Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

r r KING AND HARRELL, MlEARY’S SLAYERS, MUST DIE TOMORROW 4 Governor McLeod Refuses to Commute Sentence of Major’s Slayers. Law to Take Its Course. Columbia, Dec. 1.—Mortimer N. King and Frank Harrell, confessed and convicted murderers of Major Samuel H. McLeary, United States army, will die by electrocution at the state pnitentiary Friday, Gov. Thomas G. McLeod having yesterday acted to refuse the petition for commutation of sentence presented to him in then behalf. “1 have gone fully into this case. I have especially examined every de- tail of the testimony, and have reach* " ed the' cdnciiMonV^the goverTT5f' ! 5iitff “that I cannot exercise clemency in behalf of either erf the defendants.. . . I have the greatest amount of/heart felt sorrow for the unfortunate men and their relatives. At the same time, this natural sympathy cannot deter me from discharging my primary duty to the State of South Carolina. . : . The law of South Carolina for such cases is capital punishment. That law I cannot and will not arbitrarilv suspend. . . .” At the request of the governor, King and Harrell were notified yes terday afternoon by penitentiary au thorities of the executive’s decision. For them remain three days of life in the death house and Friday the elec-, trie chair. So the sordid little drama moves to its close: two lives for a life. July 2 King and Harrell, having planned to rob some automobilist, halted Major Samuel H. McLeary r the road to Columbia and asked him for a “lift.” The courtesy was Ex tended them and Harrell, in accord with the plan, got into the front seat of the automobile and King, with a concealed pistol, took his place in the rear. For some miles they rode so together, talking of the army, but neither told the officer that both of them were deserters, King from the army and marine corps, Harrell from the army. They passed Cheraw, and Harrell placed his arm on the back of the seat to signal King to draw his gun and hold up the officer. King, however, did not like the spot so chosen. Harrell allowed his arm to remain on the seat and later repeate the signal. King called to the major and the officer turned to find himself facing the pistol. “Stop the car and get out,” King ordered, and the m jor, after asking him whether he war. in earnest, obeyed the order. Officer Without Weapon Major McLeary got out of the car and allowed his arms to drop to his side. “Keep your hands out of your pockets,” King warned him. “I have n’t a weapon,” the officer replied, and l then, urged on by Harrell, he went into the woods. • King followed with the pistol. Harrell searched the ma jor and then turned back to the road to secure a rope with which to tie up the officer. Here he was to wat'’ v for passing automobiles and to shut off the motor of the major’s car. King fired and the major fell, wouna- ed through the temple; the officer at tempted to rise and a second shot through the head ended his struggles. Harrell had returned, and with King he stripped the body of valuables and the two of them then dragged the corpse some yards back into the woods and covered it with leaves. In the stolen car they drove then to ward King's home at Canton, N. C., where in roundirig a curve they acci dentally ditched the:car. They aban doned the car "and divided the booty. At Norfolk, Va., July 1, Mrs. Mc Leary had last seen her husband, who had gone on his way to Fort Moultrie. Nothing had been heard from him save a telegram for money, which he never received. Search was begun; newspapers, state governments, the army, the department of justice join ed in the hunt. Near Canton, N. C., the abandoned car was discovered and King arrested. A shirt of McLeary’s was found in King’s trunk and, con fronted with it, King confessed. He led officers to the spot 11 miles south of Cheraw where all that remained of the major’s body was found. King was brought to Columbia and the search went on for Harrell until finally he was arrested some fdays later at Nashville, Tenn. Harrell in Nashville attempted to lay all blame on King, but this story was not true, he admitted after he had been brought to Columbia. Petition for Clemency Tried in Chesterfield, the two men were convicted of murder and were sentenced Septmber 23 'to die in the electric chair November 21. The case was not appealed, but November 14 there was presented to the governor by P. A. Murray and C* L. Prince, attorneys named by the court to rep resent tli^ two men, a petition for commutation pf King’s and Harrell’s sentences from death to life imprison ment. The governor had secured a transcript of the testimony taken, at the trial, and to permit a thorough study of the case he allowted a re prieve of two weeks in the sentences passed against the two fnen, whom he cautioned should not interpret his ac tion as presaging any further clem ency. Yesterday morning the gqyornor held a final conference with refer enco to the case with Solicitor J. Monroe Spears, who prosecuted the case, apd yesterday afternoon gave audience to four of Harrell’s