The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, June 24, 1954, Image 1
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Volume LV
Clinton, S. C, Thursday, June 24,1954
Number 25
Wins House Seat
KINO DIXON
Bridges Loses In
Second Primary
To King Dixon
In the only race of the
primary in this county held
Tuesday, incumbent Justin A.
Bridges was defeated by King
Dixon for the third seat in the
House of Representatives, with
a very light vote cast.
Unofficial figures for the con ~
test were Bridges 1,302; Dixon
1,502, a margin of 110 votes with
all boxes reported. The execu
tive committee will meet today
to n>ake the tabulated count of
ficial.
Itr the first primary Charlee
L. Milam, dean of the delega
tion, and Robert C. Wasson, a
former representative, were
nominated. The senatorial post
held by Ralph T. Wilson was not
up for election this year.
Mr. Dixon is a Laurens busi
ness man engaged in the ice and
cost business and this was his
first venture in county politics.
Mr. Wasson in the new delega
tion will take the place of Thoe.
A. Babb, offering for re-election,
who was defeated. Mr Dixon
wit take the place of Mr. Bridg
es.
The vote by precineU
HAYME MURDOCK
CONVICTED OF
KILLING MOTHER
Clinton Youth Gets
Life Sentence In
Tragedy Here Last
October; Judge/
Refuses New Trial
. ♦ i
Durwarrd Haynie Murdock, 21-
yeaf-old University of South
Carolina student, was found
guilty with recommendation to
mercy by a Laurens county jury
early last Friday night for the
murder of his mother, Mrs. Reba
McKinney Murdock, at the fam-
liy home here on last October
17. The verdict carried an auto
matic life sentence.
Trial of the case began Thurs
day morning an dconcluded
early Friday evening. Alter de
liberation of more than an hour
the verdict was returned. Judge
Steve C. Griffith of Newberry,
imposed the mandatory life sen
tence. Attorneys Ralph T. Wil
son and Homer S. Blackwell im
mediately made a motion for 9
new trial which was denied. So
licitor William T. Jones repre
sented the state.
Shortly after 9 o’clock. Sheriff
W. A. Lowery and Deputies Tom
Williams and Jim Hughes left
Laurens with the convicted
young man to deliver him to the
state penitentiary.
The trial during the two days
was largely attended with a
large number of witnesses tak
ing the stand both for the state
and defense.
The Jury consisted of Carl Ho
gan, foreman; Jack R. Wood,
Clyde Atkins, W. M. Manley.
Marvin H. Wallace, F. J. O’Dell,
Earl M. Counts, Clyde M. Staggs,
H. B. Monroe, Ed Dorsey West,
T. J. Kelly and Clarence King.
Judge Girffith told the jury to
bring in one of three verdicts.
These were guilt yof murder,
guilty of murder with recom
mendation to mercy, and if they
thought .the defendant insane,
not guilty. The defense attor
neys claimed that the young man
Bcdley's Bank To Hare Enlarged Quarters
Above is an architects' and engineers' conception of the enlarged M. S. Bailey and Son. Bankers,
building on Weet Pitts street soon to have a new appearance.
County's Oldest Banking Institution Now
Undergoing Modernization Program
M. S. Bailey A and Son, Bank
ers, of this city, will soon begin
remodeling their present quar
ters to greatly increase the size 'by which has been designed for
->
Lydia Mills
Breverton ...
Cllllton Mills
Hickory Tavern ..
Laurens Ward 3 ..
Laurens Ward 5
Laurens Waft 1 .
Laucens Ward 4 .
Laurens Wart 6 ..
Stewart’s Store
Tririfty Ridge
Clinton City
Youngs ......
ML Pleasant :......
Long Branch ......
Laniard ..._
Dials
Baileys
Gray Court
Grays ;...
Ekotn
(Daniel’s Store —
Joanna
Watts Mill
Mouhtville
Shady Grove
Hopewell
Cross Hill
Wootville .............
ML Olive
Barksdale-iNamie
Shiloh
Poplar Springs ...
