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I i’- If You Don’t Read The Chronicle You Don’t Get the News - t , ■? The Chronicle * *4, Strives To Be A Clean News paper, Complete, Newsy and Reliable Volume LVII Clinton, S. C., Thursday, February 9,1956 Number 6 District Scout Officiate In Meet Here Convict Bludgeons and Shoots Father, Son Near Here Jealousy Termed Motive Coroner's Jury Holds Jesse Shelton Killer of Two and Scene of Crime Pictured above are officers and executives of the Laurens District of the Boy Scouts of America at the regular monthly meeting held here recently. Newly elected district officers were installed at the conclusion of the dinner meeting. Front row, left to right, aye: Jim Teeter, district field executive for Laurens county; L. L. Stan* ley. of Greenville, scout executive of the Blue Rid ge Council; Larry Weeks, of Wattsville, commis sioner; Rev. Bob Bringman, of Gray Court- head of leadership training; back row: A. C .Young. Jr„ of Clinton, vice-chairman; S. S. Williams of Clinton, head of advancement; W. C. Baldwin, of Clin ton. head of organisation and extension; Clyde Trammell, of Clinton, head of camping and activities. Absent when picture was taken was Calvin Cooper, of Clinton, district chairman; and Dr. Fred Holcombe, of Clinton, finance chairman. ' Scouts of District Hold Father and Son Banquet Launch New Four-Year Program Here More than 200 scouts and scout- ers of the Laurens district at tended a Father-Son banquet at the Presbyterian college dining hall Tuesday night. The occasion was to honor fath ers of the scouts on the 46th an niversary of scouting and to launch the new four-year pro gram theme, “Onward for God Boy Scout Week which coincides and My Country.” The banquet was the highlight in this area of the celebration of liff Wefiunt cods Giles Co. Body Department 3 Cliff Wehunt, well known Clin ton mechanic, heads the body and paint department of Giles Chev rolet Co. Mr. Wehunt’s first name was incorrectly listed in an ad vertisement for the compnay in last week’s paper. Mrs. Romayne Hamilton and Boy Scout Week which coincides with the birthday anniversary, which began February 5, and closes Sunday, February 12, with a service at the First Presbyterian church at which time L. L. Stan ley of Greenville, Scout executive of the Blue Ridge Council, will speak. Scouts of the area are re quested to attend the service in uniform. / Calvin Cooper of Clinton, Lau rens district, chairman, presided at the banquet. He introduced mambera of the distriet commit tee, unit leaders, and Jim Teeter, field scout executive. Mr. Coop er presented the speaker, Mr. Stanley, who challenged parents and scouters to guide and work with their boys to insure better citizens tomorrow. The dining hall decorations were cenetred around the new four-year program theme. A 20- foot billboard size poster was used several smaller posters were dis played throughout the dining hall. small son of Bluffton, are visiting I On each table was a copy of the her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry “32nd Annual Report of the Blue M. Young. ' Ridge Council.” Local Reserve Unit Rents Headquarters On E. Carolina Ave. Company L. 323rd Infantry, lo cal army reserve unit under the command'0^ 1st Lieut. Rawlinson E. Martin, now has its own home. The building formerly occupied by T. E. Jones and Sons. Furni ture store on E. Carolina ave nue, has been rented for use of the company as headquarters. The group, including four officers and 26 enlisted men from this area, Joanna, and Laurens, for merly met in the ROTC building at Presbyterian college. Meet ings are held every Monday night from 7:30 to 9:30 o’clock Officers state that an open house celebration is being plan ned for the near future to which the public will be invited. , They also state that the build ing will be available to civic or ganizations at times that do not conflict with activities of the company. The group was organized sev- City Council Holds February Meeting Thursday Night behird the speaker’s table, and, eral years ago and former com manding officers include Capt. Henry B. Mitchell and 1st. Lt. John H. Hunter, Jr. Lt. Martin took /command of the company January first. Use of Library By Clinton Residents Increases: Jesse Shelton, 21, Clinton Negro, was named Tuesday afternoon by a coroner’s jury as the murderer of Will Cole man, 75, and James Coleman, 35, his son, both Negroes. The jury previously empaneled by.C o r o n e r Joe F. Smith, returned the verdict after hearing testimony from Sheriff W. A. Lowery, the only one to take the stand. He said that Shelton had admitted the slayings to him. The inquest jury hearing was held at 6:00 p. in., Tuesday, at the Clinton city hall. The murders were committed Wednesday, the elder Coleman being shot in the stomach With a shotgun belonging to his son about 10:CO u a.m., and the younger Coleman was killed by a blow on the head with an axe about 6:30, that