relatives: Jerre 1 HaTfell, a brother; Mrs. Mary Harrell, Mattie Jones, nieces. From North Carolina <they had come, Mrs. Harrell bringing the baby born to her after the major’s^ murder, for a last hour’s plea for the life of husband and father. * Patiently the governor listened to them. “I am sorry,” he said, and briefly he explained hiw his personal sympathy could not be allowed to move him. The little band, the wom en in tears, turned away from the State House. They had been to the penitentiary yesterday morning. They did not go back. Then came the governor’s announce ment of his decision. “I have gone fully into this case," he said in a statement analyzing the facts before him. “I have especially examined every detail of the testi mony and have reached the conclu sion that I can not exercise clemency in behalf of either of the defendants. “The details of this horrible crime are generally familiar. Notwithstand ing the nature of the crime, I have the greatest amount of heartfelt sor row for the unfortunate men and their relatives. At the same time, this nat- ifr&l sympathy can not deter me from discharging ihy primary duty to the state of South Carolina. “There have been a great many communications, pro and con, received by me with reference to this case, running from maudlin sympathy to bitter vituperation. Many of them are - likewise ’earnest and sensible comments upon the case. “The principle question, and that which I hav^ investigated most thoroughly, was ^he extent of th complicity in the crime of the defend ant Harrell. From the evidence, it clearly appears that King and Harrell formed a plan to “stick somebody up.” The subsequent events show that this ‘sticking up’ process meant the cov ering of the victim with a pistol and his robbery. It likewise appears tha a part of the plan was that the vic tim, after being robbed, was to be tied up. “- Harrell Party to Plan “There is no question but that Har rell participated freely ^th King in this agreement and it is in the evi dence that he suggested the ‘sticking up’ process. It is likewise in the evi dence that thd actual signal to stop the car and carry the plan into opera tion was grven by Harrell. It is true that probably neither one of them ex pected to commit murder in the man ner in which it was carried out. But the conception of their plan was mali cious and carried with it not only the possibility but the probability of mur der, depending solely on whether or not the victim resisted. While they were engaged in this process, Har rell was sent to cut off the engine of the automobile and to secure a rone it one could be found, with which t > tie the victim. With Harrell thus away, Major McLeary was actually shot and killed by King. The trip by Harrell to the car had a two-fold pur pose: to avoid possible detection and to secure a rope wherewith Major Mc Leary would be tied up. This propo sition to tie up Major McLeary and leave him in the place where he was help up and killed ha'l the possi bility of murder and likewise a possi ble fate even more horrible than that he actually met. The subsequent con duct of both defendants was substan tially the same and continued to carry all the way through the charac teristic epr-marks of murder. They pf-inrw'/i the body, divided the plun der, took the automobile, which was driven by Harrell, and went their way until they separated in North Caro lina. N*> substantial difference in the conduct of the defendants appears sufficient to distinguish between the guilt of both and the complicity of both from the initial steps until the final tragic ending. “I think it i's but fair to state that the attorneys defending these men were appointed by the court and were, of course, unpaid. They are able at torneys and did the best they could under the circumstances, and their zeal and devotion is to be commended rather than criticized. Their appeal has been presented with all propriety and it has been to them a burden some task and an arduous responsi bility. I felt justified in issuing a re- STATE of South Carolina, COUNTY of Laurens, TOWN of Clinton. 1 WHEREAS: Four petitions, signed by freeholders of the Town of Clin ton, asking for an election to be held in the Town of Clinton, S. C., were presented to the Town Council of said town on November 24, 1924; one of •said petitions asking for an election to be held in the said Town of Clin ton, S. C., on the question of the is suance of not exceeding $25,000.00 of bonds of said town, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds, when issued, to be used for the purpose of extend ing the water system of said town; and, one of said petitions asking for an election to be held in the said Town of Clintpn, S. C., on the ques tion of the issuance of not exceeding $160,000.00 of bonds of said town, the efbswd homts, when issued, to be used for the pur pose of street paving; and, one of said petitions asking for an election to be held in the said Town of Clinton, S>. C., on the question of the issuance of not exceeding $35,000.00 of bonds of said town, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds, when issued, to be used to cover floating debt incurred for the purpose of street paving; and, one of said petitions asking for an election to be held in said Town of Clinton, S. C., on the question of the issuance of not exceeding $15,000.00 of bonds of said town, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds, when is sued, to be used for the purpose of street lighting; and: WHEREAS: Upon check of said petitions, it appears that the petition in each and every case was signed by more than a majority of the freehold ers of said Town of Clinton, S. C.; THEREUPON: The following ordi nance was duly adopted: BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CLINTON, LAURENS COUNTY, J30UTH CAROLINA, IN COUNCIL ASSEMBLED: Sec. 1. That the petitions present ed to Town Council and duly filed in the records of the town, asking for an election on the question of the is suance of not exceeding $25,000.00 of bonds of said town, the proceeds of the sale of said bonds when issued to be used for the purpose of extending the water system of a*id town; and on the question of the issuance of not exceeding $160,000.00 of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds of said bonds to be used for the pur pose of street paving; and on the question of the issuance of not ex ceeding $35,000.00 of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds of said bonds to be used to cover floating debt • incurred for the purpose of street paving; and on the question of the issuance of not exceeding $15,- 000.00 of bonds of the Town of Clin ton, the proceeds of said bonds when issued to be used for ‘he purpose of street lighting, contain the names on each” and every petition of more than a majority of the free holders of the (feud Town of Clinton, and it is so de clared; Sec. 2. That an election be held'tn the Town of Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, the 30th day of December, 1924, at which will be submitted to the qualified electors of the said town the question of the issuance of not exceeding $25,000.00 ; of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the | proceeds to be used for the purpose of extending the water system of said town; $160,000.00 of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds to be used for the purpose of street pav ing; $35,000.0t) of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds to be used to cover floating debt incurred for the purpose of street paving; $15,000.00 of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds to be used for the pur pose of street lighting in said Town of Clinton. The issuance of • said bonds shall be submitted as separate propositions, and shall be voted on separately, the ballots on each ques tion deposited in separate boxes. On one of said ballots shall be printed or written the words, “Shall the Town of Clinton issue its bonds in the sum of not exceeding $25,000.00 the proceeds of said bonds to be used for the purpose of extending the water system of said town. YES— prieve, and I did so, as heretofore stated, for the purpose of having time fully to consider the testimony taken in the case. This, I have done, and feel more satisfied with the decision I have reached in wiew of the fact that the case received due deliberation from every standpoint. “To say that Ij am sorry for these two unfortunate men does not begin to express nty feelings. The law of South Carolina for such cases is capi tal punishmenlf ,ll That law I can not, will not arbitranl; and will not arbitrarily suspend. The law must be vindicated; the crime must be expiated, and I, therefore, will not interfere with the sentence of the court.” Both men are former mill opera tives, King being a former resident of North Adams, Mass., where his moth er now resides. Both are married; NO,” and the voter voting in favor of the issuance of said bonds will strike out the word “No” before depositing his ballot in the box provided there for. The voter voting against the is suance of said bonds will strike out the word “Yes” before depositing his ballot in the box. On another ballot shall be printed of written the words, “Shall the Town of Clinton issue its bonds in the sum of not exceeding $160,000.00, the pro ceeds of said bonds to be used for street paving in said Town. YES— NO,” and the voter voting in favor of the issuance of said bonds will strike out the word “No” before depositing his ballot in the box provided there for. The voter voting against the is suance of said bonds. will strike out the word “Yes” before depositing his ballot in the box. On anothgrof- prltubd or w^ftterT the' worSs.' "'Shall the Town of Clinton issue its bonds in the sum of not exceeding $35,000.00, the proceeds of said bonds to be used to cover floating debt' incurred for the purpose of street paving in said town. YES—NO,” and the voter voting in favor of the issuance of said bonds shall strike out the word “No” before depositing his ballot in the box pro- vidad therefor. The voter voting against the issuance of said bonds shall strike out the word “Yes” before depositing his ballot in the box. On another of said ballots shall be printed or written the words, “Shall the Town of Clinton issue its bonds in the sum of not exceeding $15,000.00, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds to be used for the purpose of street lighting in said town. YES— NO,” and the voter voting in favor of the issuance of said bonds shall strike out the word “No” before depositing his ballot in the box provided there for. The voter voting against the is suance of said bonds shall strike out the word “Yes” before depositing his ballot in the box. Sec. 3. That the polling place for the holding of said election shall be at police headquarters, West Pitts Street, in said Town of Clinton, S: C., and polls shall be opened at 8 o’clock A. M. and closed at 4 o’clock P. M. Sec. 4. W. D. Copeland is hereby appointed Supervisor of Registration for the said Town of Clinton, and he shall open the books of registration for the registration of voters for the special election to be held in the said Town of Clinton on the said date, on the 10th day of Dec., 1924, and shall keep the same open up to and through the 19th day of December, 1924, after which date the said books of registra tion shall be closed. Said Supervisor shall give public notice of the time and place of opening and closing of said registration books for said elect-- ion. Sec. 5. J. C. Templeton, W. T. Put nam, and Wm. Bailey Owens, three qualified electors of the Town of Clinton, S. C., are hereby appointed managers of said election, but in the event that^ny of said parties are unable to serve, the Mayor is hereby given the right to appoint some other qualified elector or electors as manag er or managers in the place and stead of the manager or managers herein appointed so unable to serve. Sec. 6^ The notice of the election shall be published in The Clinton Chronicle, a newspaper published in the Town of Clinton, S. C., at least twice—once at least twenty days be fore the election, and once within the period of fifteen days before the election. DONE AND RATIFIED in Town Council assembled this the 24th day of November, 1924. J. F. JACOBS, Mayor. Attest: MARY CHALMERS, Clerk and Treasurer. l£-18-4t STATE of South Carolina, COUNTY of Lauren*, TOWN of Clinton. NOTICE OF ELECTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that upon petition of a majority of the free holders of the Town of Clinton, County uf Laurens, State of South Carolina, a special election will be held in the Town of Clinton, S. C., on Tuesday, the thirtieth day of Decem ber, 1924, at which will be submitted to the qualified electors of the said Town of Clinton the question of the issuance of not exceeding Twenty- five Thous-' id ($25,000.00) Dollars of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds when issued to be used for the pur pose of extending the water system of said town; and the question of the issuance,of not exceeding One Hun dred and Sixty Thousand ($160,000.00) Dollars of bonds of the Town of Clin ton, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds when issued to be used for the purpose of street paving; and th< question of the issuance of not exceed ing Thirty-five Thousand ($35,000.00f Dollars of bonds of the Town of Clinton, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds when issued to be used to cover floating debt incurred for the purpose of street paving; and the question of the issuance of not ex ceeding Fifteen Thousand ($15,000.00) Dollars of bonds of the Town of Clin ton, the proceeds from the sale of said bonds when issued, to be used for the purpose of street lighting. These questions will be voted on separately. The polling place will be at police headquarters on West Pitts Street in the Town of Clinton, S. C. Polls will be opened at 8 o’clock A. M. and closed at 4 P. M. on said date. J. C. Templeton, W. T. Putnam and William Bailey Owens have been ap pointed managers of the election. J. F. JACOBS, Mayor. MARY CHALMERS, Clerk and Treasurer. November 24, 1924. 12-18-4t STATE of South Carolina, COUNTY of Laurens, ; - TOWN of Clinton. NOTICE OF OPENING BOOKS .-gr.ate: •HEGfSTR&TION p NOTICE- iS HEREBY GIVEN that the books of registration of the Town of Clinton, S. Or, for' the registration of voters for the special election to be held in the Town of Clinton, S. C., on Tuesday, the thirtieth day of Decem ber, 1924, will be open at the store of J. I. Copeland & Brother, North Broadway, Clinton, S. C., on the tenth day of December, 1924, and will remain open to and including the nine teenth day of December, 1924. W. D. COPELAND, Supervisor of Registration. Town of Clinton, S. C. November 24, 1924. 