Waterloo
Jones’ Store
Owings
Ora -
Princeton —
Cook’s Store
Tip Top
Renno
Pleasant Mound
8
' at'
10
50
51
6
._... 18
3
30
89
71
9
43
102
140
236
58
88
41
68
49
123
..... 11
9
33
33
127
121
6
11
...... 2
18
17
9
J8
4
...... 0
18
9
20
53
32
8
a
39
22
48
4
....... 36
68
81
74
28
13
....... 4
5
12
13
: 2«
11
....... 18
44
30
8
...... 10
14
.:... n
22
84
10
28
10
....... 25
10
21
26
...... 17
12
16
6
9
6
20
5
11
4
- 7
6
committed the acts of ids
mother and shortly
dock’s body wris' found in the
dining room lying face down in
a puddle of blood. Young Mur
dock took the stand in his own
Adjacent to the safe deposit lob
by will be a* handsome wood
teller’s line, dominating a lob-
Mrs. Patterson
Gets Life Term
In Turner Death
Mrs. B. L. King Dies
In Spartanburg
Rites Here Monday
Mrs. B. L. King. 8®, a beloved
Clinton resident for her entire
life, died Saturday night at < the
Mary Black Memorial hospital
in Spartanburg after several
months illness
The funeral services were held
here Monday afternoon from the
home of her son, W. G. King, Sr,
by Dr. W. R. Turner and Dr. D.
J Woods. Interment followed in
the family plot at the First Pres
byterian church cenvetery. The
rites were attended by many
lifelong friends and acquaint
ances, with the mound covered
with numerous floral designs in
dicative of the esteem and love
in which she was held.
Pallbearers were H. R. Phil
lips, Jr , James B Moore, W. G.
King, Jr , E D. King Alex V
Cruickshanks, Jr, L. O. Hiers,
R. A. Johnson and Arnold M.
Cannon.
Mrs. King was bom in the
Shady Grove community near
here and lived a long life in this
community.
A Chronicle Feature
Business And Financial Outlook
Given For Second Half Of 1954
Noted Statistician Makes Business Forecast And Predictions;
Improvement Expected With Many Cross-Currents, With
The Public More Price-Conscious; Liberal Attitude Expect
ed From Administration; Nation's Hope A Spiritual
Awakening. He Says
By ROGER W. BABSON j Britain during the 19th century.
Babson Park, Mass., June 24— The United States will prepare
While most of the columnists and to engage in small wars any-
business counselors last Derem- where in order to prevent out-
ber forecast a depression for' break of a world conflagration.
1954, I constantly insisted that 10) I predict that the United
1954 would be a “fair business States in the last six mqighs of
year.” This you will find in my
Forecast which then appeared m
this paper
General Business
ailed
1954 may by pass the United Na
tions and try to form a “defens
ive” league of nations interested
, in Southeast Asia The purpose:
(l) Despite my general optim
ism with regard to prospects for
business during the last halt*
year, there will be many cross
currents. ’The improvement over
the first six months will be no
one-way street. Some industrials
will lag, or fall behind. Others
are slated for betterment. Build
ing has held up well, and was
She was a daughter t h e backbone of business in the
and make the bank one of the
moat modem and up to date in
the state.
Robert M. Vance, president,
says that the remodeled struc
ture will be more than three
times as large as the building is
at presenL Frontage of the build
ing will be increased from ap
proximately 37 feet to approxi
mately 65 feeL and the length
will be increased from seventy
to ninety feet.
“Our customers are responsi
ble for the growth of this bank,
and they have made the modern
ization posible,” Mr. Vance said.
“We believe our enlarged quar
ters will enable us to have one
of the finest and moat efficient
banks in South Carolina and the
entire South.” , , \
_ Krueger, Inc., of Atlanta, are
architects and engineer! for
entire buildin, both interior and
exterior, Mr. Vance said.
well as
ent building Will be increased in
size across the fronL but the
second floor will be extended
about 20 feet lengthwise along
defense on Friday afternoon andl^^ 6 the building
Burris-Harrison
Opens Today
n New Location
Burriss-Harrlaon Company is
opening today In their new loca
tion, 202 North Broad street next
to Bank Of Clinton,
The building formerly occupied
by the old Broadway theatre has
been renovated and modernized
with warehouse storage provided
above the building and the ad
joining bank building.
