a better one. But let the South agree on some plan and I prom ise to do all in my power to make it a success. But I-ll tell you this, with all confidence, that if our people will raise at home all neccessary supplies. and put themselves in a position to hold their cotton absolutely out of the hands of the speculators, and says, with a unanimous voice, that it is worth 8 or 10 cents a pound, that is what it will bring. Aequitted and Lynched. NASnVILLE, Dec. 20.-A mob of masked men in Hainwood county last night wenlt to the house of .1 ames Clark, whfere Joseph Allein, colored. had gone after being acquitted of the charge of barn-burnino, captured Alien andmurdered himiyy filling his bodyn wih bkshot. In Poor H ealth means so much more than you imagine-serious and fatal diseases result from trifling ailments neglected. Don't play with Nature's greatest gift-health. If You are feeling out of sorts weak and generally ex hausted, nervous, Nf lhave no appetite 5 nd can',t -work, begin at oncetak ing the most relia ble strengthening Iron medicinewhichis .1r, -1 rl Brown's iron Bit ters. A few bot. ties cure-benefit comes from the ier first dsi twxt stain yu eeth, and t's pleasant to take. It Cures* Dyspepsia, Kidney and Liver Neuralgia, Troubles, Constipation, Bad Blood Malaria, Nervous ailments Women's complaints. Get only the genuine-ithas crossed red lines on the wrapper. All others are sub stitutes. On rece f two 2C. stampswe will send set of 'Ien Beautiful World's Fair Views and book-free. BROWN CH EMICAL CO. SALTINIORE, M% AITIZENS OF CLARENDON Yuti have gone through two years of the greatest deprivation, and now there are certain goods you are com pelled to buy. The prospects are for a better crop than you have had for four years, I and we trust you are in a condi tion to We have bought an unusually large stocli, and we intend to sell a large part of it to you. We have a great many friends and customers in Clarendon, but te are not satisflr '.-we want more. Your friend now-a-days is THE MAN W HO HELPS YOUR POCKET. If you will give usia chance we will help you. Come anti try Youis truly, DUCHER & BULTMAN, St.imter, S. C. P. S. We are helping to dcwn the jute trust by buying Sugar Bags, the cheapest covering for cotton bales. If you have not tried it, do so. ESTABLISH ED 18638. L. W. FOLSOM, - Sign of the Big Watch. - LINE OF~ +Watches, Dliam~onds,+-: -'STELING SILXER, CLOCKS, - Opticl Goods, Fine Knives. Seiss'ors and EStphen Th2as, Jr. ? Bra JEWELRY, SiLVER & PLATED WARE, Sectaces, Eye Glasses & Fancy Goods. 72Watches~ and Jewelry repaired by comipetent workmien. 257 KING STREET, CrHTRETON. S. C. manning Collegiate Institute, MANNING, S. 0. Do You Int1rend to Educate Your Children " If so, Patronize the Institute. Why ? Because the Institute is well equipped for its work, and offers advantages that are not to be found elsewhere in the county. Besides the advantages in the ccurses of study, moderate tuition rates, cheap board, healthfulness of the town, combined with others of equal importance make it to your in terest to seud here. R=eac Conasicler 2 Act ! Send for catalogue. E.