12-18-4t COUNTY TREASURER’S NOTICE 1924 The books of the County Treasurer will be epea for the collection of Taxes for the fiscal year, 1924, at the Treasurer’s office from October 15th to December 31st, 1924. After De cember 31st one per cent will be ad ded. After January 31st two per cent will be added, and after February 28th seven per cent will be added until the 15th day of March, 1925, when the books will be closed. All persons owning property in more than one township are request ed to call for receipts in each of the several townships in which the pro perty is located. This is important, as additional cost and penalty may be attached. All able-bodied male citizens be tween- the ages of twenty-one (21) and sixty (60) years of age are liable »x ol NOTICE OF FINAL DIS CHARGE State of South Carolina, County of Laurens. Re: Estate of W. H. Stone, deceased. Notice is hereby given that I will on the 19th day of December, 1924, make a final report to O. G. Thomp son, Judge of Probate for Laurens County, and render an account of my acts and doings as executor of the Last Will and Testament of W. H. Stone, deceased; and will on the said 19th day of December, 1924, apply to said Court for final discharge as exe cutor of the Last Will and Testament of W. H. Stone, deceased. B. H. BOYD, 12-18-4tc Executor. soldiers, who are exempt at fifty (50) years of age. Commutation Road Tax $1.50 in lieu of road duty. All able- bodied men between the ages of 21 and 55 are liable to road duty except those in military service, school trus tees, school teaehfers, ministers, and students. Dog Tax $1.25, which must be paid not later than January 31st, 1924. Proper attention will be given those who wish to pay their taxes through the mail by cheek, money order, etc. The tax levy is as follows: State Tax .... 6 mills Ordinary Cpunty Tax 8% mills Road and Bridge 4 mills Railroad Bond .... 1 mill Jail Bonds % mill Road Bonds .... 84 mills “ l AUCTION SALE Saturday, December 6th, 1924 On the above date I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder, the personal property of the late W. B. Cunningham, at the home* place. The property consists of the follow ing: Three mules, one wagon, harness, farming implements, household and kitchen furniture, corn, fodder, one milk cow, etc. All of this property will be sold at public outcry to the highest bidders. Remember the date, December 6th. Sale begins at ll:00[a. m. - W. P. CUNNINGHAM, 12-4-3tp Administrator Estate. - NOTICE OF FINAL DIS CHARGE State of South Carolina, County of I^iurens. Re: Estate of Chas. McCauley Hoy, deceased. Notice is hereby given that,I will on the 19ili day of December, 1924, render my final return to O. G. Thompson, Judge of Probate of Lau- icns County, giving statement of my acts and doings as administrator of the estate of Chas. McCauley Hoy, de ceased; and will on said 19th day of December, 1924, apply to said Court for final discharge. WM. E. HOY, Jr., 12-18-4 tc . Administrator. NOTICE TO CREDITORS State of South Carolina, County of Laurens. fie: Estate of Chas. McCauley Hoy, deceased. All persons having claims against the estate of Chas. McCauley Hoy, de ceased, will present the same, duly verified, to R. W. Wade, attorney, at Clinton, S. C., on or before the 19th day of December, 1924, or be forever barred. » V’M. E. HOY, JR., 12-lf ‘ - Administrator. Past Indebtedness Statewide School (6-0-1) Weak Schools . Constitutional School .... 4 mill . 4 mills 4 mill 3 mills 36 mills Total Laurens School Districts No. 1 164 mills No. 2 8 mills No. 3 16 mills No. 4 7 mills No. 5 , 13 mills No. 6 6 mills No. 7 8 mills No. 11 .... 22 mills Youngs School Districts ' No. 1 .... 3 mills No. 2 8 mills No. 3 8 mills No. 4 16 mills No. 5 17 mills No. 6 : No. 7 No. 8 13 mills No. 10 Dials School Districts No. 1 .... 8 mills No. 2 .... 124 mills No. 3 No. 4 .-. 8 mills No. 5 ....204 mills No. 7 8 mills No. 8 ....- No. 3B ... ™ 24 mills Sullivan School Districts No. 1 17 mills No. 2 v;.:.... .... .... 77.7 8 mills No. 3 No. 7 No. 17 16 mills Railroad Tax ' 3 milU Waterloo School Districts No. 1 > .... No. 2 No. 3 19-mills No. 4 No. 5 8 mills No. 6 No. 7 ... 15 mills No. i4 8 mills ' Cross Hill School Districts No. 1 ' 4 mills No. 2 No. 3 No. 13 15 mills Hunter School Districts No. 3 NOTICE OF SALE We will sell at public outcry at the residence of the late P. M. Pitts, near Renno, S. C., on December^l6th, 1924, at 10 o’clck A. M., all personal pro pel ty belonging to same, consisting of the following: 12 mules, 2 horses, 500 bushels corn, 9,000 bundles fodder, 1 reaper, 1 mower, 1 rake, 5 two-horse wagons, and all other farm implements. J. G. PITTS, Adm. 3tc Mrs. Sallie R. Pitts. No. 4 8 mills No. 5 26 mills No. 6 .... 4 mills No. 7 5 mills No. K9 8 mills No. R42 13 mills No. 16 154 mills Jacks School Districts No. 2 7 mills No. 3 16 mills No. 4 .. . .... 3 mills No. 6 8 miiL No. 7 .... 3 mills No. 15 6 mills Scufflctown School Districts No. 1 8 mills No. 2 .... 8 mills No. 3 3 mills No. 4 4 mills No. 12 114 mills Persons sending in lists of names to be taken off are requested to send them early and give the township of each, as the Treasurer is very busy’ during the month of December. ^ ROSS D. YOUNG, ^^2^^ CQUnt y Treasurer. NOTICE—No hunting is allowed on my property, known as the Duckett place extending to Jones bridge on the Eno£ee River. John M. Copeland, Renno, S. C. 2t; AUTO UVERY CARS FOR MIRE Drive Yourself TOURING CARS BY THE MILE OR HOUR ELLIS MOTOR CO.