The firm since opening here
seven and one half years ago has
bean located next to M. 3. Bailey
and Son, bankers, and ihoved in
ordar to make room for the bank’s
expansion program.
E. E. Harrison, formerly of Sen
eca, is proprietor, and service
ftipt and aP-
. _ M
art
i aft
Brown. Johnny Williams, colored,
Is driiveryawn.
A special advertMtomd in to*
day’s paper invites the piddle to
trigtt the store for the gurifl open-
pleaded temporary insanity. He
broke down on the stand while
being cross-examined by his de
fense counsel. At one time he
sobbed ouL “God knows I
wouldn’t have done it (killed hie
mother) if I had known what I
was doing.” He said he did not
remember anything from about
5 p. m., October 17, until some
time the following day.
state and defense had only the
A stream of witnesses of both
best to say of Murdock’s conduct
prior to the tragedy- At no time
during the two-day trial did a
witness evet take the stand and
charge Murdock with ever hav
ing been guilty of misconduct.
Both the state and defense at
times aUuded to the close fain
ily ties which existed between
Murdock and his parents.
Murdock, who had displayed
marked emotion at times during
the trial .stood alone before
Judge Griffith to receive the sen
tence. The convicted youth ap
parently was calm and displayed
none of the nervousness which
had bothered him during the
trial from its beginning. Return
ing to his chair he weakened and
was helped into his chair by his
weeping father, Durward Mur
dock of this city.
The trial was characterized
fense which was attempting to
prove that the youth was tem
porarily insane when he killed
his mother, and attempted tA
take the life of his father. At
no time during the trial did the
defense deny the fact that Mur
dock had in reality killed hia
mother.
Solicitor Jones maintained
throughout the entire proceed
ings that Murdock was perfectly
sane when he committed tM
crime and wis skfcply Tebellingj
against his devoted parents who
had been too good to him.
The jury retired at 6:30 p. m.,
Friday, and returned with a ver
dict at 7:50 p. m. The state rest
ed its case shortly after noon af
ter having Dr. E. W. Long, a psy
chiatrist from the State Hospital
on the stand. Dr. Long told the
court that at no time during hie
contact with Murdock for several*
weeks while under observation
at the hospital did lie ever con
sider hhn insane.
regret H Ifevw she is confined Id
her home suffering a broken aim
and broken rib indurtae received
in a tall *Mle did Mr. Black
daubster, Mrs.
Rear.
The entrance to the new build
ing will be all aluminum and
glass, creating a handsome, wel
coming appearance. !t will be
situated approximately at the
center of the front which will be
faced with glazed structural tile
and framed in limestone. The
present building' will be walled
up at the front with limestone.
The bank will have a drive-
in Window for the convenience
of customers. A side entrance is
convenient to a large parking lot,
which is to be paved.
Just afer one enters the bank
through the main entrance, he
will notice to his left, a glass
partitioned safe deposit lobby
provided for his convenience.
customer efficiency as
beauty.
To the right will be the offi
cers’ area divided from the main
lobby by a low-rail of aluminum
and marble.
In addition to the main lobby
and the safe deposit lobby, there
will also be a small-loan depart
ment, which will be provided
with its own lobby, loan-teller’s
unit and a private interview
room.
The ceiling throughout the
bank will be done in sound- ab
sorbing acoustical tile. The floor
will be of durable terrazzo, and
draperies will accentuate the
windows.
The bank will be air-condit
ioned throughout for the year
round cqmfort of customers and
employees.
This latest endeavor of the
bank, established in IBM, will
provide the peopM Clinton
Mrs. Valda Patterson, 49, tried
last Tuesday on a murder charge
in General Sessions Court at
Laurens, was found guilty of
murder with recommendation to
mercy.