evening. Shelton escaped from a .county public works gang Wednesday morning, committed Jthe murders in the morning and evening, and was recaptured in the area south of Lydia Mills late that night. The younger Coleman was the husband of a former wife of Shel ton, Sheriff Lowery said, and jealousy was attributed as the motive for the slaying of James. Will Coleman’s death came when he went to his- son’s .house to take a piece of meat. The killer, after escaping from the chain gang, had gone to the house and lay in wait, an^l shot Coleman when he came to the house in mid-morning.. His body was roll ed up in old clothes and pushed under a bed. Shelton locked the doors of the house and remained there until 6:30 Wednesday evening when James Coleman and his wife came home. Being unable to open the doors, James attempted to climb through a back window, and as his head emerged through the window Shelton hit him with the sharp edge of the axe. James feH back to the ground and died some two tours later at a local hospital. Smexiff Lowery said Shelton woods. They hid for a time in a took his former wife’and one of the children with’ him iqto the barn but when they heard noises, Shelton ran off, leaving the other two behind. A posse of sheriffs deputies, Laurens and Clinton police and State Law Enforcement Division officers began a manhunt which was hampered by bad roads and wet weather. The officers had to leave paved roads in the search. Late that night, Shelton went to a house in the Lydia Mills section and asked the occupants to call a taxi. Instead they called police. when deputies ^om Williams and Jim Hughes arrived, they saw Shelton jump in a parked auto mobile. They arrested him as he attempted to hide on the floor of the front seat. .Am*'’ M r\ Clinton residents are taking ad- vantage of the opportunities available in the public library in ever-increasing numbers, Libra rian Marian Burts reported yes terday. That the library of some 44,000 volumes, adjoining the Presbyte rian college campus, represent! a community-wide service it phasizpd by the fact that bookg w«re checked out by towns people last pear than by the en tire PC etudent body. The library is a joint city and college enterprise. The city the lot and building, while the books are owned by the college, which also operates the library. college fadility housing one of the best collections of South Caro- linia in the state. It is steadily adding to its present total of 44,- 000 volumes, and the college ex penditure for the library—step ped up from 38,200 for the past year to $12,000 annually in the future—will mean an even larger supply of new books available at regular intervals. The library also subscribes tb Sweetheart Banquet Tonight Legion Home Latest circulation figures show . ' Itoni * ht * \ 0, ' lock •* yoaj a iot American Legion Home the an- that Clintonians read 9.12T books from the library last year as com pared to 8,333 by the students and 2,493 by the faculty. This makes a total of 19,958 books used dur ing the 12-month period. Greater use of the library is be ing made each year by Clinton > residents, who checked out almost 25 per tent more books last year than the previous year. Miss Burts pointed out the 9,127 books of 1956 compared to the 6,852 shown in the 1954 report repre- . sent* an increase of 2,275 books read by townspeople. A further breakdown of the re port on Clinton reading indicates that 897 persons 'borrowed books . from the main library last year and 425 from the children’s li brary. In 1951, for example, only 237 used the main library, so the increase in town use over the 4- year period for the main Hbrary alone stands at almost 600 per cent. This is a trend which the col lege welcomes, and Miss Burts urges the people of Clinton to continue to call upon the library tor whatever service may be ran The Prwbytccian College li brary is a highly regarded small nual Dad-Daughter Sweetheart banquet will be given when the girls of the Camp Fire organiza tion honor their fathers. Tables will be arranged in a Valentine motif for each group and their fathers. The girls will bring a box supper and coffee and cold drinks will be provided. After supper a short program will be given with the Camp Fire and Blue Bird girls^ singing a number of songs. 