- J. BROWNE, Principal.. W . SHEPPE D & Co. L A RGE ASSOITMENTGoods, Etc., ASSORTMENT -OF- ~AT - . "ni ' rie hrims Tinware, Send for e roulars No 232 Meeting St., CHARLESTON, S. C. PER01VAL M'FG. Co >i~- Z1 :. '4E DOORI SASH, : AND : BLINDS. 4;8 to 486 Meeting Street, CHARPTESTON, S. C OTTO TIEDEMAiN & SONS, Wholesale Grocers and Provislen Dealers, 172, 174, and 176 East Bay Street, C MEJk L I T OlT. S. C. Save Your Eyes!IPalmetto Pharmacy :o: When you need a pair of spectacles don't buy an inferior glass. You will find none - better than gUIIUU 'W PERFECTED CRYSTAL LENSES ---R Charleston, S. C. FIoeL. Expressor Freit goods to any part- of the United -States or abroadl' OrdersQ rece-ive, Promitt aittention inmii bDR.ext.ail.BRrObuIneTONi ManningS. oosS.nt .C.D.tore JGHT OUr W gu SEndE et o2no GLSSE., N. Y., c'5Bno latrlag 8 2 For ouapre g me OurlLttle ivrck,"sand2 ORANCE, gAS.C. uicrSop15 2 MoT , E xes for 2ih od toan0 H allsSrt- of th osn ite ttes or abroad OrdPennry recills 75mtateto immed0 al r.ticlie not Sute andiitororfe l ess ny prya cent. , 67ifeec wil 00 reAlitrni e nt, mal25rbsnesi s-nllO csHusi. GodssntC 1.D 0ore Acdour a te ord rs ods .( 5 Allcoc's Porus, 2lses0 25 Cpie' Plasorteresripnson 75 125 HAlc's Busion Plstrs land1 50 ') Our Litl iver Pil ls, , 15nt 25 Codtiura ReOlvue, '~c qurt 1 00 Custiclve , 41 x ae0 50 Soti pai P te, p 10b. t 25 WSim 's Lirve rai reguatmen 67 1 00 Chhi er' Pe&aylPls 5 1 00. H~Etact WStruo Hyphopits, 0 150 FINEST~ MOST Pennyroyaitle i Pills, 75 1 0 / Dru~Per n ri. Peifusr67 T1 00 Aligando r nim ent, C 25, ngs Scots E lskio n. oie 67qosie 1 the Sen TE cetot 28Unin S., Ha.L'r Emliny 5c and p50seca for ur rizegum, "BindLuck" od Lt iverJ t ila purer 80c wilrt 1i o00 New Hoe b 4Cast ile thp, cimp ortdpr ib. 20t c 25lt The~w~ore~ewng~ahifl Ws t'st Neve s&m Brinea01tetoc 71 0 ORANPhosphoSine, 85 100 (Entract Witch HazlWpntso20h25 SOUTHRN F~ICarter'ppsite Die Pis 15n25 fltP~T~l5 ND ITOESAL DEDruggiCakss Bsndries. an P lrumr inooh FRITailRDUE and IanBrshy Combdines ?i~~ ~~eab~ ~h~i~ ?c~a~Chamonns Caies anid CToin Rgnis.si h Fh rulie nyhextres andpa seca -) a7tte'nBtion tCmai r s tewl aiie Frus Char~e t~, . catalo Kige t ndree CIabI'out Apri 1st carefullyselerted WonM.n CrBAwR & BRo., DPoIn -NDwHoOLLESEAArE-I FRUITE PROUCE. ns rancy SnaiWaes JFrench Eixtures and. eChapes.'le it2o alwIy the be 19 King CAEStr, ,IRLSlN 0. C the bst, tey aeOsurly0thmosrecWnxaic00.f, you to by.JOBBYES O DRY OODS, Economy is the true source of wealth. Lay the * TINY.2L i foundation of your wealth by buying JA3IES M!EANS' 82:00, 62.50, $3.00, 84.00, orMNNN, .C 15.00 SHOE, according to your needs. * i'rtsbilng pealte For sale only by 3Ioses Levi, Man- to ie l uiesi i hre ling, S. C.ri o .DC, OSEPH F. RHME. WV.. D s 013 D.V7. R HAME & DAUISUTS, .C A TTORXEYS AT LAW, Lv rtes dygossoe MANNING, S. C. AOHN 8. WILSON,7' L MANNING, S. C Aetoney nd ouR~lorat Lw, otary i rbuiih s pe ssciaedtten MA~uNING, S C. it. 0. UrE, ltiae Cs.