Judge Steve C. Griffith on Fri
day sentenced Mrs. Patterson to
life imprisonment for the rifle
slaying of her brother-in-law last
October 23 and denied an appeal
for a new trial by her defense
counsel. She was taken to the
state penitentiary Friday night
by county officers to begin her
sentence.
Mrs. Patterson testified in the
those anywhere in the entira
Southeast, it is stated.
New Manager For
Penney's Store
William Coibett Ms arrived in
the citgr and assumed the manage
ment of J. C. Penney company,
succeeding John B. Jordan, re
cently transferred to Mertinsville,
Va., to become manager of the
Penney store there.
Mr. Corbett comes here from
Gadsden, Ala., where he has been
assistant manager of the Penney
store for the past several years.
He expects to be joined here In
th near future by his wife snd
two smell sone.
The Corbetts are members of
the Methodist church.
when he advanced on her car "in
an angry manner” after she had
asked him to stop three times.
Virgil Patterson, who took the
stand as his wife’s defense, said
Turner had theatened their lives
shortly prior to the incident.
Turner’s wife witnessed the
shooting. Testimony brought out
that Mrs. Patterson end Turner
Men iriakft* OWN* to the
flOBng. The shooting occurred
in front of the Turner home near
the Patterson’s home two mite*
south of Lydia Mills bn the Sea
board railroad.
Rev. Rhoden Conducts
Service At LuHieridge,
Local People Attend
The Rev. J. Merlon Rhoden, pas
tor of St. Johns Lutheran church,
conducted services on Sunday at
Lutheridge, the Lutheran assembler
grounds near Asheville, N. C., on
Sunday. \ »
A humber of young people are
attending camp there, during the
summer monlbs.
About fortr-fWe members of
the congregation accompanied Mr.
Rhoden and enjoyed a tour of the
grounds and a picnic dinner fol
lowing the sendee.
of the late Calvin D. and Flor- first half ^ The mo men-
ence Turner Adams old, and well t urn generated should carry
known families of this and New- through the balance of the year,
berry county^ She was a life-, (2) ^ deStfrving of attention
long and devoted member of the' a3 m lmc for conlinued hlgh ac .
First Presbyterian church of this or for improvenwnt( are
city. For the past five y^ ' the following mdustr.es Electric
because of iU health, she had, power output aircraft produc .
tion, rubber manufacturing,
household equipment, electrical
equipment, petroleum, natural
gas, shoes, and textiles. Even
the sick oil industry will enjoy
some pickup from the very de
pressed levels experienced dur
ing the first six months of 1954.
(3) Due to slip further down,
or slated to show the least im
provement, are the following in
dustries: Machinery, machine
tools, railroad equipment, metal
fabricating, steel and iron, and
autos and auto parts. In partic-
alar, auto output will not match
the first half, with competition
keener in the last half than at
any time since the 1930's.
Seles and In
she
made her home with her daugh
ter, Mrs. H. R. Phillips (Mary
King) in Spartanburg. She and
her sister. Miss Mary Emma Ad
ams, devotedly lived together
until the passing of the latter a
year ago. Her late husband, B
L. King, long identified with the
mercantile business of the city,
preceded her to the grave several
years ago.
Mrs. King was a gentlewoman
of- the old school whose life was
marked with the highest integ
rity and high purpose of charac
ter. She loved her home, her
trial that she shot Wilson Turner | family, her fnepds and her
church and in tufn many loved
her* and learned with regret of
her passing.
Surviving are orte son and one a, ln the caae general
deughter. Mr. K,n« of Urn city. tuimesJ dlKunRl
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THE CLINTON CHRONICLE,
Clinton, S. C. lent good fair
fttONT PAGE OgBOBAL
r— j
BJnrrdfeiAL oaufcnT
I
cdta&iiftirrY attuutePONDBicB
«
1
TODAY’S MBBtfrA/rtOK -
—XTrflfiNBBoB* ~
DR. HBKHEStfr 8PAUGH
J
L
PERSONAL MENTION OOtUMV
THE WOMAN'S RAGE
BABBOftftS LETPfftai
SPECTATOR
FARMS AiND FOLKS (&AAZXR)
PICTURE COVfekAOfc
nsw&MvMl
COUNTY AGHeraS FARM
WANT ADVS.