150 periodicals, five daily news papers and one weekly. Miss Burts is aided by nine part-time assistants in the main library, while a children’s sec tion is under the supervision of Mrs. James S. Gray. Classification within the main library is based on the Dewey decimal system, with numbers de signating the fields of study. The fields and their numbers arc: 100 —Philosophy and Psychology; $00 —Religion; 300—Social Science; 400—Language; 500—Science; 600 Useful Arts; 700—Fine Arts and Recreation; 600—Literature; 900 History, Travel and Collective Bi o graphics. Two other categories: fiction is arranged alphabetically by au thors; .and individual biography is arranged alphabetically by sub jects. Miss Burts reminds readers of these library hours: when school is in regular session—Monday through Friday: 8:30 a. tn. to 10:00 p. m.; Saturday: 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m.; Sunday: 2:00 p. m. to.5:00 p. m. Summer and holdiays— Monday through Friday: 8:03 a. to 5:00 p. m.; Saturday: 8:30 a. rm taT2:30 p. m. City council in regular Febru ary meeting Thursday night heard complaints from an adjoining property owner on conditions surrounding a taxi stand on Mus- grove street. The matter was turned over to the police com mittee for investigation and rec ommendations. K The committee is composed of Frank M. Boland, Jr, George W. Bagwell and S. A. Pitts. The complaint, made by Rhett P. Adair, adjoining home ownef, dealt with the lack of sanitary facilities in the place and hearth hazard and general nuisance in volved. Another nearby establishment with its early morning activity and noise was also brought into the picture for investigation. . Interest in a junior safety pa trol by a number of grammar school boys was brought to the attention of council. The police committee was directed to make a study of the proposal after hear ing a communication from the chief of police of Aiken on the subject. Council authorized the erection of a sign at the public library on South Broad street designating the building as such. Council also authorized water and sewer connections on Ansel Drive and in the area of South Sloan street, West Centennial, and Oak streets. B. R. Austin, superintendent of the utilities department of the city, reported on the progress in rebuilding the city’s electric lines, and installation of new electric anti water meters. Total electric customers reached 2,114, with 1,- 629 water customers. W. B. Owens, city clerk and treasurer, read the financial state ment for the month, showing re ceipts of $46,711.58, with nor mal expenditures of $30,549.92. The clerk and treasurer report ed that $29,227.40 hda been paid over to the city Bond commis sion as its share of taxes collected for payment of bonds and inter- I; This is the window through which James Coleman was attempting to climb when he was hit in the haad with an axe and killed by Jesse Shelton Thursday ^evening about 6:30. Shelton (inset) shot and killed James' father. Will Coleman, that morning and hid his body under a bed in the house. He locked the doors to the house and lay in wait for James. $4,578 Reported In Drive For March of Dimes Fund World Day of Prayer Friday, February 17 A city wide observance of World Day of Prayer for Friday, Feb ruary 17, is being stressed by the women's organizations in the churches. Services are being plan ned to include the entire popula tion. Services will be held at Broad Street church at 8:30 a. m. and at 3:30 p. m., the Latter to be con ducted by' Rev. J. E. Merchant; also at each of the schools. Blue Bird, Camp Fire girls and Boy Scouts will attend the after noon church service in a body. The Women of the Church of the First Presbyterian church are in charge of arrangements for the program with ladies from the oth er churches taking part. Late Cofledicas Will bcreaM Total area The Clinton Joanna, Cross Hill, and Mount- ville) has reported collections ef (including Thomwell Orphanage (em ployees and children .... 150.07 Whitten Villaga (employees $4,578.45 in th« March of | ci^n^l^hooi ^ ’SJJ campaign which ended Jan. 31. i Florida St. School 155.80 Shelton escaped from the road| est due during the year. gang after telling a guard he had to go into the bushes. A native of Clinton, he was sen tenced in 1953 to 10 years for house-breaking and- grand lar ceny. Originally he was sent to the state penitentiary but last De cember he was returned to the county. Shelton had a long series of ar rests for petty and grand lafeeny beginning in October, 1944, when he was too young to be sent to a reform school. He was arrested again in December 1944, for lar ceny, still under 12 years, the age for commitment. In October 1946, he was taken in again, for house-breaking and larceny, this time being sent to the reform school. Later releas ed, he was arrested in 1948 for grand larceny and sent back to the school. . „ Following his second release, he was arrested in June 1951, for larceny and forfeited a $12 bond. In'March 1953, he was fined $100 in city court for petty larceny. In July 1953, two counts of house breaking and larceny were lodged against him. • Then in September 1953, he broke in the H. D. Payne and Co. Interest of $450 was paid on notes owed by the city. Payment to the Clinton-New- berry Gas Authroity of $4,301.00 for amount due on deposits col lected when the gas lines were built, terminated all finan^iaj obligations the city had with re£- erenqe to the Gas Authority. ior H. L Eichelberger pre- Ged over the meeting, and all councilmen were present: ward one, F. M. Boland, Jr.; ward two, S. A. Pitts; ward three, Harry C. Layton; wird