.
t
REMARKS^ SUGOESOTONS OR CBUTBOEMB;
"
V
g
Snd Mrs. Phillips of Spartan
burg; five grandchildren and
several great-grandchildren.
was the last of her immediate
family. ■
County Delego tes
Attend Farm Women
Meet At WHithrop
The thirty-fourth annual con
vention of the South Carolina
Council of Farm Women was
held at Winthrop college on June
13-13. Thirty-one registered del
egates from Laurens county at
tended.
Mrs Robert C Waason presid
ed st the afternoon session on
Wednesday afternoon, gave a re
port <H the accomplishments in
the Piedmont district during the
paet year, told of. her trip to the
meeting of the Associated Coun
try Women of the World at To
ronto, Canada, and assisted with
other work during the confer-
The Laurens county chorus
joined eight other county chor
uses in a program of music Wed
nesday night, which was Rural
Music night. Those singing in
the chorus were: Mrs. Gus Nash,
Mrs- Guy Mahon, Mrs. Capers
Woods. Mra. Bob Bell, Mrs.
Meanes Moore, Mrs. E. A. Cur
ry, Mrs. Betty Satterfield, Mra.
Frances Batuombe, l&ise Doris
Gray, Mra. Larry DeShields. and
Mrs George Adair. Mrs.' Har
old Wallace was chorus director
and Mrs. Charles Hill pianist.
Several other council mem
bers from the county attended
the meeting for one day or for
Rural Music night but did not
register Mias Myrtice Taylor,
assistant home demonstration
prospects will rule selective.
With purchasing power holding
U, demand for food products
and soft goods will remain at a
bmi pv*. Th. publK, ho*
ever, has learned s 0 m dial n
about watching their
They have become mom
conscious. For this reason^ pre
dict that the mass distributors,
such as the grocery and variety
chains, will run ahead of the oth
era sa Drswise, during the last
half-year.
(5) Retail sales in general, al
though about 4 per cent lower
dollarwise, have held up during
the first half in terms of physi
cal volume as discounts and oth
er concessions reduced the actual
receipts. This is encouraging
since it shows that consumers
are still willing to spend if the
price is reasonable. In terms of
units, retail sales will hold up
through 1954. Inventories will
constantly be reduced during
1954. THE RETAILERS WHO
DO BEST IN 1954 WILL BE
THOSE WITH THE BEST
PARKING FACILITIES FOR
THEIR CUBTOMEDS.
Political Outlook
6) I forecast that the more lib
eral attitude on the part of the
Eisenhower Administration will
surely continue through Novem
ber and perhaps until the 1956
elections. During the past six
months rumors have been
spreading to the effect
President Eisenhower will not
run again; but there is no agree
ment at this writing by either
party as to who the next candi
dates will bo.
(7) The President has won his
conflict with Senator Bricker,
the House approved his Tax Bill;
, the Taft-Hartley Labor Bill has
agent, accompanied the group to, hven shelvedj to the relie( of a ii ;
Winthrop
Laurens county received a
blue ribbon on the council re
port for the past year, summariz
ing work carried out by the
council during the year.
Laurens Wildlife Chapter
Holds Ladies Night
The Laurens County chapter,
South Carolina Wildlife Federa
tion will have a Ladies night sup
per on Tuesday evening, June 29,
at 7:90 at tbe Mary Lou ranch.
Eddie Finlay, of Columbia, state
secretary of the organization, will
be the guest weaker.
Anyone wishing to make reser
vations may contact Davis V:
Pitts, ticket chairman.
A sheet shoot for both ladies
and men will be held late in the
afternoon.