four, James P. Sloan; ward five, George W. Bga- well; ward six, James C .Craine. The report is still incomplete, according to Miss Rebecca Speake and J. C. Thomas, co-chairmen. The chairmen expressed their appreciation to all who assisted in the campaign. Following are the amunts re ported by the division chairmen: Business Area .. $670.03 Mothers March T31.01 Clinton Mill Mothers March and Coin Collectors 226.03 Lydia Mills Mothers March and Coin Collectors 126.94 City Coin Collectors r 92.16 Acadmey St School 156.18 -r 47.67 L5.96 43.00 28.00 12.00 Baptists Have Classes For Church School Leaders Classes in Sunday school admin istration have been underway ttus week ait the First Baptist church. The school, under the direction of Dr. D. D, Lewis, of the 'State Baptist Sunday School board, be gan Monday and will dotte Friday, with classes each evening at 7:30. 'The school is under the auspices Texas oil [ilant and B. M. Dutton’s store. He was given 10 years, and it was this sentence Shelton was serving when he escaped Thurs day. A term of criminal court for the county is cheduled to begin on Monday, Feb. 20, and Shelton may be tried at that term. Will Coleman, a one-armed man, was living on a farm in the community south of Lydia Mills, which had been willed to him by the late John H. Young, an exten sive farmer for whom Coleman had worked many years. Joanna Baptist Services On Air The Sunday morning worship services of the Joanna Baptist church will be broadcast during the month of February over radio station WLBG, Laurens-Clinton. The time of broadcast is 11:00 a. m. of the Laurens County Baptist association. The members of the faculty for the school will include the fallow ing state workers: Mrs. C. O. Lamoreux, Intermediate Adminis tration; Mrs. O. K. Webb, Junior Teachers; Mias Elia be th NuckoLs, Primary Teachers; Mrs. G. A. Johnson, Beginner Teachers'; Mrs. D. N. Forehand, Cradle Roll. Nur sery leaders: M!rs. Paul Stewart, Extension department. ■) In addition to directing the school during the week, Dr. Lewis Providence School Long Branch School JHA Dance School Bus Students Special Gifts Presbyterian College (in complete) 38.71 Moose Lodge (sale of Blue Crutch lapel pms> 145.95 Negro Campaign *. 330.05 Joanna: Mill Employees 750.00 Schools, Business Area, Churches .. 288.21 Mountville 96.89 Cross Hill 84.30 Because of examinations at the college, the student campaign was late in being organized and ,a re port will be made later. No re port has been recieve^l from the "Pretty Boy” contest staged by the Exchange, Kiwanis, and Lions clubs of the city. Police Department Collects $1,593.40 In January Fines PRESBYTERY MEETS AT CALHOUN FALLS A meeting of South Carolina Presbytery was held at Calhoun Fails Tuesday and several Pres byterian pastors and elders from the Clinton area attended, ' CITY The city police department made 94 arrests during January, col lecting $1,593.40 and levying 170 days on the public works force, ac cording to the monthly report of is teaching the Adult and”Young Chief of Poldoe B. B. Ballard sub mitted to city council at its meet ing last Thursday night. Charges were made against the defendants in city court, and sen tences and fines were assessed by Recorder Henry M. Young. The report shows that nine of fenders were charged with driving under the influence of intoxacants and fined $566, to lead the list of contributors Twenty-two cases of drunken ness appeared before the recorder; one was suspended; 85 days were given and $199.90 in fines levied. Speeders and 1 reckless drivers totaled 18, and they paid $195. Six charged with fighting paid $110 and 10 d«ys on the gang. Ten arrested for gambling pend People's group. J. A. Orf is superintendent of the First. Baptist Sunday school, and Rev. J. H. Darr is pastor of the church. •$ Scout Executive To Speak Sunday At First Presbyterian , Friday, Saturday — Clinton Merchants Invite You! L. L. Stanley, Scout executive of the Blue Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America, will preach the sermon at the Sunday morn ing service of the First Presbyte rian church. 1 The service will be one of the 8120- highlights of Scout Week in Clin ton, during which the 46th anni versary of the Boy Scout move ment is being observed. , All Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers are urged to attend this service with their units and en couraged to be in uniform. Mr. Stanley has been Scout ex ecutive of Blue Ridge Council since January 1947. Prior to en tering professional scouting, Mr. Stanley was in the ministry. Damaging private or pub he property was charged Against four, who paid $1-01. Three arrested for petty larceny paid $77 and 30 days. Other arrests included eight for disorderly* conduct, $$9.50 and 15 dayi; vialating the liquor law, 2, $44; operating auto without driv er’s license, 4, $46; violating pros titute la w, 2, $17 and 30 days. Parking law violators numbered only 98, who paid $48—60c each.