SAVINGS BONDS SALES
Sales of United States Savings
Bonds, Series E and H, in Lau
rens County during the month of
May amounted to MB,618.73, re
ports IX F- Patterson, County
Chairman of the Savings Bonds
Division of the Treasury Depart
ment.
and he has so far kept out of the
McCarthy-Army row. I forecast
that for the balance of the year
he will leave domestic affaire to
his associates and devote most
of his time to helping Mr Dultes
ward off trouble with Russia and
China, and avoid another “Ko
rea.”
(8) During the first six months
of the year a “New Look” has
developed in connection with
defense expenditures. Appro
priations for foot soldiers and
certain classes of airplanes have
been cut In favor of items for
atomic warfare and guided mis
siles. Best authorities agree that
we will get more protection and
fighting strength from this
change with less cost. As a
promise “to get our boys out of
Korea” was a great factor in
electing Dwight Eisenhower as
President, he naturally will hesi
tate to send U. S. foot soldiers
into Indo-ChiM, at least before
the coming November elections.
War sad Poem
(9) There will be no World
War in 1964 started by Russia or
the U S. A. In the last half of
1964, however, the Uaitad
will move closer and closer to
the position occupied by Great
To keep the rice, tin and rubber
of that area from falling into
Communist hands Most of the
arms and military know-how
r.eedv'd by such an alliance of
anti-Communist nations in the
Far East will be furnished by
Uncle Sam. This means that
cuts in arms expenditures, al
ready scheduled for the last half
of 1954 by the Administration,
may not be put into effect. The
Korean situation will remain
.•♦bout as is—“much talkie, no
shootie"; but -Indo-China will
constantly become a greater
threat.
(11) Do not forget Europe and
the Middle East France is tom
by internal dissension and a
blow-off could come there any
time. West Germany is growing
more impatient with French
bickering over the Saar and over
the formation of a Western Eu
ropean army including German
participation. Russia will strive
mightily to widen the split be
tween France and Western Ger
many by holding out the “beiP*
of reunion between East and
West Germany.
(12) Friction between the Jews
and the Arabs in the Middle East
is being encouraged by Cera-
munist agents. The smouldering
fires there could break into
flame at any time, requiring a
hurry-up call for-Uncle Sam’s
fire department.
Stock Market Outlook
(13) Of course, some day the
market (especially the Dow-
Johei Industrials) will |hf « W
wallop with very much lower
r -1 prices. On the other hand, this
91 may Hot come during the nett
few months. Up to this time tbe
high yield of stocks hove not ap
pealed so much to investors, ow
ing to the personal tax on bofe
dividends and on income in gen
eral. Although stock yields
pared — of twenty
ago are higher if personal
are not considered, yet whan
these personal taxes are deduct
ed, today’s yields have not been
attractive.
(14) Tile new tax bill and the
increased buying for pension
funds and investment trusts
have, however, increased the de
mand for common stocks and
could hold the market up ter
some months to come. I fore
cast that it will be very import
ant to make careful selections of
stocks. Don’t buy stocks just
because they have gone off heav
ily in price and appear cheep.
(15) Unfortunately, many
small concerns will And it more
and more difficult to compete
with their big competitors. Not
only can these big corporations
make goods cheaper and have
they can spend huge sums on ad
vertising, which a "Smaller con-
better means of distribution, but
cem cannot do. This will be ea-
that pecially evident during the next
six months. Tfih companies
which will prosper most are
those which have inauguatad ef
fective labor-saving programs.
Manufacturers will win only as
they purchase new labor-saving
machinery, spend more money
on research and on well-directed
advertising.
(16) Automobiles will continue
to be hard to sell and easier to
buy during the last half of 1954.
Both the automobile stocks and
Continued On Page 8)
Chronicle Ad vs Art
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carry important and helpful
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business firms. They tell you
of latest prices and values in
groceries, meats, do thing, dry
goods, automobiles and all
lines of merchandise. They
help you in supplying the
daily needs of your family
and home.
Shop in THE CHRONICLE
first Newspaper advertising
is ell important to the buying
public. M does not hang on
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headlines here or there with a
momentary interest Adva
have an important local vahip
to you. They help you he#
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look
in